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Canada
Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements
Prohibitions
The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.
To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our Prohibited and Restricted item list and packaging guide (1.1MB).
- Alcoholic beverages
- Animals and animal products
- Albuminoidal substances
- Bee-keeping apparatus, used
- Contraceptive devices and literature
- Essential oils
- Firearms and firearm parts
- Intoxicating liquors
- Inorganic and organic chemicals
- Lottery tickets and advertising
- Margarine or butter substitutes
- Mineral fuels and oils
- Metallic labels
- Periodicals
- Plumages
- Pharmaceutical products
- Prison-made goods
- Reprints of Canadian or British copyrighted works
- Seeds
- Soil, salts, minerals and waxes
- Toys, games and sports requisites - simulating explosive devices or munitions
- Tanning or dyeing extracts
- Wood, articles of wood, wood charcoal
- Weapons.
Transporting food of any kind, cash and perfumes are prohibited under International Courier.
Alcoholic Beverages
The Importation of alcoholic beverages (including wine) to Canada is strictly prohibited unless being mailed to a Provincial Liquor Board or Commission, or to a manufacturer or distributor of such beverages in Canada. Samples must be sent by freight methods; they cannot be sent by Australia Post. Licensed distillers and authorised agents cannot import alcohol into Ontario by Australia Post.
Batteries
All types of batteries and devices containing them (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, wireless headphones and equivalent, power banks, tablets, etc.) are prohibited from being sent via International Courier.
Import restrictions
If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.
We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:
- Bees and bees’ wax
- Condensed and dehydrated milk
- Conserves of fruits and vegetables
- Films
- Fish and fishery products
- Fruit, wheat, potatoes, onions
- Liquids and oils
- Manufactured goods bearing insufficient markings of origin
- Meat and meat products
- Medical and radiation emitting devices
- Medicines
- Plants
- Weapons and parts of weapons
Please note the following restrictions for International Standard articles being carried by the EMS network:
- Ammunition
- Animals
- Antiques
- Asbestos
- Bees
- Biological substances
- Bullion
- Coins
- Counterfeit
- Currency
- Fur
- Human ashes
- Human remains
- Ivory
- Jewellery
- Leeches
- Live
- Narcotics
- Perfumery
- Perfume
- Perishable
- Pornography
- Precious metals
- Precious stones
- Silkworms
- Watches (only if over $150.00)
- Weapons
Coins
Canada admits coins addressed to coin dealers or collectors only if uninsured.
Okay to send? Send responsibly.
As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.
Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.
It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.
Special documentation
In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.
Invoice
Commercial consignments valued at more than $C1200 need a certified invoice. The sender should send three copies separately to the addressee and include one copy in the article.
Gifts
Canada admits duty-free gifts up to $C60 in value that are labelled unsolicited gift.
Delivery locations & exclusions
Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.
Delivery locations & exclusions data (Personal)
- International Express and International Standard (both carried via the EMS network) - Parcels deliver to all destinations
International Express and International Standard - Parcels does deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante. - Valuable articles are not permitted in Extra Cover parcels, International Express or International Standard - Parcels
- International Courier
Check our International Courier page for more details.
Shipments must be lodged at the counter at a participating Post Office (PDF 832kB) by the cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. Please fill out the online CN23 customs form prior to visiting the outlet.
International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.
Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):
- Toronto (M1Bxx to M9Wxx)
- Hamilton (L4Sxx to L9Kxx)
- London (N5Vxx to N6Txx)
- Montreal (H1Axx to H5Bxx)
- Vancouver (V5Kxx to V7Yxx)
- Ottawa (K1Axx to K2Pxx)
- Calgary (T1Xxx to T3Vxx)
Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to T2Yxx, T3Bxx, T3Gxx, T3Hxx or T3Kxx. - Edmonton(T5Axx to T6Zxx)
- Winnipeg (R2Gxx to R3Rxx)
Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to R2Mxx or R2Pxx.
For more information from the overseas carrier, check the Canadian Post website.
Make sure it's safe to send
Some items are considered dangerous and unsuitable for sending from Australia, even if they’re not prohibited by the destination country.
