Importing process

Learn the rules you need to follow when importing goods into Canada.

Navigating the Border

There is nothing worse than having your goods turned away at the border or being held up by customs because you didn't have the right paperwork. Before you place your import order, be sure that you understand the rules and regulations involved in clearing your goods through customs.

You must:

• determine if the goods you want to import are prohibited from coming into Canada;
• determine if the goods are subject to any restrictions that would require you to obtain approvals or permits before importing them;
• know how to classify the goods (tariff classification) and how any tariffs, duties or taxes are calculated;
• ensure that your supplier meets all labelling and marking requirements;
• ensure that you use a shipping company that understands and complies with customs formalities;
• make sure that all required paperwork is ready to be examined along with your shipment;
• be prepared to pay the duties and taxes owing.

All of this information and more can be found in the following document:

• A step by step guide to importing
  
  http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/sme-pme/i-guide-eng.html
  Learn the basics about the commercial importing process.

Warehousing or Storing your Shipment

When you are bringing goods across the border, you have the option of moving them to a facility that is convenient to you, before they clear customs. The goods remain under the control of the Canada Border Services Agency while being stored. There are several different options for storing your goods.

• Warehousing or storing your shipment
  
  http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/import/warehousing-entreposage-eng.html
  Learn about storing your goods in sufferance warehouses, bonded warehouses and places of safekeeping, before they are released from customs.

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS)

This classification is used by customs officials around the world to determine the duties, taxes and regulations that apply to products entering their country.

The HS code uses a six-digit number to identify basic commodities. Each country is allowed to add additional digits for statistical purposes.

In Canada, two additional digits are used for exports and four additional digits for imports. The U.S. uses a ten-digit system for both exports and imports.

To determine the HS Code of your goods, the following sources can be useful:

• Customs Tariff
  
  http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/menu-eng.html
  Use the Customs Tariff publication from the Canada Border Services Agency to determine the classification of your goods under the HS code. If you are importing, it will indicate the rate of duty you may need to pay.
• Canadian Export Classification
  
  http://www.statcan.gc.ca/trade-commerce/cec/index-eng.htm
  Searching this Statistics Canada database can help you identify the harmonized system code of your goods.