Location
Customs Clearance for Shipments To and From Canada
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has moved import accounting and revenue management onto its CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) platform, which changed how importers register and manage duty payments. Proximity to the US market also means a meaningful share of Canadian trade involves CUSMA (the successor to NAFTA) origin claims.
Primary gateway: Vancouver
Key gateways
- Port of Vancouver
- Port of Montreal
- Toronto Pearson International Airport for air cargo
- Windsor–Detroit border crossing for cross-border trucking with the US
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Named ports & gateways
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Key industries
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Common shipment types
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Common questions
Customs environment
How clearance works here
Commercial importers need to be registered in CARM to submit declarations and manage duty accounts directly, or work through a customs broker who manages this on their behalf. CBSA's risk-based inspection approach means consistent, accurate past filings tend to reduce exam frequency over time.
Key industries
- Automotive parts and vehicles
- Lumber and forestry products
- Agricultural products and food
- Energy and mining equipment
- Consumer goods via US land-border trucking
Common shipment types
- Cross-border trucking shipments from the US requiring same-day or next-day clearance
- CUSMA-qualifying automotive parts and components
- Bulk agricultural and forestry exports
- Ocean freight from Asia into Vancouver for onward North American distribution
Documentation
Standard entry requires a commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading/airway bill or, for land-border shipments, a Canada Customs Invoice or equivalent commercial invoice with the required data fields. CUSMA origin claims require a certification of origin — which can be prepared by the importer, exporter, or producer, unlike some other agreements that restrict who can certify.
Duties & taxes
Duty is assessed based on tariff classification and country of origin, with CUSMA-qualifying goods from the US or Mexico eligible for preferential (often zero) rates. Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies on import in addition to any applicable duty, and rates are calculated and managed through the CARM platform for registered importers.
Rates and thresholds change — confirm current figures for your specific goods before relying on them for a shipment.
Watch for
Where clearance commonly runs into trouble
A small, recurring set of causes accounts for most delays in this market. Knowing them ahead of time reduces the odds of hitting one.
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CARM registration gaps for new importers who haven't yet set up their account before their first shipment
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CUSMA origin claims made without adequate supporting documentation to survive a verification request
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Land-border trucking shipments held for missing or incomplete Canada Customs Invoice data
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Classification disputes affecting both duty and GST calculation
Terms you'll see
- CBSA
- Canada Border Services Agency — the customs authority responsible for import/export enforcement.
- CARM
- CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management — the platform importers use to register, declare, and manage duty accounts.
- CUSMA
- Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement — the successor to NAFTA, governing preferential origin claims between the three countries.
Common questions
Services we provide in Canada
Tools for shipments to/from Canada
Nearby in the network