Liquids, aerosols and gels
Before leaving for the airport, you can ensure that you will pass through pre-board security screening faster and easier by packing your liquids, aerosols and gels properly.
Liquids are items such as coffee, bottled water and shampoos. Aerosols include hairspray, static remover and shaving cream. Gels are non-solid food items like jam, pudding and yogurt, and personal-care products such as gel-based deodorant, lip gloss or hair styling gel.
Please note that if you try to bring an item that is illegal in Canada, such as pepper spray, through a pre-board screening checkpoint, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will notify the police.
How to pack your liquids, non-solid food and personal items
Drink or discard any beverages in containers of more than 100 ml before you get to the security screening checkpoint, including the water in your personal water bottle.
Any liquids, gels and aerosols in containers larger than 100 ml / 100 grams (3.4 oz) should be placed in checked baggage, as long as they are not prohibited items.
Avoid packing gifts and souvenirs containing liquids, aerosols and gels in your carry-on. Put them in your checked baggage or ship them separately.
You are allowed a single one litre (1 quart) clear, closed, resealable bag containing your liquids, food and personal items in your carry-on baggage.
All containers of liquids, non-solid food and personal items must be 100 ml/100 grams (3.4 oz) or less and must fit in this bag. The approximate dimensions of a one litre/quart bag are 15.24 cm by 22.86 cm (6 in. by 9 in.) or 20 cm by 17.5 cm (8 in. by 7 in.).
At the screening point, take your plastic bag out of your carry-on and place it in a bin.
For more information, visit Liquids, Non-solid Food & Personal Items.
Exceptions for liquids, non-solid food and gels
These items are allowed in your carry-on baggage in containers over 100 ml. You must declare them at security screening. We recommend that you pack these items in your carry-on baggage and place them in an easy-to-access area so that you can easily remove them for inspection.
- Baby food, milk, formula water and juice if you are travelling with an infant under two years of age (0-24 months)
- Breast milk if you are flying with or without your child
- Prescription medicines
- Essential non-prescription medicines, such as homeopathic products, pain relieving medication, cough syrup, decongestant spray, gel-based nutritional supplements, saline solution or eye care products
- Gel and ice packs needed to treat an injury, to refrigerate baby food, milk, breast milk, formula, water and juice for infants under two years of age (0-24 months), or to preserve medically necessary items or medication
- Liquids/gels for diabetes or other medical conditions
- Distilled water for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices
For more information, visit Exceptions.
Liquids and non-solid food
Food is not exempted from the restrictions on liquids.
Non-solid food (for example, yogurt, pudding or jam) is allowed in your carry-on baggage in containers of 100 ml or less. Food in cans or jars that contain both solids and less than 100 ml of liquid (e.g. a can of tuna) are also allowed. These containers must fit into the same clear, closed, resealable one litre (one quart) plastic bag as all the other containers of liquids, food or personal items that you are carrying.
Food in containers over 100 ml that is normally a liquid or gel but has been frozen is not allowed in your carry-on baggage. For food to be considered a solid, it must be solid at room temperature.
Any containers over 100 ml should be placed in your checked baggage.
For more information, visit Liquids/Non-solid Food.
Solid food
You can carry solid food items, such as sandwiches, apples and granola bars, in both your carry-on and checked baggage when you are travelling within Canada. If your destination is outside of Canada, any food not consumed, including food in your checked baggage, will be subject to the regulations of the country you are visiting.
For more information, visit Travelling with Solid Food Items.
Alcohol
You can pack any amount of alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol by volume or less, or five litres per person of alcoholic beverages with 24% and 70% alcohol by volume, in your checked baggage if you are flying within Canada.
Duty-free alcohol: See Duty-free purchases as carry-on baggage.
What happens if you bring non-permitted item to a pre-board security screening checkpoint?
If your item does not pass pre-board screening for carry-on baggage, you can:
- put it in your checked baggage if you have time before your flight
- leave it with a friend or family member who is still at the airport
- re-book on a later flight, which will give you time to make other arrangements
- ship the item by mail, cargo or courier from the airport if these options are available
- abandon the item