How do you estimate value of jewelry for travel declaration?

Upvote:7

Jewelry is not currency or a monetary instrument.

You are allowed to bring jewelry over $10,000 into Canada. The rule you are quoting doesn't cover jewelry. If you are visiting Canada and the jewelry will leave with you when you go, then you do not need to declare it. If you are coming for the first time to live in Canada and you intend to keep the jewelry, then it counts as "personal effects" and you should not need to pay taxes: you declare it along with any of your other personal effects. If you already live in Canada and acquired the jewelry outside of Canada and are bringing it back with you then you will need to declare it.

If you are not a visitor to Canada then it may be a good idea to get the jewelry valued before you bring it in. This is probably a good idea anyway for many reasons.

Upvote:11

It is unclear whether your are visitor or immigrant. About the latter, the website of the Goverment of Canada states:

Bringing goods to Canada
When you move to Canada from another country, you may bring your personal and household goods with you without paying duty. You’ll have to pay duty on any item you bring that hasn’t been used.

You don’t have to pay duty on . . . jewellery

and further on

Jewellery or precious ornaments
Officers may ask you questions about your jewellery or precious ornaments during your customs interview. Make sure you describe these items on your list of goods. To avoid delays at customs when you enter Canada:

  • use the wording from your insurance policy or jeweler’s appraisal on your list of goods
  • include photographs of the items
  • know how much you paid for the items or have a receipt showing how much you paid
  • you don’t need to pay duty or tax on family heirlooms

About your question, it does seem advisable to have your jewellery valued. If you have travel insurance it might be needed for that too.

Edit:
Readers have pointed out that the above information is directed to immigrants, and OP now clarifies they are a visitor. So I explored a bit and found the Government of Canada web page Visit Canada has a list of topics. The most relevant of those is Border information for international travel

On this page there are two relevant links:
a) Estimate duty and taxes but this is a form related to things you have bought, not family heirlooms.
b) Bring Goods Across the Border but this begins with "When you return to Canada ..." so it is for residents.

None of those links answers your question, so I suggest you use the Contact border information services link provided.

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