What to Declare When You Come Home
After months in the sun, coming home to Canada is a familiar ritual for snowbirds. But the return crossing is the one that catches people off guard more often than the outbound trip. Most Canadians know roughly what to expect heading into the US, but the Canadian customs process on the way back involves more nuance than many people realize.
This guide covers everything returning snowbirds need to know about Canadian customs: what to declare, how much you can bring back duty-free, what happens with goods arriving after you, and what to expect if your vehicle is being transported back separately.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. CBSA rules are detailed and occasionally updated. For advice specific to your situation — particularly around high-value goods, financial instruments, or vehicle imports — consult the CBSA website or a licensed customs broker.
The CBSA Declaration: What It Is and Who Has to Complete It
Every person entering Canada must complete a CBSA declaration, regardless of whether they have anything to declare. The declaration covers:
- Goods you acquired abroad including purchases, gifts received, items won or inherited
- Goods to follow (items being shipped separately that will arrive after you)
- Currency or monetary instruments totalling CAD $10,000 or more
- Restricted or prohibited items including certain food, plants, and cannabis
Completing a declaration is not the same as owing duty. Many returning snowbirds complete a declaration and owe nothing; the declaration simply gives CBSA the information they need to determine whether duty applies.
At land borders, you complete a paper declaration card before reaching the officer. At airports, many travellers use the CBSA’s ArriveCAN app or automated kiosks. Either way, the information required is the same.
The Duty-Free Exemption: How Much Can You Bring Back?
This is the question most returning snowbirds care about most. The answer depends on how long you’ve been outside Canada.
- After 24 hours abroad — $200 CAD exemption: This is a modest exemption for short trips. Alcohol and tobacco are not included at this tier. This threshold is rarely relevant for snowbirds spending months in the US.
- After 48 hours abroad — $800 CAD exemption: This is a more generous exemption that includes limited alcohol and tobacco allowances. Most items for personal use qualify.
- After 7 or more days abroad — $800 CAD exemption: This has the same dollar threshold as the 48-hour exemption, but with more generous alcohol and tobacco allowances. It is the tier that applies to virtually all snowbirds.
How the exemption works: The $800 CAD exemption covers goods for your personal use, such as clothing, electronics, purchases, or gifts. You do not pay duty on the first $800 CAD worth of eligible goods. Anything above that threshold may be subject to duty at applicable rates.
Important nuances:
- The exemption applies per person, not per household, so a couple returning together each has their own $800 exemption
- Goods must be for personal use, not for resale or commercial purposes
- Items you acquired abroad but used during your stay (e.g., clothing purchased in Florida that you wore all winter) still count as goods acquired abroad and must be included in your declaration
Alcohol and Tobacco Allowances
Alcohol and tobacco are governed by specific limits that exist separately from the general $800 exemption. After 48 or more hours abroad, you may bring back the following duty-free:
Alcohol:
- 1.5 litres of wine, or
- 1.14 litres of spirits or liqueur, or
- 8.5 litres of beer or ale
You must be of legal drinking age in your province of entry. If you bring back more than these limits, the excess is dutiable and provincial liquor board markups apply on top of federal duty, which can be significant.
Tobacco:
- 200 cigarettes (one carton)
- 50 cigars
- 200 grams of manufactured tobacco
- 200 tobacco sticks
Anything beyond these limits is subject to duty and excise tax. Given the high cost of tobacco taxes in Canada, the duty on excess tobacco can be substantial. It’s rarely worth trying to bring back more than the allowed amount.
Goods to Follow: When Your Belongings Arrive After You
This section applies specifically to goods you acquired in the US — items you purchased, received as gifts, or otherwise obtained during your stay — that will be arriving in Canada separately after you return.
What goods to follow means: If you bought items in the US and they are being shipped back to Canada separately rather than traveling with you, these are considered goods to follow. You declare them at the time of your return crossing, not when they arrive.
What does NOT need to be declared as goods to follow: Your own existing personal property that is simply traveling back to Canada separately, including your Canadian-registered vehicle, does not need to be declared as goods to follow. These are your existing belongings returning to Canada, not goods acquired abroad. No goods to follow declaration is required for them.
What DOES need to be declared as goods to follow: Any items you purchased, received as gifts, or otherwise acquired during your US stay that will arrive in Canada after you. Common examples for snowbirds include:
- Furniture or appliances purchased in the US and shipped back
- Online purchases made during your stay that are being shipped directly to your Canadian address
- Gifts purchased in the US and sent ahead separately
Why declaring goods to follow at the border matters: If you fail to declare goods to follow when you cross the border, those items may be assessed duty when they arrive as if they were commercial imports rather than personal purchases covered by your exemption. Declaring them at the time of your re-entry establishes that they fall under your personal duty-free exemption.
