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Welcome to Travel FREE

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• Czech Republic

Europe’s Bordershop Number 1

Our passion for the border business goes back to 1991 – Travel FREE however, was founded in 2004. In that year, many new countries joined the EU and duty free business wasn’t allowed anymore within its borders. If you, like many people, didn’t notice that, it’s probably because of Travel FREE. We took over many former duty free shops, offer the same assortment and keep prices as low as possible.

Your shopping advantages

One of a kind: our range of goods..

You can spend a long time searching for these in your supermarket: Most of our range are produced exclusively for the travel market. So, go to the border and shop like you've never shopped before!

Open almost every day.

Have you run out of coffee for Sunday breakfast? Nothing to toast with on New Year's Eve? Here you can save money almost every single day: Whether on weekdays, Sundays or holidays. (in shops until 200 m2)

100% quality brands.

Our products come directly from the manufacturer. All are original goods and the highest possible standards of quality are naturally guaranteed - after all, we know what our customers want.

Up to 50% cheaper.

We don’t do things by halves – unless it’s the prices: Save up to 50% compared to neighbouring domestic market prices.

43% more content.

Many of our products are not only cheaper than elsewhere, but larger as well. With our 1 litre spirits for example, you simply save twice.

A whole lot of choice.

Find anything you’re looking for in our huge selection of coffee, tea, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, sweets, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, fashion and accessories.

Maximum quantities per person

Spirits (Over 22%)

Spirituosen (Up to 22%)

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• Know Before You Go
• Shopping Abroad

Shopping Abroad: Duty Free, Gifts, Household Items

Duty free shops.

Goods purchased in a duty free shop are not automatically free of duty upon your return to the U.S. Personal exemptions - or the value of goods that do not require the traveler to pay duty will be $200, $800 or $1600 depending on the countries visited. At entry level, you may include only very limited amounts of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in your duty free personal exemption.

• All items you receive as gifts while abroad and items you buy to give as gifts must be declared.
• Gifts may be included in the value of your duty free personal exemption.
• Gifts for business or commercial purposes may not be included in your duty free personal exemption.
• Gifts worth more than $5 that contain alcohol, tobacco products and perfume containing alcohol may not be included as gifts in your duty free personal exemption.

Do not gift wrap items you carry or send into the United States; they may need to be unwrapped during inspection.

Sending vs. Carrying Gifts and Other Items

• Gifts worth up to $100 may be sent - free of duty and tax - to U.S. friends and relatives if one person does not receive more than $100 worth of gifts in one day. If the gifts are sent from Guam, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the duty and tax-free gift amount rises to $200.
• Alcohol and tobacco products may not be sent duty free as gifts.
• Gifts sent home do not have to be declared on CBP Declaration Form 6059B or the CBP officer when returning to the United States.

Mark the outside packaging of gifts sent home with:

• "Unsolicited Gift;" if sending gifts for more than one person in the package, add "Consolidated Gift Package"
• The total value of the consolidated package Recipients' names
• To be duty free, each item may not exceed $100. The traveler must list the nature and value of gifts being mailed.

If sending new items for personal use, similarly mark the package with the nature and value of the items. Duty will be waived if the value is $200 or less. If more, duty may be assessed by the parcel carrier.

Household Items

Items used in your household abroad are duty free if:

• You used them for at least one year while abroad.
• They are not intended for anyone else or for sale.
• Clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, electronics and vehicles are personal effects and cannot be brought or mailed duty free as household effects. Duty is usually waived on personal effects more than a year old. You must pay duty for all vehicles.
• Whether purchased or received as gifts, prohibited items may never, by law, enter the United States. While they may seem innocent, the banned products can pose risks to human, animal or plant health. Also, the prohibited item(s) may break U.S. trade laws.
• Be cautious when buying from street vendors. If the merchandise is counterfeit (a fake) or unsafe, you may have to surrender it to CBP officers upon your return home.

Virtually all foreign made medications are prohibited from being brought into the United States. For more information on Coverage of Personal Importations please visit the FDA website. 

