Alcohol regulations in Nunavut

Licences needed

Excise duty licence from the Canada Revenue Agency (federal); no territorial commercial distillery licence category is established under the Nunavut Liquor Act (only Brewery Permits exist territorially for beer production)

Authority

Canada Revenue Agency (federal) / Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Board (territorial)

Documents

For federal distilling: CRA Form L63, business registration, premise blueprints, equipment layout, security bond; for territorial brewery permit: Form Schedule Application for Brewery Permit, proof of premises ownership/lease, criminal background checks

Fees

$500 territorial fee for brewery permit issue or annual renewal; federal excise licensing requirements and bonding apply

Time to obtain

Not confirmed (no territorial distillery application pathway exists; brewery and liquor licences are reviewed at quarterly NLCB meetings in January, March, June, and September)

Who can import

Commercial importation is legally monopolized by the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC). Individuals aged 19 and older can import spirits for personal use by purchasing an individual Liquor Import Permit.

Licences or registrations

Liquor Import Permit (for individual importation); commercial product listing agreement with NULC (for commercial suppliers)

Authority

Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC) / Nunavut Department of Finance

Documents

Government-issued photo ID (verifying age 19+), import permit application detailing volumes, and written approval from the local Alcohol Education Committee (AEC) if importing into a restricted community

Fees

Import permit fee for spirits: $3.75 per litre (Wine: $2.00/L; Coolers/ciders/RTD: $0.59/L; Beer: $0.56/L)

Time to obtain

Import permits are generally issued same-day or within 1 to 3 business days; standard permits are valid for 21 days (14 days for Kugluktuk)

Required

no

Process

There is no independent territorial label or brand registration mechanism. Commercial listings are selected directly by the NULC based on consumer demand, sales history, and national trends. Products must comply with federal Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) labelling regulations.

Authority

Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC) / Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Documents and samples

Product specification sheets, Canadian-compliant packaging proofs, and wholesale quotation upon NULC procurement request (via info@nulc.ca)

Fees

None for territorial label registration

Renewal

Periodic listing reviews based on sales thresholds

Time to obtain

Not confirmed

Under the federal Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (IILA), commercial shipments of liquor across territorial borders may only be consigned to the territorial liquor authority (NULC). Direct commercial imports by hospitality licensees or retailers are illegal; all licensees must purchase from the NULC or a licensed territorial brewery. Individual personal imports from other Canadian jurisdictions require a territorial Liquor Import Permit (or must fall within the physical travel exemption of up to 3 litres of spirits, 9 litres of wine, or 26 litres of beer). Personal shipments into restricted communities require approval from the local Alcohol Education Committee. Federal excise stamps are required on spirits imported into Canada.

Standard Canada Customs Tariff (HS Chapter 2208) applies at the federal border. Most distilled spirits originating in WTO/MFN countries enter duty-free (0%), subject to federal excise duties collected by CBSA.

Territorial: Nunavut levies 0% territorial sales tax (no PST or HST) and does not impose a separate percentage liquor tax. Instead, the NULC applies a flat territorial markup of $25.84 per litre on spirits, a $0.27 per litre administrative fee, and an import permit fee of $3.75 per litre on personal imports. Federal: Federal excise duty under the Excise Act, 2001 (adjusted annually on April 1) plus the 5% federal Goods and Services Tax (GST).

State monopoly. There are no private off-premise retail liquor stores in Nunavut. Walk-in retail stores operated by the NULC (in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet) sell only low-alcohol beverages (beer, wine, ciders, coolers); spirits are not sold in physical walk-in retail stores. Spirits for consumer off-premise consumption must be purchased via remote mail order from NULC distribution warehouses in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet or imported under a permit. Licensed on-premise establishments (dining rooms, cocktail lounges, clubs) may serve spirits for on-site consumption up to 2:00 AM.

Restricted. Remote ordering is operated directly by the NULC; orders are processed at territorial warehouses and shipped by air cargo or post to individuals in authorized communities. Direct-to-consumer delivery from out-of-territory private online retailers is prohibited unless an import permit is secured and approved by the local community AEC.

Must comply with federal Food and Drugs Act and Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act regulations: bilingual labelling (English and French), common name, net quantity in metric units, alcohol percentage (% ABV), manufacturer/importer contact information, and allergen declarations. Nunavut does not mandate unique territorial health warnings.

Heavily restricted. Under Section 117 of the Nunavut Liquor Regulations, advertising of liquor by signs, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or any other public medium is prohibited unless expressly approved in advance by the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Board. Broadcasters must also comply with the national CRTC Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages.

Federal definitions set out in the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations (Part B, Division 2) govern all spirits: Whisky, Rum, Gin, Vodka, and Brandy require a minimum of 40% ABV unless specifically permitted as a specialty or liqueur product. Nunavut does not maintain distinct territorial identity standards.

Every community determines its liquor status under s. 48.2 of the Liquor Act by plebiscite: (1) Unrestricted communities (subject only to general territorial laws: Baker Lake, Cambridge Bay, Grise Fiord, Iqaluit, Kugluktuk, Rankin Inlet, Taloyoak); (2) Restricted quantity / committee communities (orders must be approved by an elected local Alcohol Education Committee: Arctic Bay, Kinngait, Chesterfield Inlet, Clyde River, Sanirajak, Iglulik, Kimmirut, Naujaat, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Resolute Bay, Whale Cove); (3) Prohibited / Dry communities (complete ban on possession, transport, consumption, and import: Arviat, Coral Harbour, Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, Pangnirtung, Sanikiluaq).

• Late 2023 / 2024: The Government of Nunavut instituted strict daily limits on liquor import permits to combat illegal bootlegging, restricting individuals to one permit per day and capping spirit imports to a maximum of 7 litres per permit.
• November 2025: NULC terminated in-person permit sales at departmental offices, transitioning import permit procurement entirely to designated NULC store locations and telephone/remote service.
• July 2026: The Premier of Nunavut opted out of the interprovincial agreement on direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, maintaining the primacy of community plebiscites and municipal alcohol restrictions over pan-Canadian direct shipping.

Opportunities are limited due to a population of approximately 40,000, severe freight logistics, and strict community-level restrictions. Distillers must pursue supply routes via listing with the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission or by securing placement through provincial consolidated distributors (such as SAQ or LCBO) from which the NULC occasionally procures.

• Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC)
• Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Board (NLCB)
• Nunavut Department of Finance

1. Government of Nunavut - Liquor Import Permits
2. Government of Nunavut - Liquor Restriction Systems
3. Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NULC)
4. Government of Nunavut - Liquor Licences and NLCB
5. Nunavut Legislation - Official Consolidation of Liquor Act
6. CBC News - N.W.T. and Nunavut premiers abstain from agreement on direct-to-consumer alcohol sales