International destination listing

For a list of postal services available to Canada, contact the country of origin's postal administration.

Import restrictions

Senders should determine import restrictions from Canadian authorities before posting:

• animal products and by-products
• articles of apparel and clothing accessories
• baked goods
• books
• cannabis, including products containing CBD or THC
• carpets
• coffee and tea
• confectionery
• copyright works
• currency, including bank notes, currency notes, traveller's cheques and coins
• cotton
• diamonds (rough)
• dried herbs and spices
• drugs and other controlled substances
• eggs, milk and other dairy products
• fruits and vegetables
• fish and crustaceans
• grain derived foods, including cereal
• honey, beeswax and propolis
• intoxicating liquors
• jewels, precious stones, gold, silver and other precious metals
• liquids, liquefiable substances and powders
• maple syrup
• margarine or butter substitutes
• meat and edible meat offal
• medical material, including specimens
• non-alcoholic beverages
• pet food and treats
• plants, parts of plants, seeds, nuts, bark and soil
• products of the milling industry, including malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten, barley, straw, bran and chaff
• seed potatoes, onions and other raw root crops
• silk
• textile fabrics
• tobacco
• used clothing
• vaping products
• vitamins
• wadding, felt and nonwovens yarns, cordage, ropes and cables
• wood and articles of wood
• wool.

Alcoholic Beverages

You can only import intoxicating beverages into Canada by mail when:

• They’re imported by or mailed to a licensed distiller or body authorized by the province of destination’s board, commission, officer, or another governmental agency
• The alcohol content is no more than 24% alcohol by volume (for example, 48 proof)

Tobacco products

Tobacco and tobacco products may be imported for personal consumption in limited quantities, provided that they meet the requirements of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Importation of tobacco products must also meet the requirements of the Stamping and Marking of Tobacco Regulations available at the following website: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/t-11.5/

NOTE: Labelling and stamping requirements of the Stamping and Marking of Tobacco Regulations do not apply when an individual imports five (5) or less units of packaged tobacco. A unit is defined as: 200 cigarettes; 50 cigars; 400 tobacco sticks; or 400 g of manufactured tobacco.

Electronic smoking products (i.e. electronic products for the vaporization and administration of inhaled doses of nicotine including electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and pipes, as well as cartridges of nicotine solutions and related products) currently require market authorization by Health Canada prior to being imported. Failure to obtain this authorization will result in your items being refused entry by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Prohibited items

In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:

• articles relating to unlawful lottery schemes
• bacteria
• batteries
• bee-keeping apparatus, used
• Berberis, Rhammus and Corylus plants
• blood, human or animal
• chain letters and other literature pertaining to fraudulent schemes
• contraceptive devices and literature
• corrosives, nuclear substances or oxidizing substances
• counterfeit or imitation coins
• elephant tusk (ivory) and rhinoceros horn parts or products; including hunting trophies and household effects
• ethyl alcohol
• explosive devices
• firearms, weapons and ammunition
• fish meal
• gold bullion, gold dust or non-manufactured metals
• hate propaganda
• live animals
• obscene, immoral, indecent or scurrilous matter
• poisonous or infectious substances
• prison-made and forced labour goods
• raw hides, pelts and skins
• various single use plastics, including checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware containing expanded or extruded polystyrene foam, polyvinyl chloride, oxodegradeable plastic or black plastic made with carbon black, ring carriers, stir sticks and straws
• viruses.

Documentation required

Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.

Formal Customs Entry

Commercial recipients with parcels valued at more than $2500.00 CDN will be contacted by CBSA to file a formal customs entry. Goods will be assessed for duties & taxes and cleared using the commercial customs postal process.

Gifts

Canada admits duty-free gifts up to $60CDN in value that are labelled UNSOLICITED GIFT.