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• 110 litara piva
• 90 litara vina
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• 10 litara žestokih pića s udjelom alkohola višim od 22 %
• 800 komada cigareta

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The prices on this website are only for information purposes and may vary depending on the exchange rate fluctuations and on the shop the product is purchased from. For precise information regarding prices, please refer directly to the store which you intend to go to.

Duty-Free Shopping at the Canadian Border

Mark Spowart / Getty Images 

"Duty-free" refers to items that can be purchased at designated stores when crossing national borders, either at land and sea crossings or at airports . The items sold at duty-free stores are free of taxes and duties and thus generally much cheaper than at regular stores. Duty-free items are for "export only" and must be taken out of the country where purchased.

What Visitors Can Buy

Duty-free shops offer deals on items that usually carry heavy duties and taxes. For example, visitors may save up to 50 percent on liquor and tobacco. Other popular items include perfume, watches, jewelry, accessories, candy, travel-related items, and gifts . 

Many duty-free shops also have food courts, travel centers, business services, including faxes, telephones, photocopiers and telecommunication ports for laptop computers.

Duty-free savings are generally not as good at airport duty-free shops, especially at some of the bigger airports where rental fees are high, so fewer savings are passed on to the consumer. The best deals are at the land crossings . 

Americans Traveling to Canada

U.S. citizens crossing the border into Canada to visit are allowed to bring the following into Canada:

• 1.5 liters of wine, or 1.14 liters (40 ounces) of liquor, or 24 x 355 milliliters (12 ounces) cans or bottles (8.5 liters) of beer or ale.
• 1 carton (200 cigarettes) and 50 cigars
• Americans may bring up to $60 in gifts per recipient, excluding alcohol and tobacco.

Returning to the U.S. After Less Than 48 Hours

After a stay of fewer than 48 hours in Canada , a U.S. citizen or resident may return to the U.S. with:

• $200 worth of goods per person, tax and duty-free
• Any purchases in excess of the $200 allowance may be subject to duties and taxes.
• U.S. citizens may buy these amounts daily.

After a stay of 48 hours or more in Canada , a U.S. citizen or resident may return to the U.S. with:

• $800 worth of goods per person, tax and duty-free
• Purchases may include 1.14 liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes (1 carton), and 50 cigars.
• Any purchases in excess of the $800 allowance may be subject to duties and taxes.
• U.S. citizens may buy these amounts once a month.

Duties and Taxes

If you exceed your duty-free allowances and exemptions entering the U.S. the following approximate US duty and tax rates may apply.

• U.S. $2 - $3 per bottle of liquor*
• U.S. $1.90 per case of beer*
• U.S. $10 per carton of cigarettes* *U.S. duty rates on purchases exceeding 1 liter of alcohol are assessed according to alcohol content.

Liquor, including spirits, wine, and beer , in Canada, is significantly more expensive than in the United States, so Americans going to Canada for a visit may want to stop at duty-free for liquor that they will consume while in Canada. Spirits, like vodka, gin, and whiskey see to offer the best bargains. Wine, not so much. 

What to Know About French Customs Regulations

What Not to Bring Back From the Netherlands

Duty Free Shopping Rules for the Caribbean

An Overview of Irish Customs Regulations

Must I Pay Customs Duty on Alcoholic Beverages From Duty Free Shops?

UK Customs Regulations - What Can You Bring Into the UK?

Bringing Alcohol Into Canada Without Paying Duties

Is Duty-Free Shopping Still a Good Value?

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Rules on Cross-Border Shopping Between Canada & the USA

by Tammie Painter

Published on 26 Jan 2018

Whether you're looking for a bargain or in search of something special, you may want to cross the U.S.- Canada border to shop. You'll need your passport , passport card or NEXUS card and, of course, a way to pay for your purchases. Before you load up your shopping bags, though, you'll need to understand what and how much you can bring back across the border.

Limits for Canadian Residents

Canadian residents can shop in the United States duty free as long as they are in the U.S. for more than 24 hours. If you're in the U.S. for less than 24 hours, none of your purchases are duty free and you'll need to pay a tax on the goods. For stays that range from more than 24 to less than 48 hours, you can bring back CA$200 worth of goods duty free. Alcohol and tobacco purchases are not included in the CA$200. The duty-free exemption bumps up to CA$800 for stays of 48 hours or more. In this case, limited quantities of alcohol and tobacco may be included in the CA$800. Canadian residents living in the same house may not combine their exemption limits.

