Duty Free (2024)

Duty Free

Looking to Shop Duty Free?

Duty Free shopping is a great way for travelers to purchase gifts and last minute travel needs prior to leaving the country.

Before leaving Canada travelers have the opportunity to shop at the Peace Bridge Duty Free and before leaving the United States travelers can shop at the Duty Free Americas. Both stores offer travelers currency exchange services and premium merchandise including liquor, beer, and tobacco at great prices.

What are the benefits of Duty Free shopping?

When you shop at either of the Duty Free stores you shop “tax and Duty Free” – meaning you do not have to pay any sales tax (or VAT), and as long as you are within your personal exemption allowance you won’t pay duty. If you exceed your personal exemption allowance, you may be assessed duty by Customs prior to entering the country.

What are the requirements to be eligible to shop at a Duty Free store?1.) You must be leaving the country you are shopping in and,

2.) You must take the items you purchase with you into the country you are traveling to. Please note - you cannot re-enter the country you are shopping in with items you purchase at that Duty Free store unless you have met the length of stay requirements outside of the country mandated by Customs.

Fort Erie, Ontario
Peace Bridge Duty Free

Buffalo, New York
Duty Free Americas

Duty Free (1)Duty Free (2)

CanadianResidents:

Traveling to the United States

Length of Stayin United States

Amount Allowed in
USD$

Alcohol Allowances

Tobacco Allowances

Frequency of Allowances

Any Trip

Unlimited amount of personal effects

(Must be owned by non-resident, must be in their possession, cannot be a gift, or intended for sale)

1 liter of alcohol

(For personal consumption)

200 cigarettes, or 50 non-cuban cigars, or 2 kilos of tobacco, or proportionate amount of each

(For personal use)

Daily

As Gifts on Any Trip (+72 hours)

$100 worth of gifts

No alcohol for gifts

100 non-cuban cigars as a gift, no other tobacco

Once every
6 months

Returning to Canada

Length of Stay in United States

Amount Allowed in CAD$

Alcohol Allowances

Tobacco Allowances

Frequency of Allowances

After 24 hours

$200

Any purchase of alcohol may be subject to duties and taxes

Any purchase of tobacco may be subject to duties and taxes

Daily

$800

1.5 liters of wine or 1.14 liters of liquor, or a total of 1.14 liters of wine and liquor, or 1 case of beer

200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco

No limit on the amount of times you can use this exemption per year

U.S. Residents:

Traveling to Canada

Absence from United States

Amount Allowed in CAD$

Alcohol Allowances

Tobacco Allowances

Frequency of Allowances

No Minimum Stay

Unlimited amount of personal effects

(Must be owned by the non-resident, must be in their possession, cannot be a gift, or intended for sale)

1.5 litres of wine or 1.14 litres of liquor, or a total of 1.14 litres of wine and liquor, or 1 case of beer

(Must be for personal consumption)

200 cigarettes,

50 cigars, 200 grams of tobacco, and 200 tobacco sticks

(Must be for personal use)

Daily

As Gifts on Any Trip

$60 worth of gifts

No alcohol for gifts

No tobacco for gifts

Daily

Returning to the United States

Absence from United States

Amount Allowed in US$

Alcohol Allowances

Tobacco Allowances

Frequency of Allowances

Under 48 hours

$200 (worth of dutiable goods)

150 ml (4 oz) of alcoholic beverages or alcoholic perfume

50 cigarettes and 10 non-Cuban cigars

Daily

$800 (worth of dutiable goods)

1 liter of liquor

200 cigarettes and 100 non-Cuban cigars

Once every 30 days

Duty Free (2024)

FAQs

Duty Free? ›

Duty-free refers to the act of being able to purchase an item in particular circ*mstances without paying import, sales, value-added, or other taxes. Duty-free stores are an enticing perk of international travel.

What does for duty-free mean? ›

Duty-free refers to the act of being able to purchase an item in particular circ*mstances without paying import, sales, value-added, or other taxes. Duty-free stores are an enticing perk of international travel.

What is this duty-free? ›

Duty-free shopping means shopping without paying duties or taxes. In anywhere you shop, you always pay duties through the things you purchase. At duty-free stores, you can buy the products a lot cheaper.

What does duty-free mean in the US? ›

Duty-free means you don't pay taxes in the country where you make the purchase. You buy it duty-free at the time of purchase, then only need to meet the requirements of the country you're bringing it into.

Can US citizens shop at duty-free? ›

U.S. citizens, and any other national, are more than welcome to shop in airport duty-free stores as long as they are leaving the country in which they are shopping. So, an American on a flight from New York-JFK to London-Heathrow is welcome to shop in the JFK duty-free prior to their flight to London.

Is duty-free usually cheaper? ›

Although the tax-free benefit sounds appealing, not every duty-free item is a good deal. The general consensus is that heavily taxed items such as cigarettes and alcohol bring the highest level of savings. The airport can also be a great place to buy luxury items and designer goods.

Can you buy duty-free in your own country? ›

These duty-free items can only be purchased when departing from a country or when crossing into another territory. They are for export only and must be taken out of the country where they are purchased. Therefore, if you buy something in a duty free shop, you're not paying taxes on it in the country you purchased it.

What items are considered duty-free? ›

Duty-free stores are typically located in international terminals, though regular terminals with international flights may also offer duty-free options. Travelers can buy a range of luxury items at these stores, including food, alcohol, tobacco, accessories, fragrances and beauty products.

What is the US duty-free allowance? ›

Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate.

Is duty-free after security? ›

World Duty Free is a Dufry company and it operates many stores in airports all over the world. Vist the Store Locations page for more details. When you reach the airport our duty and tax free stores are typically located after security in the departure lounge or en-route to the gates.

Why do countries allow duty-free? ›

Legal basis

It is a common feature of most tax systems that taxes are not raised on goods to be exported. To do so could place the goods at a disadvantage to those from other countries, for example if the tax rate in the territory of sale is higher than the tax rate in the territory of consumption.

Can you return duty-free items? ›

Have you changed your mind or bought the wrong item? If you decide that the item you purchased isn't for you, our Returns Offer means you can send the item back to us.

Does duty-free count as hand luggage? ›

Your duty-free bag is permitted in the cabin along with your cabin bags. Lithium battery operated devices such as drones and quadcopters are accepted for carriage in the cabin once the battery does not exceed 160-watt hours. If the battery exceeds 160 watt-hours, the device cannot be accepted on board the aircraft.

Can you bring duty-free through security? ›

You may carry duty free liquids in secure, tamper–evident bags, more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml in your carry-on bag if: The duty free liquids were purchased internationally and you are traveling to the United States with a connecting flight.

Is there a limit to how much I can buy in duty-free? ›

As a private individual, there are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when travelling between EU countries as long as the products purchased are for your own use and not for resale. These maximum amounts must be at least : 800 cigarettes. 400 cigarillos (cigars weighing maximum 3 grams each).

Does duty-free accept dollars? ›

Our customers can choose to pay in cash using the following currency: American Dollar (USD); British Pound Sterling (GBP);

What is the meaning of duty-free entry? ›

(also duty-free entry) TAX, COMMERCE. permission given by a government for another country to export goods into their country without having to pay tax: The European Commission has today decided to give 16 developing countries duty-free access to the EU market for certain products.

What does it mean to be free of duty? ›

1. : without payment of customs duties : free from duties. imported duty-free. duty-free goods.

How does duty-free work going into the US? ›

Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP. Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country. Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).

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