Instructions for Shipping from US to Canada
Shipping from the US to Canada is fairly straight forward. Because of NAFTA, many items you may be shipping from the US to Canada are duty free and can cross the border with ease. There are some basic things that every shipment from the US to Canada needs.
Generally, the shipper fills out the required shipping documents and Customs forms including the Canada Customs Invoice, Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading and NAFTA Certificate of Origin. It is very important that all information is consistent across all shipping documents and Customs forms. Weights, prices and number of pieces on all shipping documents and customs forms must match. Any discrepancy on the required shipping documents and Customs forms may cause your shipment to be delayed and possibly not clear Customs if the customs forms are not filled out correctly.
When shipping from the US to Canada it is also very important to designate a “Clearing Customer”. This is the person who will be responsible for paying any duties and taxes when shipping from the US to Canada. The clearing customer can be the shipper, the consignee, or another third party. However, this needs to be clearly outlined on the shipping documents. The clearing customer must also have an account set up with a Canadian Customs Broker, who will take care of the transaction at the border and charge back the clearing customer for duties and taxes. For this purpose, the clearing customer needs to set up a power of attorney with the customs broker. Please note when shipping from the US to Canada for the first time it could take up to 7 days to set up a power of attorney with your customs broker.
Basic Required Shipping Documents and Customs Forms when shipping from the US to Canada
The following shipping documents and Customs forms are required for a shipment to clear Customs if moving from the U.S. to Canada:
- Canada Customs Invoice (PDF) – 3 copies
- Commercial Invoice – 3 copies
- Bill of Lading – 3 copies
- NAFTA Certificate of Origin (PDF)