Shipping to Canada: the complete guide

Canada isn't just big, it's enormous, the second-largest country in the world. Shipping there pays off for another reason too: the economy has plenty to offer, which means long-term stability and planning security for you. In this guide you'll find everything you need to ship your products to Canada: why it's worth it, which carriers deliver, how to address a parcel, the customs rules and documents you need, what it costs, and how long delivery takes.

Why it's worth shipping to Canada

As almost everywhere in the world, e-commerce in Canada is on a steady upward trend, growing at an estimated rate of more than 5% a year with no end in sight. With around 38 million people spread across nearly 10 million square kilometers, Canada has a very low population density. For many people, getting to a store is time-consuming, so more and more Canadians order online instead. That's good news for you as an online retailer, so get ready to jump on board.

The main carriers for shipping to Canada

To make sure your parcel reaches your Canadian customer safely and by the fastest route, Sendcloud works with leading international carriers. With a constantly optimized global logistics network, each carrier makes sure you can ship to Canada affordably and efficiently, which benefits both you and your customers.

DHL

Excellence. Simply delivered. That motto says it all, because DHL delivers to Canada punctually and reliably, with a clear price-performance structure that offers different transit times at matching prices.

General parcel limits with DHL:

• Minimum dimensions: 15 x 11 x 1 cm

• Maximum dimensions: 120 x 60 x 60 cm

• Girth (L + 2x W + 2x H): max. 300 cm

• Weight: max. 30 kg

Note: for rolls, the maximum length is 120 cm, the diameter max. 15 cm, and the weight max. 5 kg. With DHL Express Easy International the minimum size is 21 x 15.2 cm, the maximum 120 x 60 x 60 cm, and the weight up to 31.5 kg.

DPD

Fast and reliable, DPD gets your parcel across the ocean with precise tracking and clear transit times, and offers an express service to reach your customer at top speed. Sizes and weights:

• XS: max. 35 cm (shortest + longest side); max. 31.5 kg

• S: max. 50 cm (shortest + longest side); max. 31.5 kg

• M: max. 70 cm (shortest + longest side); max. 31.5 kg

• L: max. 90 cm (shortest + longest side); max. 31.5 kg

• XL: max. 300 cm (girth); max. 31.5 kg

GLS

GLS ships to Canada with its international express service (GlobalExpressParcel). Limits: maximum 200 x 80 x 60 cm, girth up to 300 cm, and weight up to 50 kg, which is ideal for heavier goods.

UPS

From pickup, or drop-off at a UPS Access Point, right through to delivery to your Canadian customer, your parcel is in good hands with UPS, which handles larger, heavier goods well:

• Maximum length: 274 cm

• Girth (L + 2x W + 2x H): max. 400 cm

• Weight: max. 70 kg

UPS services for Canada include UPS Express Saver (economical express delivery by the end of the next day), UPS Worldwide Express Freight (the B2B solution with delivery by the end of the next day), and UPS Expedited (for goods that are less time-critical).

Convenient pickup

No time to drop your parcels off? No problem. Our carriers can also collect your shipments from you.

Who delivers your parcel locally?

Depending on the carrier you choose, your parcel takes a different last-mile route to your customer. If you ship with DHL, for example, the parcel is handed over to Canada Post on arrival and delivered by them. With UPS, delivery is carried out directly or by local partners on the ground.

Tip: international returns from Canada can be logistically complex and costly, so it's best to organize your returns solution with a local partner.

How to address a parcel to Canada

Canadian addresses follow specific conventions. The house number comes before the street name, and the postal code comes after the city name, followed by the relevant province. Don't be surprised: Canadian postal codes are a combination of letters and numbers. Canada Post prefers addresses in capital letters, though your parcel will of course still arrive if you use lowercase.

Here's an example of a correctly written Canadian address:

Best Practice Inc. (company name)
John Doe (recipient name)
44 Sample Street (house number, street)
Toronto (Ontario) M5A 1L1 (city, province, postal code)
Canada (country)

Tip: a recipient phone number isn't strictly required, but it can help, since the carrier can call the recipient directly if there's ever a delivery problem.

Customs information for shipping to Canada

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a bilateral trade agreement between the EU and Canada, has simplified many customs criteria and made trade considerably easier. Even so, there are several rules to keep in mind when you ship to Canada, which we explain in detail below.

What customs rules apply?

Like every country, Canada has clear rules on which types of goods may be sent into the country and which may not. In addition, customs duties apply to certain goods and above a certain value.

Non-commercial shipments to Canada

For non-commercial shipments to Canada, you need to enclose a proforma invoice instead of a commercial invoice. Non-commercial shipments include, for example, spare-part deliveries, free product samples, and gifts.

Commercial shipping to Canada

Every parcel sent to Canada must include a commercial invoice with all mandatory details such as Incoterms and HS (tariff) codes, in duplicate, along with a customs declaration (CN22/CN23). The declaration must be completed in either English or French, and all contents of the parcel must be listed individually.

