Shopping in Canada: What Travelers Need to Know
A common question from international visitors is whether they can get a tax refund at the airport before flying home.
The Old Policy vs. Now
Until 2007, Canada had the "Visitor Rebate Program." That program has ended. Today, when you buy a souvenir in a Canadian shop, the tax you pay is final and non-refundable for individuals.
The Exceptions (Business & Groups)
While individual shoppers are out of luck, certain groups can still claim:
- Foreign Convention Organizers: Rebates on venue rentals and certain services for conventions held in Canada.
- Non-Resident Businesses: ITCs may be available if the business is registered and conducting commercial activity.
Buying Tax-Free?
The only way to avoid the tax is to shop at Duty-Free Stores located in international airports or at land border crossings. These items are sold without GST/HST because they are intended to be consumed outside of Canada.
Shipping Goods Abroad
If you buy an item in Canada and have the store ship it directly to an address outside of Canada, the store should not charge you GST/HST.
Compare tax rates across provinces to find the best shopping stops →
Run the Canada GST/HST calculator for province-based totals →