Customs Requirements For Entry To Canada

expat network

Customs Requirements For Entry To Canada

If you are moving to Canada it is important to understand the customs requirements for entry in to Canada. We provide guidelines here but the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website has a wealth of detailed information

You will need two copies of an inventory of all the goods you intend to bring into Canada as part of your personal effects indicating the value, make, model and serial number (where applicable) of all the goods.

The inventory should list the goods you are bringing with you in the first section and the goods to follow in the second section. Goods that arrive later will only qualify for duty- and tax-free importation under your entitlement if they are on this original inventory.

The inventory will need to be provided at your first point of entry even if you have no goods with you on arrival. The officer will complete Form BSF186, Personal Effects Accounting Document and give you a copy of the completed form as a receipt. This will be used to claim free importation of your unaccompanied goods when they arrive. Form BSF186 can be completed before your arrival in Canada.

To import goods duty and tax free, those entering Canada with the intention of establishing for the first time a residence of one year or more, must have owned, possessed and used the goods abroad prior to arriving in Canada. Any goods imported without paying duty must not be given away or sold within 12 months or the exempted duty will become payable.

The following personal and household effects are duty and tax-free provided they are not individually valued at over Can$10,000:

clothing and linen
furniture
furnishings
appliances
silverware
jewellery
antiques
family heirlooms
private collections of coins, stamps and art
personal computers
books
musical instruments
hobby tools and other hobby items
personal vehicles
pleasure boats and the trailers to carry them (trailers are subject to Transport Canada requirements)
mobile trailers, no more than 2.6 metres (9 feet) wide, that the owner is capable of moving on his or her own
utility trailers
motor homes
private aircraft
tool sheds or garages that do not attach to or form part of a dwelling

Restrictions

Importing certain goods into Canada is restricted or prohibited. Here are some examples:

There are no restrictions on importing or exporting foreign or Canadian currency.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.