General terms such as "toys" or "electronics" aren't accepted. You have to give an exact description, for example "Monopoly" or "sandwich maker." Each item in your parcel must also be given a realistic value that doesn't deviate significantly from its market value.

Which taxes and duties apply depends on the region you ship to. As a guide, here's a short overview of the current rates.

Sales tax at the national level: GST

Canada levies the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the sale of most goods and services. Some regions additionally charge the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) or the Provincial Sales Tax (PST), which already includes the GST. If you're registered for GST, you're automatically registered for HST/PST too.

GST and HST rates by province:

• 5% in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon (GST only)

• 13% in Ontario (HST)

• 15% in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island (HST)

Registering with the relevant tax authorities

Before you sell goods to Canada, you need to register with the authority in the region where you want to sell. You can register here:

• National level: canada.ca/en/services/taxes/gsthst.html

• British Columbia: gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/sales-taxes/pst/register

• Manitoba: taxcess.gov.mb.ca

• Quebec: revenuquebec.ca

• Saskatchewan: skpstregistry.gov.sk.ca

If you've identified Canada as an attractive market and plan to ship there regularly, it can be worth registering for the Courier Low Value Shipment (LVS) Program, which simplifies customs clearance for goods worth less than 2,500 CAD.

Your EORI number for Canada

In addition to the customs declaration and commercial invoice, you need an Economic Operators' Registration and Identification (EORI) number to ship to Canada. You can apply for it easily with your customs authority.

Shipping documents to Canada

If you're only shipping documents to Canada, declare "documents" with your carrier and proceed as usual. Because customs don't inspect documents, your shipment should reach the recipient even faster.

Which goods may you not ship to Canada?

As a rule, any goods that are banned in Canada may not be sent there by post, so all kinds of weapons, drugs, and indexed pornographic material are off limits. On top of that, there are country-specific restrictions to keep in mind. The most important ones:

• Jewelry, gemstones, coins, and banknotes may not be sent by post

• Many foods are prohibited, including any fruit that could regrow or sprout from its pits, such as apricots, nectarines, or peaches, as well as their pits and plant parts

• Self-propelled toys and any baby articles such as car seats, cribs, and strollers

• All wood products must be checked carefully before shipping, as any wood needs certification and appropriate labeling

• Take care with medicines of any kind: they must be approved by Health Canada and explicitly legalized for import

Before shipping a parcel to Canada, check carefully with customs whether your product is subject to any regulation.

How can your customers track their parcel?

With Sendcloud and well-organized carriers, your customers can keep an eye on their shipment and check its location at any time. If you ship with DHL, the DHL tracking number transfers to the Canada Post tracking tool once the goods arrive in Canada. If you ship with UPS, the tracking number stays in the UPS tracking system regardless of the country.

You can also keep your customers up to date with Sendcloud's track & trace and strengthen your brand along the way. Tracking is effortless regardless of carrier, and lets you send status emails in your own corporate design and feature offers for your products on the tracking page.

How much does shipping to Canada cost?

Calculating your shipping costs accurately is essential so that neither you nor your customers get any nasty surprises at checkout. Your shipping costs to Canada depend on:

1. Your choice of carrier

2. Added services such as shipping insurance, tracking, and so on

3. Your chosen delivery speed (express or standard)

4. The dimensions and weight of your parcel

With a free Sendcloud account you can calculate your shipping costs to Canada to the cent using our rate calculator.

How long does delivery to Canada take?

Delivery time to Canada varies depending on the carrier you choose, whether you ship by express or standard service, and whether transit is affected by public holidays in Canada. To avoid delays at customs, make sure all the required documents are completed correctly and enclosed. As a guide, here are the usual transit times:

A typical parcel to Canada takes 2-12 days, depending on the shipping rate you choose. Please note that these are standard transit times, which are usually met but not guaranteed. During peak periods, such as Christmas, plan for slightly longer transit times.

Watch out for public holidays

Post offices and parcel shops close on Canadian public holidays, which can delay delivery. Alongside nationwide holidays such as New Year's Day, Canada Day (July 1), Labour Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, many provinces observe their own regional holidays, so check the calendar for your destination province before you ship.

Packaging matters for shipping to Canada

Your parcel travels a long way to Canada, around 6,500 kilometers on average, so choose your packaging carefully to keep costs low and make sure your goods arrive undamaged. Choose the smallest possible packaging size for your product and protect it with suitable filling material and, where needed, edge protectors. Attach all required documents in a clear pouch on the outside of the parcel so that customs don't have to damage it to inspect the contents.

How Sendcloud helps you ship to Canada

Sendcloud supports your shipping to Canada with leading carriers, flexible options, smart shipping rules, personalized tracking, and a returns portal. Questions about shipping to Canada? Get in touch with our team.