The process: When crossing the border, indicate on your declaration card that you have goods to follow. CBSA will typically provide Form BSF186 — the Personal Effects Accounting Document — which creates a formal record of what’s coming. When your shipment arrives at the border, the carrier presents this documentation to confirm the goods were properly declared at the time of your return. Keep a copy of your BSF186 and any shipping documentation in case questions arise when the goods arrive.
Returning With Your Vehicle: What Snowbirds Need to Know
For most snowbirds who drove their car south in the fall, driving it back north in the spring is routine. But an increasing number of snowbirds choose to fly home and have their vehicle transported back separately, either by a driveaway service like Cross Country Valet or by an auto transport company. Here’s what you need to know about each scenario.
Driving your own vehicle back: If you are driving your own Canadian-registered vehicle back across the border yourself, the process is straightforward. Your vehicle is returning to its country of registration and no import duties apply. Declare any goods in the vehicle as part of your personal declaration. If you had significant repair or modification work done on the vehicle in the US (e.g., a major repair, new tires, or accessories added) the value of that work may be declarable as goods acquired abroad and could count toward your duty-free exemption.
Having your vehicle transported back by a driveaway service: When you fly home to Canada and your vehicle is being driven back separately by Cross Country Valet or another snowbird car transport provider, no goods to follow declaration is required for the vehicle itself. Your Canadian-registered vehicle is your existing personal property returning to its country of registration, not goods acquired abroad. The CBSA paperwork is handled by your transport provider when the vehicle crosses.
Repairs and modifications done in the US: If your vehicle had work done while in the US (e.g., a repair, new accessories, or an upgrade) the value of that work may be declarable as goods acquired abroad and could count toward your duty-free exemption. Keep receipts for any significant vehicle work done during your stay.
Returning with a US-registered vehicle: If you purchased a vehicle in the US during your stay and are bringing it back to Canada, this is a vehicle import, which is a significantly more involved process. Get in touch with us to discuss the logistics and documentation required.
Goods Left at a US Property
Many snowbirds own or rent a US property and leave furniture, appliances, and personal items there when they return to Canada. Items you are leaving at your US property do not need to be declared on your return crossing, since they are not entering Canada.
The distinction that matters is whether goods are:
- Remaining in the US — not declarable, as they are not entering Canada
- Coming back to Canada with you — declarable as goods accompanying
- Purchased in the US and being shipped back to Canada after you — declarable as goods to follow
If you are winding up a US property and shipping its contents back to Canada, the items you purchased in the US need to be declared as goods to follow. Items you already owned before your trip that are returning to Canada do not require a goods to follow declaration.
Prohibited and Restricted Items: What You Cannot Bring Back
Some items cannot be brought back to Canada regardless of their value or your exemption balance.
Cannabis: Cannabis products of any kind — including edibles, oils, and dried flower — cannot be brought across the Canada-US border in either direction. This applies on the return trip just as it does on the outbound trip. Do not attempt to bring cannabis products back from the US.
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and plant products: Many fresh produce items are restricted or prohibited when entering Canada, particularly from Florida. Florida citrus, certain vegetables, and plant material with soil attached are commonly flagged at the border. When in doubt, consume or discard produce before crossing rather than risk having it confiscated.
Meat and dairy: Commercially prepared and packaged meat products are generally permitted within reasonable quantities for personal use. Fresh, unpackaged meat and certain dairy products face stricter rules. When in doubt, declare the item and let the CBSA officer make the determination.
Currency over $10,000 CAD: You can bring any amount of currency back to Canada, but amounts of $10,000 CAD or more in cash or monetary instruments must be declared. Failure to declare large currency amounts can result in seizure of the funds. This is particularly relevant for snowbirds who sold a US property, liquidated US investments, or are bringing back significant US cash before converting it.
What Happens If You Don’t Declare?
The consequences of failing to declare goods at the Canadian border are significantly worse than simply paying the applicable duty would have been.
CBSA officers are trained to identify inconsistencies between declarations and what they find during vehicle or luggage inspections. Consequences for non-declaration or misrepresentation include:
- Seizure of undeclared goods — CBSA can seize items on the spot without compensation
- Fines — penalties can be significantly higher than the duty that would have applied
- Passport flagging — a history of non-declaration can result in enhanced scrutiny at all future crossings
- In serious cases, legal prosecution — particularly for large-scale undeclared goods or currency
The practical message is simple: honesty at the border is always the best policy. The duty on most personal items is modest, and the consequences of being caught not declaring far outweigh the savings.
Financial Reporting on Return
Snowbirds who spent an extended period in the US may have financial matters to address on their return beyond the standard customs declaration.
