Korean Job Discussion Forums

[in_seoul_2003]

how long do you have to be living outside canada for anything you take back to be something you don't have to declare/exempt from customs?

[adeline]

You can claim up to CAN$750 worth of goods without paying any duties. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, a partial exemption may apply to cigarettes, tobacco products or manufactured tobacco. See the section called "Alcohol and tobacco" for more details. With the exception of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive.

To calculate the number of days you have been absent, do not include the date you left Canada but include the date you returned. Dates matter, not times. For example, we consider you to have been absent seven days if you left Friday the 7th and returned Friday the 14th.

Who is eligible for these exemptions?
You are eligible for a personal exemption if you are one of the following:

a Canadian resident returning from a trip outside Canada;
a former resident of Canada returning to live in this country; or
a temporary resident of Canada returning from a trip outside Canada.
Even young children and infants are entitled to a personal exemption. As a parent or guardian, you can make a declaration to the CBSA for a child as long as the goods you are declaring are for the child's use.

Do you spend part of the year outside Canada?
If you spend part of the year in another country for health reasons or pleasure, that country usually considers you to be a visitor. As such, you are still considered a resident of Canada by the CBSA. This means you are entitled to the same exemptions as other Canadians. When you import foreign goods or vehicles for your personal use in Canada (even temporarily), you have to meet all the import requirements and pay all the applicable duties and taxes.

I don't think there is a several years exemption at least if you're a citizen, i am exempt from customs because of my visa, because it expires and i have to leave none of the goods i bring will remain in canada (in theory) so i don't have to pay.

[tomwaits]

Good question. My suspicion is there is NO limit, you declare anything and everything bought abroad.

Canada Customs can be real anal about this stuff. I went to States recently and said "nothing to declare" on the grounds I spent and bought very little. Wrong answer, I was informed if you have a half a coffee and a newspaper with you you declare it. It's not all about tax-they want to know how much we spend abroad for statistics. But you won't actually need to make a list. When I cam home from Asia they asked what was bought oveseas and the answer was EVERYTHING. The suitcase, the clothes I'm wearing absolutely everything...

So they might want a dollar value---unless you are carrying a 20,000 watch or something it should be OK.

[skindleshanks]

If you've been living abroad long enough to be classified as a non-resident (there's a three-page checklist--cutting banking/credit card ties and being married overseas seem to be especially helpful in becoming non-resident) then when you MOVE back, you can bring most everything back duty-free, as long as it wasn't bought in the last 6 months.
That's my understanding, anyway.