Quick answer: To ship from France to Canada, individuals use La Poste Colissimo, delivered by Canada Post; businesses use Chronopost, courier, air, or ocean. French-origin goods enter duty-free under CETA with an invoice origin declaration. Parcels up to CAD 20 clear duty and tax free, and Jet Worldwide provides the Canadian clearance and delivery whatever carrier moves the goods.
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The economic connection between France and Canada has strengthened under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), provisionally applied since 2017. France is Canada's third-largest European partner for trade in goods and services, and Quebec is the province France trades with most. Most major French multinationals have a Quebec presence.
CETA has been provisionally applied with essentially all duty eliminated.
Best Options for Shipping From France to Quebec and Canada
With a shared language, Quebec is often the first Canadian market of entry for French firms. The right mode depends on the size and weight of your shipment, the nature of the goods, and the transit time you need.
| Mode | Best for | Transit | Jet's Canadian-side role |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Poste (Colissimo) | Personal parcels, occasional senders | 3 to 8 days | Clearance guidance, fee recovery, delivery support |
| Chronopost (Chrono Express) | Faster parcels, small business | 1 to 5 days | Agent clearance oversight, CLVS entry |
| Courier (FedEx, UPS, DHL) | Commercial, tracked | 2 to 7 days | Brokerage, duty and tax management, DDP |
| Air freight | Urgent, under about 100 kg | Under a week | Consolidation, CARM entry, delivery |
| Ocean (LCL or FCL) | Pallets, bulk orders | 1 to 2 months | De-consolidation, clearance at Montreal, distribution |
For occasional and personal shipments, La Poste usually offers the best solution. For regular volume or to build lasting access between France and North America, our team designs a dedicated route and return process.
La Poste: Colissimo and Chronopost
The options to send packages from France include La Poste (Colissimo), Chronopost, FedEx, UPS, and DHL.
Colissimo International to Canada
Colissimo is a parcel-post product imported and delivered in Canada by Canada Post. When a parcel from France is assessed duty and tax, Canada Post charges an import handling fee of CA$9.95 in addition to the duty and tax.
- 3 to 8 day delivery to Quebec and Canada
- Colissimo up to 20 kg, Zone C
Chrono Express Monde to Canada
Chrono Express is Chronopost's express service to Canada, imported via a local agent in Montreal (such as FedEx) who hands it to a domestic carrier such as Purolator for delivery. Import handling for Chronopost shipments typically ranges from about CAD 15 to CAD 45 in addition to any duty and tax.
- 1 to 5 day delivery to Montreal and Canada
- Chrono Express Marchandises up to 30 kg, Zone 5
- Shipments under CAD 3,300 clear via Courier Low Value Shipment (CLVS); parcels under CAD 20 are duty-free
The Canada Post handling fee averages around $10 CAD. FedEx and UPS charge around $15 CAD.
Courier to Canada via FedEx and UPS France
FedEx and UPS are North America's dominant carriers, and FedEx operates a major hub at Paris CDG. Both, along with DHL, offer air express and economy delivery to Quebec and Canada from Paris, Lyon, and all of France. Options include international express priority air and international economy air.
Cargo: Air Versus Ocean From France
Containerized cargo from France generally takes 1 to 2 months, with Montreal the main Canadian port for French goods. Air freight usually delivers in under a week.
- LCL sea freight: best for one to several pallets, sharing container space cost-effectively; allow extra time for consolidation and de-consolidation.
- FCL sea freight: the fastest ocean option; a full 20 ft or 40 ft container can take under a month.
- Air versus ocean: smaller consignments are usually cheaper by air, because ocean surcharges make it less economical below about 100 kg. See ocean freight to Canada.
Canadian Import Clearance for French Goods
Goods sent from France to Canada are subject to CBSA clearance.
- Parcels valued at CAD 20 or less: duty-free and tax-free.
- Shipments up to CAD 3,300: eligible for the Courier Low Value Shipment (CLVS)
- Above CAD 20, duty and tax apply, unless the goods qualify duty-free under CETA (below)
Common import fees charged to the consignee include duty, tax, and carrier disbursement fees.
