question about Canadian Customs

Hello everyone. I have been lurking and reading on these boards for almost a year, planning our trip to Vancouver and then to Alaska. We are US citizens and will be doing a round trip out of Vancouver. My question, do we have to declare and pay duty on anything we purchase in Alaska when we get back to Vancouver?

Thanks for your answers,

Char

If you intend to take it back to the US with you, then there's generally nothing to pay - BUT you should always ensure you fill out any forms/answer questions accurately! If you do get given forms in advance (some cruises these get handed in on-board) you'll see in the small print that they're asking for the value of stuff that is staying in Canada (for US residents that means unless you plan to give stuff to Canadian friends or sell your purchases before leaving Vancouver, the amount will be $0). If you're actually resident in Canada despite your citizenship you get treated exactly the same as Canadians - it's all about your residence, not your citizenship.

Potential problem is things which are limited or illegal (sometimes permits are needed) - e.g. booze, fruit & veg, meat over certain amounts, or since it's an AK cruise ivory and other souvenirs made with animal parts. Even passing through with stuff like this can mean doing paperwork, sealing a container, and all sorts of shenanigans. Long story short - without the right paperwork, some stuff might get confiscated. If you declare you have it, confiscation is usually all you need to worry about but if you don't state you have it, are then searched and it's found, fines are levied (you may have seen the press articles about the free apple that cost a passenger $500 for failing to declare it to CBP when entering the US - we have similar rules in Canada)

Your biggest issue will come when you actually go home - when you go through US Customs you'll be carrying a bunch of souvenirs across the US border from Canada. Without proof that you actually bought them all in the US, CBP can assume that you actually acquired them in Canada - it's up to you to prove them wrong! So keep ALL your receipts, otherwise you may end up being charged by your own gov't for importing your souvenirs;-)

Thank you so much Martin for that quick answer. I will make sure I keep the receipts on everything. We are coming into Vancouver 3 days early but leaving the same day we disembark, so staying won't be an issue.

Char

As a rule Canada Customs just looks at your customs form , asks a few questions and passes you thru,

What Martin said is valid.