The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a 5% tax applied on most goods and services supplied in Canada.

Who is eligible to receive a GST refund?

Under the Visitor Rebate Program (VRP), non-Canadian residents who have purchased goods while visiting in Canada are eligible to receive a rebate on the goods and services tax (GST) paid. Canada Border and Services Agency (CBSA) administer this program.

How do you obtain a GST refund?

To obtain a GST rebate, passengers must present the purchased goods and their accompanying receipts to Canada Customs for validation prior to check-in and going through security. Once the receipts have been validated (stamped), Canada Customs will advise passengers on options for obtaining the tax rebate. A popular option is to receive an instant cash GST rebate at the Vancouver International Airport Global Refund kiosk adjacent to the Visitor Rebate Office within the ICE Currency Exchange. There is also an Instant Tax Refund location on Level 3 of the Vancouver International Airport, U.S. Departures (Post-security). Passengers must have their receipts validated by Canada Customs prior to receiving an instant cash GST rebate at either location.

Hours and locations of the Visitor Rebate Offices at Vancouver International Airport are:
Daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – across from the USA check-in counters, near the Fairmont Hotel.

Daily from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. – Level 2 (Arrivals) of the International Terminal, adjacent to the ‘Elephant & Castle Restaurant’.