You’ve found a consumer for your product, but they’re in Canada and you’re in the US. You want to sell the things and ship them to Canada, but you’ve heard about the USMCA, commercial invoicing, customs clearance, tariffs and potential storage fines if your shipment to Canada fails.

Here are a few pointers to make things go more smoothly and stress-free:

• All exports to and from Canada must go through a customs broker.

• A Canadian Commercial Invoice (CCI) and a Bill of Lading are necessary.

• On the Commercial Invoice, the shipment value must be specified.

• Fees must be paid by the recipient.

• In Canada, national holidays are not the same as in the United States.

The movement of large quantities of goods by road, rail, ship or air is referred to as freight. Freight transportation is an important part of many E-commerce companies’ operations, especially when it comes to international shipping.

Ocean carriers and air freight companies can transport commercial goods to Canada. Each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, some of which are listed here:

Ocean shipping to Canada

1) LCL (less than container load): Chartering a whole container to transport your goods to Canada is not necessary. You can ship your goods in a shared container using LCL shipping. This may be the most cost-effective solutionfor smaller loads.

2) Full Container Load (FCL): For someInternational shipping, you’ll need to rent an entire container. It enables businesses to seal their containers at the point of origin and maintain them sealed until they arrive in Canada at their intended destination. Shipping by FCL is both faster and less expensive than shipping by LCL.

Canadian Air Freight

Whether via direct cargo-only aircraft or indirect passenger flights, air freight is the quickest way to transport your goods. However, it is by far the most expensive option.

How long does it take to send freight to Canada?

Shipping delays will, of course, be affected by the distance between your chosen port or airport of origin and its destination in Canada. In general, an air shipment from a major International airport anywhere in the globe will reach Canada in two to eight days.

The procedure of shipping goods by sea takes longer. The cargo vessels that bring containers to Canada travel at an average speed of 35 kilometres per hour. As a result, items can take anywhere between 11 and 53 days to arrive in Canada. The type of container you select (FCL or LCL) also affects the transit time.

Customs Clearance for Imports into Canada

All commercial shippers attempting to import products into Canada must adhere to customs procedures. Because the process can be complicated, many companies hire a freight forwarder to handle it. By hiring an expert, businesses may avoid unnecessary shipping delays and ensure that their products meet Canadian customs standards.

Even when working with International shipping experts, a business must prepare and submit certain documents. The most typical documentation required by Canadian customs is as follows:

Commercial Invoice Packing List

• Payment terms such as a letter of credit, a certificate of origin or another type of payment (depends on the contract between the parties involved)

• Bill of Lading for Ocean Freight or Bill of Lading for Air Freight and Freight Invoice

Final Thoughts

Accurate information is important when shipping to Canada. So take your time and do it correctly. Your seamless border crossing is dependent on the correct assistance and thorough planning.