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Duty Free Shopping Rules for Caribbean Travelers

By , About.com Guide

United States residents:

U.S. citizens who have been out of the country for a minimum of 48 hours and have not used their respective duty-free allowance within 30 days generally are entitled to a $800 duty-free tax exemption in the Caribbean. Families traveling together can pool their exemptions.

Alcohol: The duty-free allowance for U.S. citizens age 21 and over is two liters, the value of which must be included within the $800 exemption. For travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the exemption is $1,600. Special rules also apply to purchases that you mail home rather than carry home.

Canadian citizens

Canadian citizens who have been out of the country for a minimum of 7 days are entitled to a duty-free exemption of $750 CAD. They are also permitted a duty-free exemption of $400 CAD each time they are out of the country for more than 48 hours. This $400 exemption may not be claimed during the same period as the $750 exemption, nor can your exemptions be pooled with your spouse and/or children.

Alcohol: The duty-free allowance for Canadian citizens who meet the legal age of the province they re-enter is 40 ounces of liquor, 1.5 liters of wine, or two dozen 12-ounce cans of beer, the value of which must be included within the yearly or quarterly exemption.

Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars can be brought back duty-free.

U.K. Citizens: Can return home with 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco; 4 liters of still table wine; 1 litre of spirits or strong liquor over 22% volume; or 2 liters of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs; 16 litres of beer; 60cc/ml of perfume; and £300 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs. You cou can 'mix and match' products in the alcohol category, and the tobacco category, provided you do not exceed your total allowance. For example you could bring in 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars, which is 50 percent of your cigarette allowance and 50 percent of your cigar allowance.

European Union residents: Can bring home up to 430 Euros worth of goods, including up to four liters or wine and 16 liters of beer.

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