Shipping to and from Canada.
North America's reliable alternative. From Vancouver's Asia gateway to Montreal's Atlantic routes, we handle Canada's complex dual-language customs and cross-border regulations.
Canada freight, coordinated across the whole operating thread.
Canada is the world's 10th-largest economy and the United States' largest trading partner ($600B+/year). Logistics to Canada requires understanding CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) regulations, provincial variations, and bilingual documentation (English/French). Major gateways: Vancouver (Asia imports), Montreal (Europe imports), and land borders (Detroit-Windsor, Buffalo-Niagara). CBSA clearance is typically faster than US CBP (2–3 days vs. 3–5 days), but import licenses (B-13 documents) may be required for restricted goods. Ground distribution within Canada requires Canadian carriers; US carriers cannot legally operate beyond the border. Our partner network operates in Toronto and Vancouver and clears 200+ containers monthly through Canadian ports.
CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) requires all imports to be declared via PARS (Pre-Arrival Review System) or released via EDI. B-13 import permits required for restricted goods (food, pharma, OGDs). Customs duty: 0–25% depending on HS code. USMCA eliminates duties on many goods. Bilingual documentation (English/French) required for all shipping paperwork. Port clearance: 2–3 days standard. Land border clearance via CBP + CBSA: 1–3 hours. Our licensed customs broker partners file PARSs, obtain B-13 permits, and handle bilingual documentation.
Annual imports referenced in the country profile.
Annual exports referenced in the country profile.
Trade position and market context.
Routing compared across ocean, air, ground, customs and partner options.
Port of Vancouver
North America's largest gateway to Asia (3.2 million TEU/year). Modern facilities, excellent clearance times (2–3 days). Premium pricing due to capacity constraints.
Port of Montreal
St. Lawrence Seaway gateway (1.3 million TEU/year). Europe/North Atlantic imports. Seasonal ice constraints (Nov–Apr). Good alternative to US East Coast ports.
Port of Halifax
Atlantic gateway on Canada's east coast (0.8 million TEU/year). Year-round ice-free. Gateway to Canadian Maritime provinces.
Detroit-Windsor Land Border
Busiest Canada-USA land crossing (9 million vehicles/year). FTL/LTL into Ontario. CBSA clearance: 1–3 hours typical.
Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
Canada's largest international airport. Modern cargo terminal. Flights to USA, Europe, Asia. 0.5+ million metric tons/year.
Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Air cargo gateway — Ontario.
Vancouver (YVR)
Air cargo gateway — British Columbia.
Montreal (YUL)
Air cargo gateway — Quebec.
Calgary (YYC)
Air cargo gateway — Alberta.
What moves through Canada.
The freight plan changes by product category, Incoterm, customs regime and gateway. These are the trade patterns already documented for this market.
Frequent trading partners
The accounts you need before your first Canadian import
Canada checks who you are before it checks your cargo. Registration takes days, so start it well ahead of the booking.
- Business Number — You need one from the tax authority, with an import and export account attached to it.
- CARM account — CBSA runs importer accounts through its CARM portal. Register, then give your broker access.
- Financial security — Importers are expected to post security in their own name. Confirm the current rule with your broker.
- Non-resident importer — A foreign seller can import and sell delivered. It changes who owes the duty and tax.
- Power of attorney — Your broker needs written authority before it can transmit anything on your behalf.
- Product research — Some goods need a permit from another department. Find out before the purchase order, not after.
Land border or seaport? The paperwork changes
Canada releases cargo differently by mode. The mode you pick sets how much time you have to fix a problem.
| Entry type | How release usually works | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Truck at a land border | The driver presents a release request prepared before arrival | Data ready hours ahead, not minutes. A rejected request turns the truck around. |
| Rail | Released against the rail manifest | Longer lead times, and fewer chances to correct data in transit. |
| Ocean container | Released against the marine manifest at the port | Terminal fees and free time. Book the inland leg before the box lands. |
| Air | Released against the air waybill | Speed, but agency reviews still apply and can hold the shipment. |
| Courier | A consolidated low-value stream | Simple, until one shipment passes the low-value limit and needs a full entry. |
Claiming USMCA the way CBSA expects
USMCA duty relief is a claim you make, and one you must be able to prove years later.
- There is no official form — The certification is a set of required data elements. It can sit on the invoice itself.
- Anyone in the chain can certify — The exporter, the producer or the importer may sign, if they hold the facts.
- A blanket certification covers repeat orders — One document can cover a stated period of identical goods.
- The rule differs by product — Some goods qualify by tariff shift, others by regional value. Read the rule for your code.
- Shipped through a third country? — Goods that leave the region can lose the claim. Watch transshipment and storage abroad.
- Keep the proof — A claim you cannot support later turns into duty plus interest.
Bilingual labelling is a border issue, not a marketing one
Consumer goods sold in Canada carry their information in English and in French. Fix it at origin, because relabelling in Canada costs time and money.
- Product identity and quantity — Both languages, on the package the buyer actually sees.
- Metric units — Canada expects metric measures. Imperial units on their own are a problem.
- Dealer name and address — The responsible Canadian party has to appear on the label.
- Food labels — Ingredients, allergens and nutrition data follow their own bilingual rules.
- Safety and warning text — Warnings must be readable in both languages, not buried in the manual.
- Relabelling after arrival — Possible in an approved facility, but it adds handling and pushes the delivery date.
Small errors that cost days at the Canadian border
None of these are complicated. They are simply the ones that keep happening.
- An invoice missing the Canadian details — The buyer, the seller, the terms of sale and the origin all have to be there in full.
- Currency not stated — An invoice in dollars, with no currency named, stalls the valuation.
- Wood packing without a treatment mark — Untreated pallets are refused. Check the stamp before the container is sealed.
- A US carrier asked to deliver inland — Domestic moves inside Canada belong to Canadian carriers. Plan the handover point.
- Duty and tax confused — Sales tax still applies when the duty is zero. Budget for both, or the landed cost is wrong.
- No plan for returns — Goods going back need their own entry. Agree the route with your customs broker before you ship, not after a rejection.
Services available for Canada.
Canada shipping questions.
Answered from the country profile and the operating requirements documented for this market.
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