How to Ship and Export from Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything businesses need to plan compliant, cost-efficient exports from Canada to the USA, Europe, the UK, Asia-Pacific, and beyond — covering CERS declarations, HS classification, valuation, air versus ocean freight, and minimum documentation.
Quick Answer: How Do You Ship Goods from Canada?
Pretty simple. Prepare a commercial invoice, choose a shipping mode, select a carrier. Then ship. Jetship Worldwide helps with specifics such as gettting Business Number with an export (RM) account, product description and classification, declared value, and a waybill preparation.
Key Takeaways
- For all the complexities, the basics are quite simple.
- Obtaining an exporter ID attached to your Business Number is a first step.
- A CERS declaration is required for most non-restricted exports valued over 2000 CAD (shipments to the USA are generally exempt unless restricted).
- Accurate HS codes, item descriptions, and country of origin are essential
- Air freight is typically more cost-effective for shipments under around 200 kg; ocean freight suits heavier bulk cargo.
- Canada has FTAs with over 30 countries — qualifying goods may enter Europe, the UK, Japan, Australia, the USA, and more duty-free.
- Every shipment needs a detailed commercial invoice at minimum.
How to Export Goods from Canada (Video Guide)
Watch our walkthrough covering the end-to-end export process — from documentation to choosing a carrier.
Step-by-Step: How to Export from Canada
- Register as an exporter. Obtain a Business Number (BN) from the CRA with an export account. This exporter ID is required on export declarations.
- Classify your goods. Assign an HS code or tariff classification for your item(s)
- Determine the value and currency. Usually this is the price paid for the goods.
- Prepare the commercial invoice. Include complete shipper and receiver details, item descriptions, HS codes, country of origin, value, and currency.
- File a CERS declaration if required. Required for most non-restricted exports over 2000 CAD to destinations other than the USA.
- Verify free trade eligibility. If your goods qualify under a Canadian FTA, provide a certificate of origin or origin statement so your buyer can import duty-free.
- Choose your shipping mode and carrier. Match the mode — postal, courier, air freight, or ocean — to your weight, urgency, and budget.
Operational insight from Jet Worldwide: In our experience, most customs delays on exports from Canada trace back to vague product descriptions and missing tariff classifications.
Please feel free to send us the shipment details for a quote, including:
- Pickup location
- Delivery location
- Commodity, Weight and dimensions
- Cargo ready date
- Preferred mode of transport (Air / Ocean )
- Required Incoterm (delivery duty paid or unpaid?)
Key Data Elements and Costs for International Orders
Shipping internationally requires strict attention to shipping costs, import duties, and proper documentation. The critical elements include:
Detailed addresses — Shipper and receiver contact information must be complete. The receiver's tax ID is often necessary (for example, an EORI number for businesses in the European Union and UK).
Accurate dimensions — Often more impactful than for domestic shipments due to air volume weight considerations. Carriers charge the greater of actual and dimensional weight, so right-sized boxes directly lower your cost.
Commercial invoice — Clearly outline the goods being shipped and their transaction value.
Canadian Export Regulations and CERS
Exporting from Canada requires declaring your items using the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS), the online platform that replaced the paper B13A form, administered by the CBSA. An export declaration is usually not necessary for shipments to the USA, since Canada and the USA share export data under a bilateral agreement.
Compliance Tip: For most non-restricted shipments, a CERS declaration is required if the shipment is valued over 2000 CAD. Restricted or controlled goods may require a declaration and permits regardless of value or destination.
Exporters must keep records of their export declarations for six years. Filing late or failing to declare can result in Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPS) from the CBSA.
Harmonized System (HS) Codes and Tariff Classification
The product description forms the basis for assigning the tariff classification, known as the HS code. This system is maintained by the World Customs Organization and is used globally. The first six digits are harmonized internationally; the destination country adds further digits to determine the exact duty rate your buyer pays.
A precise HS code matters because it determines the import duty in the destination country, free trade agreement eligibility, and whether the goods face restrictions or additional taxes.
Valuation, Currency, and Incoterms
The declared value should reflect the true transaction value of the goods. Most often, this is simply the price actually paid or payable. But can sometimes be less clear when, for example sending product samples or warranty part. Ensure you apply the correct value.
Agree on Incoterms with your buyer before quoting. Most often, the entity you are shipping to is responsible for the duty and import fees of their country. You may wish to cover this expense — for example when shipping samples or warranty parts — by choosing a delivery duty paid (DDP) option with the carrier.
Common terms for Canadian exporters include EXW (buyer handles everything from your dock), FCA (you deliver to the carrier), and DDP (you deliver duty paid, acting as the non-resident importer). The Incoterm determines who pays freight, insurance, duty, and taxes — and it directly affects your landed-cost competitiveness. See our guide: What are Incoterms?
Top Export Destinations from Canada: Country-by-Country Notes
Canadian exporters enjoy preferential access to an unusually wide set of markets. Here is how the major corridors compare — and what your buyer should expect to pay on arrival.
Read more about Canada's Free Trade Agreements
| Destination | Trade Agreement | Duty-Free Path | Import Tax to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union (France, Germany, Netherlands) | CETA | Origin declaration on the invoice | Import VAT by country, roughly 17 to 27 percent |
| United Kingdom | Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement | Origin statement on the invoice | 20 percent VAT (collected at point of sale for most parcels under 135 GBP) |
| Japan | CPTPP | Origin documentation | 10 percent consumption tax |
| Australia / New Zealand | CPTPP | Origin documentation | 10 percent GST Australia; 15 percent GST New Zealand |
| USA/ Mexico | USMCA/ CUSMA | Certificate of origin / origin certification | Qualifying goods of any value. |
Shipping from Canada to Europe (CETA)
The European Union is the standout opportunity for Canadian exporters. Under CETA, goods made in Canada enter the EU duty-free with a simple origin declaration on your commercial invoice — no separate certificate needed for most shipments. Your buyer still pays import VAT (but businesses can often claim this back). Jetship can help you access Europe with local solutions for "euro-domestic" access.
