Q: I am going to Vancouver (from Hong Kong) for a family wedding and am bringing a watch and a piece of jewelry as gifts. Will I have to pay customs at the airport... in which case, could it be cheaper to buy these gifts after I arrive?
A: If you are a Canadian (but a non-resident visitor - ie. you don't live in Canada anymore) or a foriegn national visitor and according to the website of the Canada Border Services Agency: You can import gifts for friends in Canada duty- and tax-free, as long as each gift is valued at CAN$60 or less. If the gift is worth more than CAN$60, you will have to pay duty and taxes on the excess amount. You cannot claim alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or business-related material as gifts. The complete customs guide (which you can also get normally on the plane going to Canada) can be found here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pbg/cf/e311/e311-07-09e.pdf Unfortunately, I couldn't find how much it would cost and the duty would depend on how much the things were worth. In many cases, it seems they only charge you Canadian taxes (provincial plus GST - 13% if you are going to Vancouver) but it could be more. There may be further information on this website: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.