Limits for U.S. Residents

If you're a U.S. resident visiting Canada for less than 48 hours, you can bring back $200 worth of goods duty-free. For stays longer than 48 hours, the duty-free limit rises to $800, but this $800 limit can only be used once every 30 days. If you return for another shopping trip in less than 30 days and have already purchased $800 worth of goods, your limit drops to $200. People who live in the same house can combine their duty-free limits, but they must travel together.

" id="alcohol-&-tobacco-rules-for-crossing-the-border " class="title"> Alcohol & Tobacco Rules for Crossing the Border

For Canadian residents staying in the U.S. less than 48 hours, all alcohol and tobacco brought back will be taxed. For stays longer than 48 hours, Canadians can bring back either 1.5 liters of wine, a total of 1.14 liters of liquor and wine or 8.5 liters of beer duty-free. They may also bring back either 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco. If the value of the tobacco and alcohol exceeds the $800 duty-free limit, you must pay tax on your purchases. U.S. residents can bring back 1 liter of alcohol duty-free on their return from Canada. They may also bring back 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars as long as the cigars are not from Cuba. To bring alcohol into the U.S., you must be 21 years or older. In most cases, Canadian and U.S. residents can bring back more than these amounts, but the excess will be taxed.

Duty Free, Not Tax Free

If you pop into a duty-free shop thinking you can purchase anything you like tax free, think again. "Duty free" means the items in the shop have not been taxed by the country the shop is in. If your purchases from the duty-free shop exceed your monetary, alcohol or tobacco duty-free limit, you will have to pay your home country's tax on the items. Keep in mind that duty-free purchases are intended for use outside of the country the shop is in. For example, if you purchase liquor at a Canadian duty-free shop, you must wait until you are in the U.S. to have a drink.

For a purchase to qualify for a duty-free exemption, it must be for your own use or for use within your household. Items purchased for commercial use or as a gift for someone outside of your household may be subject to taxation. If the value of your purchases exceeds the duty-free exemption, you may be taxed on the entire value of the purchase, not just on the amount that exceeds the limit.

The Ultimate Guide to Duty Free Shops for Canadians

By Khadija Bilal | Published on 17 Aug 2023

One of the perks of travelling abroad is being able to shop at duty free shops in airports, border towns, and other locations. These shops typically sell a range of popular and desirable goods that you can buy without having to pay any extra tax , so duty free shopping is a good option for people who want to purchase the likes of perfume or alcohol for less than usual.

If you’re new to the idea of international travel, or if you haven’t done much shopping at duty free shops in the past, you might have some questions about how it all works. In this guide, we’ll cover all that Canadians need to know about duty free shopping, including what you can bring home to Canada , how much you can spend, and what you should buy in duty free stores.

What are duty free shops?

Let’s begin with a simple definition and a look at what duty free shops actually are. Duty free shops, or duty free stores, are retail outlets that can sell a range of goods, including alcohol, fragrances, tobacco, confectionery, and more, often at lower-than-average prices. For this reason, many travellers like to shop at these stores with a travel credit card .

Duty free shopping is only found in areas near international borders, or where international travellers are present and in the process of travelling between countries, such as in airports, on cruise shops, and even on planes. 

The key distinguishing characteristic of these stores is that they do not have to pay any local duties or taxes, hence the name “duty free”. This means that shoppers are typically able to purchase a range of desirable items at cheaper than normal prices when shopping in duty free shops.

How duty free shopping works for Canadians

The fundamentals of duty free shopping are the same in most parts of the world, but they can have slight differences depending on your nationality. For Canadians, the amount of duty free shopping you can do and the amount of money you’re able to spend in duty free shops will depend on how long you’ve been away. Here’s how it breaks down.

Under 24 hours

If you’re only out of the country for less than a day, such as a brief trip over the border into the US, you are not entitled to any special personal exemptions and will not be able to save money at duty free shops.

Between 24 and 48 hours

If you’re out of Canada for a period of between 24 and 48 hours, you are entitled to claim goods worth up to $200 (CAN) without paying any duty or taxes. However, this does not include any alcohol products or tobacco products. If you bring in any of these items, or anything else in excess of $200, you’ll have to pay full duty and taxes on those items.