Shipping from Canada to the UK
Post-Brexit, the UK is its own customs territory, and the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement carries CETA-style preferences forward.
Shipping from Canada to Asia-Pacific (CPTPP)
The CPTPP gives Canadian goods preferential access to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and more — markets where competitors shipping from non-member countries pay full tariffs. Japan in particular rewards Canadian agri-food, seafood, and specialty manufactured goods with reduced or eliminated duties.
Shipping from Canada to the USA
The USA remains the highest-volume corridor, but the rules tightened. Ground courier, LTL, and FTL remain the fastest, most economical modes. Another important point to consider is making sure the company you are shipping to is registered as an Importer of Record.
Verify the current US tariff treatment for your specific goods before quoting. Read more about tariffs on Canadian goods.
Shipping Options from Canada
Select the mode that fits your timeline, cargo type, and shipping volume:
- Canada Post is best for personal shipments and occasional e-commerce.
- Global couriers are best suited for commercial shipments and heavier packages (contact our team for our lowest market rate).
- Air freight via global couriers and 3PLs works well for paflletized freight.
- Ocean shipping is best when shipping several pallets and bulk freight.
- International consolidations and zone jumping (contact our team for details) offer the best combination of cost, speed, tracking, and prepaid import duty — especially to the EU and UK.
Note that these are general guidelines. Our team explores all these options and unique routings dedicated to your specific needs.
| Mode | Best Use Case | Typical Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Post | Personal shipments and small packets | 6 to 25 business days |
| Express Courier | Commercial shipments and larger packages | 1 to 5 business days |
| Air Freight | Palletized freight needing speed | 3 to 10 days |
| Sea Freight | Bulk international shipments | 30 to 60 days |
Air versus Ocean Shipping from Canada
Shipments under approximately 200 kg are usually more cost-effective by air. While ocean freight offers a much lower cost per kilogram, it involves minimum surcharges that make it expensive for small loads.
Note: The lowest cost to send a single parcel via ocean is the Canada Post Surface option. It can take a month or two with limited tracking, but it is inexpensive and works well for heavier personal packages.
Aircraft limitations to Consider Air Freight from Canada
A challenges in managing air transit is aircraft limitations.This mostly related to narrow body aircraft that are increasingly used for international destinations.
- American Airlines' 737s accept freight up to 28" tall, United and Delta up to 34"
- The Airbus A321 LR/XLR is limited to a height of 119 cm and width of 181 cm.
- Air Canada is increasingly using A220's for international connections
- Most narrow body aircraft have a maximum piece weight between 250 and 350 pounds
Common air freight size solutions include
- Breaking down pallets into individual pieces if possible
- Using all cargo carriers
- Oversized freight is a project, not a standard shipment
Rule of Thumb: The air-versus-ocean break-even typically falls between 100 and 300 kg depending on routing. Below that range, air freight is usually the better value — especially once you weigh door-to-door costs and the much faster transit time.
Free Trade Agreements: Lowering Your Buyer's Landed Cost
Canada has free trade agreements covering over 30 countries, including CUSMA (USA and Mexico), CETA (the European Union), and CPTPP (Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and other Pacific economies). When your goods meet the rules of origin, your buyer can import duty-free — a powerful selling point against competitors shipping from non-FTA countries.
To claim preferential treatment, include a certificate of origin or the required origin statement on your commercial invoice. Note that origin means where the goods were made — not where they were shipped from.
Free download: the Jet Worldwide Canada Export Documentation Checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are required to export goods from Canada?
At a minimum, international shipments require a waybill and a commercial invoice. Common additional paperwork may include a CERS export declaration and a certificate of origin (for duty-free import via a Canadian free trade agreement).
When is a CERS export declaration required?
A CERS declaration is required for most non-restricted goods valued over 2000 CAD exported to destinations other than the USA. Restricted or controlled goods may require a declaration and permits at any value.
How much does it cost to ship from Canada to the United States?
Cost depends on weight, dimensions, speed, and the Incoterm you choose. Ground courier and LTL are usually the most economical modes for the Canada to USA corridor, and right-sized packaging lowers dimensional-weight charges. Request a rate for an exact quote.
Do I need a customs broker to export from Canada?
No.
What is the cheapest way to ship from Canada to Europe?
For small personal parcels, Canada Post surface is lowest cost but slow. For commercial volume, consolidation and courier services paired with a CETA origin declaration give the best balance of cost, speed, and duty-free entry.
Can I ship duty-free from Canada to Europe?
Yes, for qualifying goods. Under CETA, products made in Canada enter the European Union duty-free with an origin declaration on the commercial invoice. The Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement provides similar duty-free access to the UK.
Do shipments from Canada to the USA enter duty-free?
No. Goods made in Canada with proper origin documentation can still enter duty-free; non-originating goods face duties.
What is the difference between air freight and ocean freight?
Air freight is faster and generally more cost-effective for lighter shipments — the break-even typically falls between 100 and 300 kg depending on routing. Ocean freight is better suited for heavier shipments because the much lower cost per kilogram spreads the many surcharges over more weight.
How do I get an exporter ID in Canada?
Register for a Business Number (BN) with the Canada Revenue Agency and add an import-export (RM) program account. This number identifies you as the exporter on CERS declarations and other customs documents.
Timothy Byrnes — Jet Worldwide
Timothy has led Jet Worldwide, a Montreal-based international logistics and customs compliance firm, since 1988. He specializes in trade compliance, HS classification, and unique logistics solutions.
