How Much Alcohol Can You Bring Into Canada?

If you're a Canadian resident who's been away for 48+ hours, you can bring in one of these duty-free: 1.5 L of wine, 1.14 L of spirits, or 8.5 L of beer (about 24 cans).

Visitors get similar limits, plus an extra option to combine wine and spirits up to 1.14 L. Bring more, and you just need to declare it and pay duty on the excess.

Canada Duty-Free Alcohol Limits by Traveller Type

	Canadian residents (48+ hrs away)	Visitors / temporary residents
Wine	1.5 L	1.5 L
Spirits	1.14 L	1.14 L
Wine + spirits combined	Not allowed — pick one category	1.14 L combined
Beer or ale	8.5 L (~24 x 355 mL)	8.5 L (~24 x 355 mL)

Can I Mix Wine and Spirits?

For returning Canadian residents, the personal exemption is limited to one of the listed alcohol categories: 1.5 litres of wine, 1.14 litres of alcoholic beverages, or 8.5 litres of beer or ale.

For non-resident visitors, however, CBSA specifically allows 1.14 litres of wine and spirits combined. Therefore, the rules are different depending on your traveller status.

Who Qualifies, and What You Need

• Minimum age: 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec; 19 everywhere else — based on where you enter Canada, not where you live
• Time away: Residents need 48 hours or more outside Canada; a 24-hour trip gets no alcohol exemption at all
• In your possession: The alcohol must travel with you (hand or checked baggage) — it can't be shipped ahead or follow separately, even under the longer 7-day exemption that allows other goods to follow later

How Many Bottles Is That, Exactly?

• Wine: 1.5 L ≈ two standard 750 mL bottles
• Spirits: 1.14 L ≈ one large standard bottle (a "40-ouncer")
• Beer: 8.5 L ≈ 24 cans or bottles at 355 mL each — a full case

Can Visitors Bring Alcohol Across the Canadian Border?

Yes. Non-residents and temporary residents can bring alcohol in, but they must always declare it — there's no duty-free pass without declaring, and an officer may ask about the purpose and length of your visit. Visitors get the same age minimums and quantity options as residents, with one extra choice: 1.14 L of wine and spirits combined, rather than having to pick just one of the two.

What If I Bring More Alcohol Than the Duty-Free Allowance?

Going over isn't illegal — it's just not free:

1. Declare it to a CBSA officer on arrival.
2. Pay duty and taxes on the amount above your limit — this can include federal duty, GST, and provincial or territorial charges.
3. Check provincial rules first. Some provinces cap how much you can import even if you're willing to pay. In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, you cannot exceed the free allowance at all, regardless of duties paid. Ontario, by contrast, allows up to 45 litres for personal use with duties and taxes paid.

Key Rules to Remember

• Always declare the alcohol you are bringing into Canada.
• The alcohol must accompany you when you arrive if you are claiming it as part of the personal exemption.
• Personal exemptions cannot be combined with another person's exemption or transferred to another person.

Provincial Differences

Federal duty- and tax-free quantities are set by CBSA, but provinces and territories can impose additional limits and charges on alcohol imported for personal use.

If you plan to bring a large quantity of alcohol, check the liquor control authority for the province or territory where you will enter Canada before travelling.

Important: The amount of alcohol you can bring depends on your traveller status, length of absence from Canada, type and quantity of alcohol, and the province or territory where you enter.

FAQ - How Much Wine, Liquor, and Beer Can You Bring to Canada?

How many bottles of wine can I bring into Canada?

Up to 1.5 litres duty-free — about two 750 mL bottles — if you're a returning resident who's been away 48+ hours, or a visitor of legal drinking age.

How much liquor can I bring into Canada?

Up to 1.14 litres duty-free, roughly one large standard bottle.

Can I combine my wine and spirits allowance?

Only if you're a visitor or temporary resident — you get 1.14 L of wine and spirits combined as one option. Returning Canadian residents must pick a single category in full; no combining.

What if I've only been away 24 hours?

No alcohol exemption applies. The 48-hour minimum is specific to alcohol (and tobacco) — separate from the general $200 exemption that kicks in after 24 hours for other goods.

Can I bring more than the duty-free limit if I'm willing to pay?

Usually yes — declare it and pay the duty, tax, and any provincial charge. Exceptions: Nunavut and the Northwest Territories cap imports at the free allowance regardless of payment.