Currency declaration: Returning to Canada with $10,000 CAD or more in cash or monetary instruments requires a declaration on Form E311. This includes US dollars, Canadian dollars, travellers cheques, money orders, and other negotiable instruments. The declaration is not a tax event; it simply creates a record. But failing to declare triggers serious consequences.
Tax reporting: If you earned any income in the US during your stay (e.g., rental income from a US property, investment income, or any form of employment) you may have US and Canadian tax reporting obligations. This is beyond the scope of a customs guide but worth flagging — consult a cross-border tax professional if this applies to you.
Tips for a Smooth Return Crossing
Keep receipts for US purchases: For any significant purchases made in the US, keep receipts. If you’re questioned about the value of goods you’re bringing back, receipts are the clearest evidence of what you paid.
Calculate your exemption before you arrive: Before crossing, make a rough estimate of what you’ve acquired during your stay. Knowing approximately where you stand relative to the $800 exemption means you won’t be caught off guard at the border.
Declare goods to follow proactively: If you purchased items in the US that are being shipped back after you, mention it at the border and ask for Form BSF186. Don’t wait for the shipment to arrive and hope nobody notices.
Be prepared for secondary inspection: After a months-long stay in the US, you may be selected for a more thorough inspection. This is routine and not a cause for alarm. Answer questions honestly, have your receipts accessible, and the process is typically straightforward.
Arrive with your declaration card completed: At land border crossings, completing your declaration card before you reach the officer speeds up the process considerably. Have your passport, declaration card, and vehicle documents ready.
Don’t bring cannabis: It bears repeating — cannabis cannot cross the border in either direction regardless of its legal status.
FAQs About Canadian Customs
Do I have to declare everything I bought in the US when returning to Canada?
Yes, all goods acquired abroad must be declared on your CBSA declaration card, regardless of whether you think they’re dutiable. The declaration lets CBSA determine whether duty applies. Failing to declare goods can result in seizure and fines significantly higher than any duty would have been.
How much can I bring back from the US duty-free?
After 7 or more days abroad (which applies to virtually all snowbirds) you have an $800 CAD personal exemption per person. This covers most personal purchases made during your stay. Additional specific limits apply to alcohol and tobacco separately.
Do I need to declare my vehicle when I drive it back to Canada?
If you are driving your own Canadian-registered vehicle back to Canada, no import declaration is required as it’s returning to its country of registration. However if significant repair or modification work was done on the vehicle in the US, the value of that work may be declarable as goods acquired abroad.
What if my car is being driven back to Canada by a driveaway service while I fly home?
No goods to follow declaration is required for your own Canadian-registered vehicle being transported back by a driveaway service. It’s your existing personal property returning home, not goods acquired abroad. Cross Country Valet handles all CBSA documentation on our end when the vehicle crosses. Get in touch if you have questions about how the return trip works.
What are goods to follow and do I need to declare them?
Goods to follow are items you acquired in the US that will arrive in Canada after you do. You must declare them at the time of your own return crossing. Your own existing personal property traveling separately, including your Canadian-registered vehicle, does not need to be declared as goods to follow.
Can I bring food back from the US to Canada?
Commercially packaged food items are generally permitted within reasonable quantities for personal use. Fresh produce, citrus fruit, and certain plant products are restricted. When in doubt, declare the item and let the CBSA officer decide. Attempting to bring in restricted food and not declaring it carries more risk than the item is worth.
Can I bring alcohol back from the US to Canada?
Yes. After 48 or more hours abroad you can bring back 1.5 litres of wine, 1.14 litres of spirits, or 8.5 litres of beer duty-free. Amounts above these limits are subject to duty and provincial markups.
Can I bring cannabis back from the US to Canada?
No. Cannabis cannot be brought across the Canada-US border in either direction. Do not attempt to bring cannabis products back from the US.
What happens if I don’t declare something?
CBSA can seize undeclared goods on the spot, assess fines significantly higher than the applicable duty, and flag your passport for enhanced scrutiny at future crossings. Always declare honestly; the consequences of non-declaration far outweigh the cost of paying duty.
Do I need to declare currency when returning to Canada?
You can bring any amount of currency into Canada, but amounts of $10,000 CAD or more in cash or monetary instruments must be declared on Form E311. This includes both Canadian and foreign currency. Failure to declare large amounts can result in seizure of the funds.
What if I’m shipping US purchases back from my US property?
Declare these as goods to follow when you cross the border and request Form BSF186 from the CBSA officer to create a formal record of what’s coming. Note that items you already owned before your trip that are simply returning to Canada (e.g., your own furniture, personal effects, vehicle) do not require a goods to follow declaration.