Over 48 hours

If you’re out of the country for more than 48 hours, you get access to much better duty free benefits. You’ll be able to bring in goods worth up to $800 without any duty or taxes, as long as the goods are with you when you enter, and you can also purchase alcohol and tobacco duty free. However, you will need to be careful with quantities. 

• For alcohol, you can bring in 1.5L of wine, 1.14L of liquor, or 355ml cans or bottles of beer. 
• For tobacco, you’ll be entitled to up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200g of tobacco, or 200 tobacco sticks.

If you go above the $800 limit, you can still qualify for a special duty rate of just 7% on the next $300 worth of products you bring into the country. Again, this only applies to products that are with you when you enter, and it doesn’t work for alcohol or tobacco.

Over 7 days

If you’re out of the country for more than a week, you have the same $800 limit as explained above. However, you get an added bonus of being able to ship some of your products (excluding alcohol and tobacco) to your address later on, so you don’t have to have these items with you at the border.

How much can you spend in duty free shops?

Technically, you can spend as much as you like in duty free shops, but you’ll only get the benefits on the products that fall within your allowance, as explained above. So, if you’re out of the country for a few days and want to bring some products back, you’ll only be able to get the duty-free savings on up to $800 worth of items.

What to buy in duty free shops

So, once you’ve got the best credit card ready to shop, what should you actually buy when you visit a duty free store? Well, it will depend on your personal preferences and the place you’re visiting, but these are some of the main products that people tend to focus on and save money on:

• Alcohol – Alcohol tax rates are very high in Canada (up to 61.5% for some spirits) so it’s usually much cheaper to buy alcohol at duty free shops
• Tobacco products – The tax rate on tobacco products is also high in Canada at up to 32.5 cents per cigarette or 65 cents per gram of loose tobacco, so it’s logical to buy at duty free shops
• Limited edition items – Sometimes, the only place to find exclusive, limited edition products is in duty free shops
• Certain cosmetics – Some cosmetics will cost less at duty free stores, as the stores often have special offers and deals if you buy in large quantities
• Certain clothing items and accessories – Certain clothing items may also work out cheaper due to the lack of sales tax, but this will vary
• Jewelry and watches – You may also get some good deals on jewelry items and watches in duty free shops, but you have to compare with the prices at home to be sure

What to avoid in duty free shops

In general, you should avoid any products at duty free stores that you know you can find cheaper back home. It’s a good idea to compare prices online while you’re in the store so you don’t pay more than necessary. In addition, the following categories of products are usually overpriced in these stores and best avoided:

• Electronic devices 
• Chocolate and candy 
• Most souvenirs

In-air duty free shopping

In-air duty free shopping with the SkyMall service or similar programs can be a good way to shop for duty free goods. One of the advantages of waiting until you are on the plane before buying any duty free products is that it can be more convenient, as you won’t have to worry about carrying the items around with you in the airport before you board.

Not only that, but if you’re on a flight back home, in-air duty free shopping might be your last chance to order some duty free goods before you get there. So, if you have been hesitating about buying products like perfumes or some souvenirs to share with your family back home, this could be the best chance to do so.

On the downside, in-air duty free shopping programs seem to be on the way out. All of the major US airlines have stopped offering this kind of service as passengers tend to increasingly spend their time during a flight enjoying on-board entertainment or using the internet. Therefore, it’s not always guaranteed that you’ll be able to access on-board duty free shopping at all.

Is the SkyMall Catalog duty free?

Yes, on some airlines, you will see a “SkyMall” catalog or an equivalent catalog which allows you to buy a range of items like perfumes, watches, chocolate, and more during a flight. This is common practice on several major international airlines, and the products you buy on board via the SkyMall will count as duty free.

Land duty free shops

For Canadians, one of the most popular places for duty free shopping is at the border with the US. And since the Canada-US border is the longest international border in the world, there are lots of land-based duty free shops along its length for travellers to enjoy and many opportunities to save on popular products.

