Quick answer: Canadians ship parcels to Switzerland every day by Canada Post, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and Jet Worldwide. Most low-value consignments clear Swiss customs with a minimum CHF 5 duty threshold, and qualifying Canadian-origin goods enter duty-free under the Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement. A Canadian receiving address lets Swiss shoppers buy from Amazon.ca and Canadian retailers without a US middleman.
Businesses and consumers in Switzerland are increasingly looking for a Canadian address to receive their online orders for shipping to Switzerland. Parcel trade between Canada and Switzerland continues to grow with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and modern e-commerce technologies.
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Jet Worldwide provides a receiving address for goods ordered online from Switzerland. Swiss consumers can order from Canadian Amazon, eBay, and Canadian retailers and have the orders shipped to Jet. We can store orders to consolidate and save shipping costs, then forward via low-cost economy express or Canada Post to Switzerland.
If you are considering a package forwarding service to shop from North America but want an alternative to US-based options such as MyUS, a Canadian address can be the perfect solution.
Choosing Canada unlocks Canadian suppliers, North American goods, and products exclusive to Canada, while avoiding the trade and tariff limitations of a US address.
Customs processes are subject to change and the information below is for general guidance only. Always confirm regulatory compliance with the consignee in Switzerland before shipping.
Customs duties are based on the type, material, characteristics, use, and weight of the goods. They are calculated in accordance with the assessment basis (as a rule, gross weight at the time of customs declaration). The actual gross weight including transport packaging may differ significantly from the weight indicated on a delivery note.
In addition to any import duty, goods are subject to value-added tax (VAT). The Swiss standard VAT rate is 8.1% of the assessment basis (effective January 1, 2024). A reduced rate of 2.6% applies to certain goods such as books, newspapers, magazines, food, and medicines.
Having the proper paperwork is important when sending a parcel to Switzerland. Parcels can be subject to additional fees if they cannot clear customs due to missing, unreliable, or incomplete customs documents. Storage fees can be assessed while parcels are held until missing information is received or until the recipient or customs authorities make a decision on clearance.
As a rule, every parcel imported to Switzerland is subject to customs duty and VAT. However, duties and VAT are not charged if the amount calculated is less than CHF 5.00 per customs declaration, with customs and VAT charges considered separately.
In general, goods sent from Canada to Switzerland via courier valued below CHF 50 (around CAD $75) can be cleared duty-free. Gifts sent from private individuals living abroad to private individuals in Switzerland are duty-free up to a goods value of CHF 100.00.
Notes on sending gifts from Canada to Switzerland:
When assessing value, Swiss Customs considers the transport cost as part of the value of the goods.
The upper limit of goods value (including transport costs) for an import exempt from VAT is calculated so the VAT owed stays below CHF 5:
For goods repaired abroad and returning to Switzerland, VAT is charged only on the new material and the labour costs. Both elements must be clearly stated on the commercial invoice.
Switzerland is home to global pharmaceutical companies with a massive biotech hub in Basel and cold-storage capabilities in Zurich. Canadian startups and universities frequently collaborate with Swiss firms on:
Dry ice maintains temperatures around −75°C and sublimates without leaving watery residue. Contact our team to see how we can meet your cold chain needs.
Canada Post Packet services provide low-cost shipping options for Canadians sending small parcels to Switzerland. Shipments sent via Canada Post are imported and delivered in Switzerland by Swiss Post.
For shipping Canadian parcel post "packet" to Switzerland:
For shipping larger Canadian parcel post packages and pallets to Switzerland:
FedEx and UPS are North America's dominant couriers and offer — along with DHL — reliable express delivery from Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, and Toronto to Geneva, Zurich, and throughout Switzerland.
Purolator Courier is a leading domestic carrier in Canada and offers international express delivery via partners, including UPS Canada.
Switzerland and Canada have a Free Trade Agreement through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member. Qualifying Canadian-origin goods can be imported duty-free to Switzerland when accompanied by a qualifying origin declaration.
The origin declaration referred to in Articles 16 and 17 of Annex C of the Canada-EFTA Agreement is set out below:
"The exporter of the products covered by this document [customs authorization No ...] declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of Canada/EFTA preferential origin."
When the origin declaration is completed by an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 17 of Annex C, the exporter's customs authorization number must be included. A customs authorization number is required only where the exporter is an approved exporter.
Footnote 2: "Canada/EFTA preferential origin" means qualifying as originating under the rules of origin of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the States of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).
Footnote 3: The place and date of completion of the origin declaration may be indicated elsewhere on the invoice or on another document that describes the originating products and includes the origin declaration.
Footnote 4: Articles 16 and 17 of Annex C provide certain exceptions to the requirement of the exporter's signature.
Read more: EFTA Canada duty-free import to Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland
Common carrier options for shipping from Switzerland to Canada include Swiss Post (preferred by individuals sending small parcels and personal items), DHL, and the North American mega-carriers FedEx and UPS.
FedEx and UPS options for shipping from Switzerland to Canada include International Priority air and economy deferred services.
Parcels imported from Switzerland to Canada are subject to Canadian duty and taxes. Most parcels valued under CAD $20 can be imported free of duty and taxes. Parcels valued under CAD $3,300 can be imported through the Canadian Low Value Shipment (LVS) express clearance process.
Low-value shipments of Swiss-origin goods shipped via parcel carriers can more easily benefit from duty-free entry to Canada.
The value-for-duty amount for all of Canada's free trade agreements (including the Canada-EFTA FTA) for which proof of origin is waived was changed to CAD $3,300 in July 2020, to harmonize with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
For imports not exceeding CAD $3,300 to Canada, the requirement for proof of origin is waived. The importer must still maintain records (for example, commercial invoice and B3 entry) even when the Canada Border Services Agency does not require a certification of origin or when the certification requirement has been waived.
For personal effects, all goods must be listed on the invoice in detail with individual values, along with written confirmation from the consignee that the goods are used and older than 6 months. Items must be used.
Shipping excess baggage to Switzerland: Generally, it is simpler and cheaper to ship personal effects as excess baggage when you travel. Carrier excess-baggage fees for a couple of bags are usually less expensive than shipping separately, and they remove the entry requirements discussed above.
Shipping a box or several boxes: This can move by airfreight, though it is often costly.
Shipping a household or container-level move: For full household moves, contact a moving specialist to arrange packing and ocean transport.
Jet Worldwide has shipping solutions for Canadian e-commerce retailers and platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, and marketplace sellers. For updates on the latest international shipping solutions for Canadian online orders, connect with Jet Worldwide's e-commerce team.
Jet Worldwide gives all companies access to shipping quotes between Switzerland and Canada for parcels, pallets, and online orders.
Jet Worldwide
Canadian logistics provider for Switzerland, the EFTA region, and global B2B shipping.
Serving: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Quebec City, and Ottawa — delivering to Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Lugano, Lucerne, and across Switzerland.
Last updated: April 10, 2026 | Reviewed by: Jet Worldwide Logistics Team | Content type: Editorial guide
Other EFTA and European destinations from Canada:
Norway · Iceland · Liechtenstein · Germany · France · Italy · Austria
Disclaimer: Information in this article is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, customs, or tax advice. Shipping rates are indicative samples and do not constitute a binding quotation. Swiss duty rates, VAT thresholds, EFTA rules, and carrier surcharges are subject to change. Always confirm current regulations with your customs broker or the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) before shipping.
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