Do I have to declare Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV at Canada customs?

Only above the allowance. Up to 1.14 liters of Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.

What happens if I do not declare Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV in Canada?

Under Memorandum D2-3-1, Tariff item No. 9804.30.00, Note 1, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess; the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Customs Act, section 124, if the goods are found without being declared: an administrative fine is imposed. Under Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1: the goods are confiscated; an administrative fine is imposed.

Do duty-free purchases count toward the Canada allowance for Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV?

Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.

Can I post or ship Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV to Canada instead of carrying it?

Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.

Is there a minimum age for the Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV allowance in Canada?

Yes — 18 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV at all, not a smaller one.

Can I take Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV out of Canada?

Canada publishes no separate rule for taking Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV out; the destination's rules are what will apply.

Does the Canada limit for Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV apply per person or per family?

Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.

Where does this rule come from?

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) states it in Memorandum D2-1-1: Temporary Importation of Baggage and Conveyances by Non-Residents. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “Non-residents can include one of the following amounts of alcoholic beverages in tariff item No. 9803.00.00 without assessment:”

How does Canada compare with other countries on Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV?

Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV, 16 limit it and 3 let it through. Canada is among the ones that set a limit.

How much Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV can I bring into Canada?

Restricted

You can bring Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV into Canada only within the stated limits.

Extra conditions apply

Carried Limited

Declaration Above allowance

Limit 1.14 liter

What you need to know

1.14 liter (38.55 US fl oz)
Channels: Carried with the traveler
Extra conditions apply

On the plane

Airline differences

Airline	Difference from the baseline
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA)	Stricter than the standard rule

Important

This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-19

Memorandum D2-1-1: Temporary Importation of Baggage and Conveyances by Non-Residents Canada Border Services Agency

Questions about Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV in Canada

How much Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV can I bring into Canada?: Canada allows 1.14 liters of Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV at Canada customs?: Only above the allowance. Up to 1.14 liters of Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
What happens if I do not declare Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV in Canada?: Under Memorandum D2-3-1, Tariff item No. 9804.30.00, Note 1, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess; the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Customs Act, section 124, if the goods are found without being declared: an administrative fine is imposed. Under Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1: the goods are confiscated; an administrative fine is imposed.
Do duty-free purchases count toward the Canada allowance for Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV?: Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
Can I post or ship Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV to Canada instead of carrying it?: Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
Is there a minimum age for the Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV allowance in Canada?: Yes — 18 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV at all, not a smaller one.
Can I take Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV out of Canada?: Canada publishes no separate rule for taking Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Does the Canada limit for Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV apply per person or per family?: Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
Where does this rule come from?: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) states it in Memorandum D2-1-1: Temporary Importation of Baggage and Conveyances by Non-Residents. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “Non-residents can include one of the following amounts of alcoholic beverages in tariff item No. 9803.00.00 without assessment:”
How does Canada compare with other countries on Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV?: Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit Alcoholic beverages above 12% ABV, 16 limit it and 3 let it through. Canada is among the ones that set a limit.

Related items

Accompanied cash Accompanying goods, non-commercial (flat-rate band) Agricultural/forestry/fishery/livestock products (general sub-cap) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over)

Related countries

Australia China France Germany

Other items in this group

Alcohol and alcoholic beverages above 22% vol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol 80% vol and over) Alcohol and alcoholic beverages up to and including 22% vol Alcoholic beverages (all types) Alcoholic beverages (combined volume and value cap) Alcoholic beverages (standard 760 ml bottle) Alcoholic beverages above 22% ABV