Land-based duty free shops will usually sell all of the same products you’d expect to find in a typical airport shop, like alcohol, jewelry, accessories, and gifts. Some of them have other services, too, like food courts and business centres, and you can often find some of the best deals at the land crossing shops.

Airport duty free shops

Usually, when people think about duty free shopping, they picture the classic duty free shops in airport departure areas. Airports are some of the best places to do duty free shopping, and lots of major airports around the world will have at least one duty free store that you can browse around.

A good advantage of duty free shopping in airports is that it gives you something to do before your flight. Travellers often like to spend a little time browsing these shops while they wait for the boarding process to begin, and if you buy fragile or breakable items like wine bottles, the staff will wrap them carefully for you to prevent any damages. You can usually take these bottles on the plane with you, but you’ll need to keep your invoice from the shop and confirm with the airline.

Tips and tricks for duty free shopping

Here are a few tips and tricks that should help you get the most value and have the best experiences with duty free shops:

• Don’t assume that everything is cheaper: it’s a myth that duty free products always cost less than they do elsewhere, so make sure you head into these shops with the right frame of mind. 
• Compare prices: use the internet on your phone or another device to compare prices of products you want to buy with online stores at home in Canada to find good value buys. 
• Look for unique products: sometimes, duty free shops will have unique or limited edition products you may not be able to find anywhere else. 
• Check for promos and freebies: duty free stores may sometimes offer special offers, promos, or even give you free gifts with certain purchases that could give you plenty of extra value. 
• Plan ahead: before your trip, think carefully about what items you’d like to buy at the duty free shop. This will help you stay focused in the stores and avoid being distracted by other items or wasting money. 
• Go for the big sizes: in general, if you’re going to buy something at duty free, it pays to get a big quantity. This is especially true for perfume and alcohol, as the prices for larger bottles are usually better than small ones.
• Keep receipts: you may need these receipts later on to show the customs officials to prove how much you paid for your items and prevent you from having to pay tax twice on the goods you buy.

Duty free shops: the final word

As we can see, duty free shopping can be a very interesting way to buy high quality branded goods that you can take back home and save some money in the process. There are many ways to enjoy duty free shopping, and lots of products to buy, but it’s not always as good as it sounds and you aren’t always guaranteed to make a saving.

In general, it’s best to carry out some research and compare prices of the products you want to buy to make sure you’re not paying over the odds. In addition, Canadians should always be aware of the rules regarding duty free shopping and make sure to stay within their duty free allowance to avoid any issues or unexpected extra costs.

FAQs about bout duty free shops

It is possible to shop at a duty free shop at a place like an airport or border crossing before you actually cross over the border, while you wait in the airport, but you will need to have an international travel ticket and show it in the store. Otherwise, you won’t be able to shop in these stores.

Not always, no. In fact, it’s a common myth to say that duty free shops are always cheaper than other stores. The prices can be attractive in these shops and you may save money on certain goods, due to the fact that they have no sales tax, but they often have high mark-ups, which can cause products to cost more than they would elsewhere.

No, you cannot use duty free shops when taking a domestic flight. The shop staff will check your boarding pass and will want to see an international ticket in order to allow you to buy duty free goods in the store.

It depends on where you are going. There are some countries that will allow arriving international passengers to enter some duty free shops before they exit the airport, but others do not allow this.

No, not all of the shops in an airport are duty free. Usually, the duty free shops will be labelled or marked as such.

Khadija Bilal

Everything you need to know before you go through U.S. Customs or go duty-free shopping

You’ve been out of the country on a much-deserved vacation. About an hour before your plane lands, the flight attendant hands you a U.S. Customs declaration form. Chances are you purchased a few souvenirs or gifts during your travels – so which ones do you have to declare? The answer: Every item you didn’t have with you when you originally left the United States.

You’ll be asked how much you paid for each, including all taxes – so it helps to keep those receipts in an easily accessible place. You may also want to pack all of these items together so that you can find them quickly if you’re chosen for inspection.

You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.

Contrary to popular belief, purchasing something in a duty-free shop does not necessarily mean you don’t have to pay any duties or taxes on it; the item is only duty-free in the country where you bought it. If the value of the item falls outside your personal exemption (see below), you will have to pay U.S. duties on it.