Duty-Free Entry Under CETA
French-origin goods that meet the CETA rules of origin enter Canada duty-free at any value, using a declaration of origin on the invoice or any accompanying commercial document; no formal certificate is required. Simply shipping from France does not confer origin, so the goods must actually qualify.
CETA gives 0 percent duty at any value; CAD 3,300 is only the threshold below which the proof of origin is simplified or waived, and records must still be kept. For consignments over 6,000 euro the French exporter needs a REX number; below that, the invoice statement suffices.
Understand the difference between shipping from France and French-origin goods, and when a certificate of origin is needed.
CARM: Mandatory for Commercial Importers
Registration in the CBSA CARM portal is mandatory for all commercial importers. Through it, importers assign their customs broker and post financial security (a surety bond or deposit). Read more about CARM.
Information gain, from Jet Worldwide lane data: across the France-to-Canada parcels Jet has handled in the last 12 months, about [JET-PROPRIETARY-PERCENT]% of CETA-eligible shipments cleared duty-free on an invoice origin statement alone, and the most common avoidable cost was an unrecovered carrier disbursement fee on postal parcels rather than duty. (Placeholder: insert a real Jet Worldwide operational figure before publishing.)
Returns and Reverse Logistics From Canada to France
French companies selling into Quebec and Canada can rely on Jet for dependable returns. We set up cost-effective processes for shipments that need a Canadian return destination and processing centre, so your Canadian customers get simple returns and you get consolidated reverse logistics back to France.The Canadian anchor for your French supply chain, Jet is the constant Canadian-side partner.
Shipping Personal Effects From France to Canada
Jet Worldwide can help with personal effects moving from France to Canada, with some requirements. You will need a copy of the importer's passport and a specific list of contents with estimated unit and total values, and personal goods to Canada must be self-cleared by the importer. Personal goods are generally understood as used, owned more than a year, and for personal use only.
- Excess baggage: for a couple of bags, checking them on your flight is often simpler and cheaper than shipping separately and managing the entry.
- A box or several boxes: Jet ships international personal effects to Canada by economy air. Request a quote for personal effects from France.
- Household or container level: for a full household, use a moving specialist for packing and ocean transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to ship from France to Canada?
For individuals and small personal parcels, La Poste Colissimo International is usually the cheapest option, delivered in Canada by Canada Post. For heavier parcels over about 10 kg and for regular volume, a consolidated courier or air solution through a third party such as Jet Worldwide is usually better value.
How long does shipping from France to Canada take?
Colissimo International is about 3 to 8 days. Chrono Express is about 1 to 5 days. Air freight is usually under a week, and containerized ocean freight is about 1 to 2 months, with Montreal the main port for French goods.
Can French goods enter Canada duty-free under CETA?
Yes. Goods that meet the CETA rules of origin enter Canada duty-free at any value, with an origin declaration on the invoice rather than a formal certificate. For imports up to CAD 3,300 the proof of origin is simplified or waived, though records must be kept. Import taxes such as GST or HST can still apply.
What is the Canadian de minimis for parcels from France?
Most parcels from France valued at CAD 20 or less clear duty-free and tax-free. Above CAD 20, duty and tax apply. Shipments up to CAD 3,300 can use the Courier Low Value Shipment stream for streamlined clearance.
What import fees apply to a Colissimo parcel to Canada?
Colissimo parcels are delivered by Canada Post. When a parcel is assessed duty and tax, Canada Post charges a handling fee of around CA$12 in addition to the duty and tax.
Do I need to register for CARM to import commercially from France?
All commercial importers must register in the CBSA CARM portal, assign a customs broker, and post financial security in the form of a surety bond or deposit.
Consult Our Team for Rates and North American Logistics Support
Jet Worldwide gives every company access to shipping quotes between France (and the EU) and Canada for parcels, pallets, ocean, and online orders.
Disclaimer: Jet Worldwide content is for general information only. Confirm current CBSA, CETA, and carrier rules with your customs broker before shipping.
