U.S. Customs Rules for Canadian Snowbirds

For Canadian snowbirds, understanding what you tin can – and more importantly - cannot bring into the United states is essential. Unfortunately, it tin exist a claiming to find specific, official guidelines when it comes to U.South. import and duty rules.

One reason is because the U.S. has several different government departments that regulate these items, and the guidelines tin can be complex and sometimes hard to find. Another is that the rules, especially for food and drugs, can change swiftly - so it tin can be hard to find authentic, up to date information.

To help you navigate through the maze of U.S. duty and import rules for visitors, nosotros take created the following guide.

However, please proceed in mind that these rules can alter rapidly and oftentimes, so nosotros strongly propose that you cheque the official U.Due south. government websites before you travel to make sure the rules haven't inverse.

If possible, you may as well want to contact the edge crossing where you will be entering the U.Due south. in advance to enquire almost anything you are not articulate most. This can salvage time and headaches at the edge.

The most important thing to recall is that y'all MUST declare everything that yous have with y'all when you arrive at the border. Failure to do this can have serious and lifelong consequences.

Document Your Belongings

If y'all're taking a lot with yous, y'all should certificate your belongings heading down to the U.S. and returning to Canada by filling out the appropriate forms from both the U.Southward. and Canadian governments to avoid issues going down and coming dorsum.

Exist sure to itemize jewellery and other valuables and be able to evidence where and when they were purchased if asked.

Heading to the U.S.

  • Travelling with your property: Yous will need to fill out a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form 6059B - Customs Announcement . Yous should besides create a list of the personal belongings you are bringing with you lot ahead of time to nowadays to U.S. customs along with your Customs Annunciation form when entering the U.South.
  • If your holding are arriving separately: If you are shipping your personal belongings to the U.S. or having someone drive your car downwardly for you with your belongings, yous should fill out a U.South. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form 3299 – Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles that accurately lists all of the personal items in your car.

Returning to Canada

  • Make full out a Canada Border Services Bureau (CBSA) Class E-15: Certificate of Destruction/Exportation to avoid paying duty and taxes on your personal items when you return to Canada in the leap.

Household items

More often than not speaking, Canadian snowbirds may bring household items into the Usa or have them to your U.S. accost duty-free for apply in your U.S. domicile - provided they take been used for at to the lowest degree one twelvemonth and you are non bringing them into the U.S. with the intention of selling them.

You tin can find more information virtually the required forms for bringing household goods to the U.S. here.

Household items can include:

  • Paintings
  • Linens
  • Article of furniture
  • Rugs
  • Cookware
  • Personal computers & tablets
  • Other household items

Medication - Bringing Medication to the U.S. from Canada

Bringing prescription (or non- prescription) drugs in to the U.S. is normally not a problem for most snowbirds but y'all should be aware of the following points:

  • All prescription medication must exist in original packaging with the chemist's label
  • It is a good thought to take a notation from your doctor nearly whatsoever pain medication that contains codeine or narcotics
  • You may only be immune to bring in a iii calendar month supply of any prescription drug by the edge control agents.
  • Some Canadians who stay in the U.S. for 6 months take prescriptions shipped to them from their pharmacy in Canada, if you do this the parcel should contain a clear letter from your dr. describing your condition and demand for the medication, along with a photograph copy of your I.D. and all medication fully labeled past the pharmacy. Sometimes the package will be seized and inspected.
  • Many snowbirds accept found a U.S. doctor to prescribe them medication as a lot of medications are available in both countries, just non all. This can too be more plush.
  • If you are flying, e'er accept your medications in your carry-on baggage.
  • Some non-prescription drugs are illegal in the U.Due south. e.grand. ones that comprise codeine - and then if you lot need these drugs, you should carry a letter from your medico explaining why.
  • As with everything else, be sure to declare whatever you take with you at the edge.

You lot tin detect additional information in our article covering tips for Canadian snowbirds travelling with medication to the U.Southward.

For further information on specific medications, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Forbidden Items

Below is a list of some common (and not so common) items that are forbidden to bring into the U.Due south.

  • Narcotics
  • Marijuana
  • Other illegal recreational drugs
  • absinthe (and whatever other liquor containing Artemisia absinthium)

Nutrient - Bringing food into the U.S. from Canada

The clearest advice we tin requite to avoid potential issues at the border is NOT to bring whatever food with y'all into the U.S. You can hands stop as soon as you lot have crossed the border and buy whatever groceries you wish to have with y'all for your journey.

If y'all are bringing food with you, you lot must declare all of it at the border, in particular, whatsoever dairy or meat products, too as fruit, vegetables, plants, basics and seeds.

Once more, nosotros recommend that you lot do NOT attempt to cross the border with these items.

Y'all can find more information about bringing food into the U.S. from Canada at the post-obit sites:

  • U.South. Department of Agronomics
  • U.S. Beast and Constitute Health Inspection Service
  • U.Southward. Food and Drug Assistants

Alcohol - Bringing alcohol into the U.S. from Canada

The rules for alcohol are a lot simpler:

Each adult (historic period 21 or older) can bring up to 1 Litre of booze into the U.Southward. (including liquor, wine, beer, etc.) duty- free. All the same, you must exist staying in the U.Southward. for at least 72 hours.

Whatsoever additional amounts may be subject to hefty duty, taxes and fees.

Tobacco - Bringing tobacco into the U.South. from Canada

Visitors may import up to 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars into the U.S. duty costless.

Even so, cigars must not be from Cuba.

Greenbacks - How much greenbacks can Canadians bring to the U.S.?

You can bring upwardly to $x,000 in greenbacks or negotiable monetary instruments into the U.Southward. without declaring information technology. However, if y'all are bringing more $ten,000 into the U.S., you must declare it.

If you fail to declare greenbacks or monetary instruments over $10,000, information technology can be seized past the U.South. government.

If you are importing gold, it must as well be declared at the border.

Pets - Travelling with pets to the U.Southward. from Canada

There are all-encompassing regulations governing bringing pets into the U.S. For more information, we advise yous read our Tips for Canadian Snowbirds Travelling with Pets.

Guns & Firearms

An import permit is required. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulates the importation of firearms. For further details please refer to the ATF website.

Gifts – Bringing gifts to the U.S. from Canada

You may bring gifts worth up to $100 per adult to the U.S. every 6 months on a duty-free ground. Gifts tin not include alcohol and cigarettes, but may include up to 100 cigars.

Cars, SUVs & trucks

If y'all are bringing your vehicle across the border temporarily but volition be returning to Canada with it within i twelvemonth, and then at that place is nothing you lot need to practise.

However, if you intend to leave the vehicle in the U.Due south. permanently, then information technology must then be converted to a U.Due south. registered vehicle within 1 yr. Each land has different rules and so it is important to inquiry what y'all need to do to import your vehicle to the U.S.

Check out our commodity on how to permanently import your automobile to the U.Due south. from Canada for more information.

Boats

If you are bringing a boat to the U.Due south. with the intent of importing it, you will have to provide proof of ownership and proof information technology is compliant with various regulations.

More details on importing a gunkhole to the U.Southward. are bachelor hither.