DESTINATIONS canada quebec customs-and-duties-41

TRAVEL TIPS

Customs and Duties

U.S. Customs and Immigration has pre-clearance services at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, which serves Montréal. This allows U.S.-bound air passengers to depart their airplane directly on arrival at their U.S. destination without further inspection and delays.

American visitors may bring in, duty-free, for personal consumption, 200 cigarettes; 50 cigars; 7 ounces of tobacco; and 1 bottle (1.5 liters or 40 imperial ounces) of wine or liquor respectively or up to 8.5 liters of beer or ale. Any alcohol and tobacco products in excess of these amounts are subject to duty, provincial fees, and taxes. You can also bring in gifts for friends or family duty-free, as long as each gift does not exceed C$60 in value.

Cats and dogs must have a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian that clearly identifies the animal and vouches that it has been vaccinated against rabies during the preceding 36 months. Certificates aren't necessary for Seeing Eye dogs. Plant material must be declared and inspected. There may be restrictions on some live plants, bulbs, and seeds. You may bring food for your own use, as long as the quantity is consistent with the duration of your visit and restrictions or prohibitions on some fruits and vegetables are observed.

Canada's firearms laws are significantly stricter than those in much of the United States. All handguns and semiautomatic and fully automatic weapons are prohibited and cannot be brought into the country. Sporting rifles and shotguns may be imported provided they are to be used for sporting, hunting, or competing while in Canada. All firearms must be declared to Canada Customs at the first point of entry. Failure to declare firearms will result in their seizure, and criminal charges may be made. Regulations require visitors to have a confirmed Firearms Declaration to bring any guns into Canada; a fee of C$25 applies, valid for 60 days but good for one year if renewed before it expires. For more information, contact the Canadian Firearms Centre.

Information in Montréal and Québec City

Canada Border Services Agency. 2265 boul. St-Laurent, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4K3. 800/461–9999; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

Canadian Firearms Centre. 800/731–4000; www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

U.S. Information

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. www.cbp.gov.

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