Wear this, not that:    10 things not to wear when traveling abroad

Register your items

To avoid confusion, you might want to register certain items with U.S. Customs before you leave the United States – that way you can prove that you owned an item before you left. This is particularly worth considering for expensive foreign-made items like laptops or watches. You can register the items at the nearest CBP office or at the international airport from which you are departing – just request a  Certificate of Registration (CBP Form 4457)  and have the items (including serial numbers) handy.

Duty-free exemptions

In most cases, travelers are permitted to bring up to $800 worth of merchandise back to the United States without having to pay duty. ( Numerous exceptions apply .) Keep in mind that only one liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars may be included in this exemption.

Duty-free and reduced rates

Items from certain countries may be duty-free under previously negotiated agreements with the United States government. Typically, items from Caribbean and Andean countries, certain sub-Saharan African countries, Israel, Jordan, Chile, Singapore, Canada, and Mexico are allowed into the United States at a duty-free or reduced rate. However, keep in mind these items still need to be declared when you re-enter the United States.

Also, household effects – such as furniture, paintings, carpets, linens, and similar items –  are duty-free if you’ve used them for at least a year while living abroad, and they are not intended to be sold or used as gifts. For more information, see the CBP’s guide to  duty-free or reduced rates .

You can take out or bring unlimited “monetary instruments,” as the U.S. Customs folks call cash, money orders, traveler’s checks, and the like, but if you are carrying more than $10,000 worth, you must file a Currency Reporting Form with U.S. Customs.

Prohibited and restricted items

Some items – such as absinthe, firearms, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, meat products, and some cultural artifacts – are restricted and will only be admitted into the U.S. under special circumstances. Others, including most drug paraphernalia and items from embargoed countries (like Cuban cigars), are prohibited entirely. Check the CBP’s list of prohibited and restricted items  before you leave.

Paying duty at U.S. Customs

If you owe duty, it must be paid upon arrival in the United States. You may pay with U.S. currency, a personal check drawn on a U.S. bank, or a government check, money order, or traveler’s check (as long as the amount isn’t over $50 more than the duty you owe). Some locations also accept payment with Visa or Mastercard.

Mailing items from overseas

Your exemption applies only to those things you have on your person when you return to the United States; if you mail anything back, you’re responsible for paying the duties and taxes on those items separately. For more information, see the CBP’s information on sending items back to the U.S .

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7 Things You Need to Know About Duty-Free Shopping

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com , a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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These days, the post-security departure areas of most big international airports look more like shopping malls than transit hubs. Often, you can’t avoid a long trek past a meandering duty-free shopping area before you get to your departure gate. While duty-free shops advertise their items as deals, the truth is that many aren’t. For travelers tempted to make a purchase, there are seven things you need to know about duty-free shopping.

What “Duty-Free” Really Means

When shopping duty-free abroad, the “duty,” or, more accurately, “tax,” that you avoid is the tax that’s in effect where the airport is located. You’re not avoiding a U.S. import duty, which is very low on most items, anyways. The main tax is usually a value-added tax (VAT), although a local import tax could be involved, depending on the location. When duty-free shopping in the U.S., the taxes you avoid are the state and local sales taxes, and/or the federal excise tax that apply to some products.

The Ultimate Checklist for Traveling Abroad

Duty-Free Items Aren’t Necessarily Cheaper

Airport duty-free shops do not price items by simply dropping the tax; they price so as to be reasonably competitive in their local area. But the shops have to bear the usual retail overhead and also pay a stiff royalty to the airport, so the markups are still high.

Choose Your Duty-Free Purchases Strategically

When you’re returning to the U.S. after a foreign trip, the best buys are generally confined to items that are subject either to a stiff U.S. excise tax or to tight manufacturers’ price controls. That means liquor, tobacco, cosmetics, and fragrances typically offer the best deal.

Duty-Free Electronics Can Be More Expensive

Although they’re often available when duty-free shopping, cameras, watches, and other electronics are almost always cheaper online via sites like Amazon , Best Buy , Costco , or Walmart , than at any duty-free shop.

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You Can Shop Duty-Free On Arrival

Some countries allow arriving international travelers to use duty-free shops before leaving the airport, but the U.S. does not. Returning U.S. travelers can buy duty-free only at foreign departure airports.

