Canada doubles 48-hour duty-free allowance

Gavin Lipsith

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Good news for Canada’s long-suffering border operators as the government doubles inbound allowances to C$400

The Canadian government has doubled the value of duty-free goods that travellers can bring back into the country after a trip of 48 hours or more, effective from today. The move, announced as part of the country’s budget yesterday (March 19), will raise the allowance to C$400 ($338.98) in its first increase since 1995.

The move will be welcomed by Canada’s border duty-free industry, which has suffered a continuous decline in sales since 2002 as a result of several adverse factors including SARS, increased border security and a tax on tobacco exports.

The government said it hoped to make crossing the border more convenient for passengers and to reduce processing times at border security points.

The allowances for 24-hour and 1-week visitors remain unchanged at C$50 ($42.37) and C$750 ($635.59) respectively, and liquor and tobacco allowances also stay the same.