How to fill out the “Landing Card” from Canada Customs correctly?
Replies: 1 - Last Post: May 27, 2012 10:36 AM Last Post By: cdnfoodie
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How to fill out the “Landing Card” from Canada Customs correctly?
Greetings:In a few days, I will be arriving in Halifax for my annual summer vacation in Canada. Before the plane lands, the flight attendants will be passing out the "Landing Cards" from Canada Customs. I am Canadian but I only plan to stay in Canada for two months so I think Customs sees me only as a visitor. I don’t like making mistakes on anything because mistakes can cause unneeded delays. Mostly importantly, does anyone know how much I can claim for gifts and I mean the maximum amount. I have been out of the country two months (I was in Canada at the end of March for family business for exactly one week) so can I claim (maximum amount) $60 or $750 for gifts or some other amount? Yes, I did this card the end of March but usually I absent from Canada for ten months, not two months as I was this year so I was wondering if anything is different this time. I just want to pass in my card at Canada, receive the official “OK” and go pick up my rental car without any hassles what so ever. Any information given is greatly appreciated.
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"“resident” means a person who, in the settled routine of that person’s life, makes his home, resides and is ordinarily present in Canada;""“visitor” means a person who is not a resident or a temporary resident and who enters Canada for a period not exceeding 12 months."
See http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d2/d2-1-1-eng.pdf , 3rd page for Customs' definition of resident and visitor. There's also more detailed information about the max amount of various goods you're able to bring in as a visitor.
If you're a resident and you've been out of the country for more than 1 week, you can bring back up to $750 in goods. If you're a visitor, each gift/item must be no more than $60.
http://cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5082-eng.html#s2x1
http://cbsa.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5056-eng.html#s2x8