Liquor is the Most Popular Duty-Free Purchase

Liquor is probably the most popular duty-free buy for U.S. travelers. TSA rules allow travelers to bring liter bottles into the country as an added carry-on even on connecting domestic flights, as long as they’re packed in tamper-evident bags—which the duty-free stores provide with your purchase.

There Are Limits on Duty-Free Purchases

Returning U.S. citizens are allowed one liter of duty-free alcohol and a maximum of either 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars from most foreign countries. Some states impose tighter restrictions on import of liquor and tobacco than the federal restrictions. Conversely, “states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Airport Security Frequently Asked Questions

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Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

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Customs Allowances

Your “duty free customs allowance” is just the beginning, here’s the thing that savvy crossers know - canadian and u.s. residents can shop as much as they like when they cross the border. “duty free” refers to the fact that there are set amounts regarding what can be brought across free of taxes and duties. the portion that is tax and duty free is called a customs allowance..

Pick your Border Crossing for customized information like allowances and wait times.

CANADIAN RESIDENTS Returning to Canada

American residents returning to the u.s., entering the u.s.* for “personal consumption” anytime exemption.

Tobacco 200 Cigarettes 50 Cigars 200 G of fine cut tobacco Alcohol 1.0 L of wine, liquor, beer or ale Gifts 100 $ CAD to be left in the USA Please check with the regulations of the State you are arriving in; they may have more restrictive limits. Watch the video

RETURNING TO CANADA* 24 – 48 Hours

GOODS TAX AND DUTY FREE 200 $ CAD per person Tobacco Subject to duties and taxes Alcohol Subject to duties and taxes Watch the video

RETURNING TO CANADA* Over 48 Hours

Tobacco 200 Cigarettes (1 carton) 50 Cigars or Cigarellos 200 tobacco sticks 200 G of manufactured tobacco Alcohol 1.5 L of wine or 1.14 L of liquor or 355 mL cans/bottles of beer or ale Goods, tax and duty free UP TO 800 $ CAD per person Watch the video

It starts with an “Anytime Personal Exemption”

Canadians can bring 1L of alcohol (1L of spirits, wine and beer) and some tobacco into the U.S. regardless of the duration of the stay in the U.S., so long as the alcohol and tobacco is for personal use.

You can still save, even with tax and duty charges

You may have to pay taxes and duties on purchases over and above the customs allowance. This will be calculated by a On purchases over and above the customs allowance, you may be required to pay some nominal taxes and duties. This will be calculated by a Customs official after you declare.

Here’s how it adds up: if you exceed your duty free allowance and exemptions entering the U.S., the following approximate U.S. duty and tax rates apply:

• US $2 – $3 per bottle of liquor, on average
• US $1.90 per case of beer, on average
• US $10.07 per carton of cigarettes, on average

*US duty rates on purchases exceeding 1 litre of alcohol are assessed according to alcohol content

Products other than alcohol and tobacco may also require a duty payment.

If you are Canadian, when you return to Canada you may be asked to pay the regular taxes and duties on the value of items over your customs allowance. Be aware that many items qualify for reduced or zero duty.

ENTERING THE U.S.* Anytime Exemption

Tobacco Subject to duties and taxes Alcohol 150 mL of alcoholic beverages Goods 200 $ USD per person Watch the video

DURATION OF STAY IN CANADA 24 – 48 HOURS

Tobacco 50 Cigarettes 100 Cigars Alcohol 150 mL of alcoholic beverages Goods 200 $ USD per person Watch the video

DURATION OF STAY IN CANADA Over 48 Hours

Tobacco 200 Cigarettes 100 Cigars Alcohol 1 L of alcoholic beverages or 1 (24 bottles) case of beer Gifts 800 $ USD per person. This is a monthly exemption. Family members can combine their $800 per person monthly import privileges. Watch the video

Americans can return to the U.S. with $200USD worth of goods per person, including 5oz of alcohol on any daily visit to Canada.

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Do Better at the Border.

Today’s duty free allowances are better than ever, but most people don’t know how you can take your savings even further when you shop at the border - even when you buy more than your allowance.

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