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
• baked goods
• cannabis, including products containing CBD or THC
• carpets
• coffee and tea
• confectionery
• copyright works
• currency
• cotton
• dead animals, including wild birds or their parts
• diamonds (rough)
• dried herbs and spices
• drugs and other controlled substances
• eggs, milk and other dairy products
• films
• fruits and vegetables
• fish and crustaceans
• 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
• seed potatoes, onions and other raw root crops
• silk
• textile fabrics
• tobacco
• used clothing
• vaping products
• vitamins
• wheat, straw, bran, chaff, barley and their products
• wood and articles of wood
• wool.

Alcoholic Beverages

The importation of alcoholic beverages (including wine) to Canada is strictly prohibited unless being mailed to a Provincial Liquor Board or Commission, or to a manufacturer or distributor of such beverages in Canada.

Periodicals

Canada prohibits periodicals:

• that contain advertisement primarily directed to a Canadian market and which does not appear in identical form in all copies of that issue in the country of origin
• in which more than five per cent of the advertising content indicates specifically where goods or services may be obtained in Canada, or indicates specific terms or conditions relating to the sale or provision of goods or services in Canada.

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:

• bacteria
• batteries
• bee-keeping apparatus, used
• 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 goods
• raw hides, pelts and skins
• unlawful lottery tickets and advertising
• 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.

Invoice

Commercial consignments valued at more than $1,200CDN must be accompanied by a certified invoice. The sender must send three copies separately to the addressee and include one copy in the article.

Gifts

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