I’m moving to Canada – what can I bring with me?

customs/compliance

Oct 22, 2017

By John Weight

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I’m moving to Canada – what can I bring with me?

Moving to Canada from another country – whether it’s for the first time or after a long stay abroad – can be a difficult process that requires filling in a whole lot of documents just to obtain permission to enter the country. On top of that, you also need to pack your belongings. While you choose what to take with you and what to leave behind, dozens of questions will probably pop into your head: what can I take to Canada without any issues, and what could be harder to get through the borders? Do I need to pay duties and taxes on any personal possessions I bring to Canada? In this article, we will answer the questions you may be asking yourself about moving your belongings to Canada. However, please note that we could not possibly explain the customs process for every single type of goods you could conceivably bring with you, so for further information, please visit the Canada Border Services Agency’s website.

What is a duties and taxes exemption?

A duties and taxes exemption allows Canada’s former residents, first-time immigrants to Canada and workers temporarily staying in Canada to avoid paying duties and taxes on certain personal belongings.

Depending on your status for customs purposes, you may or may not be eligible for this exemption. Specifically, any person that leaves Canada for at least a year (without coming back during that year) and then returns to Canada for permanent residence is qualified for an exemption as a former resident. Any person that wishes to move to Canada from a foreign country for the first time for a duration exceeding a year is eligible for an exemption as an immigrant. Persons who wish to work or study in Canada without making it their permanent place of residence may also be eligible as immigrants, but the duration of their stay must exceed 36 months.

Where can I find out what I can bring with me?

For a full list of articles eligible for a duties and taxes exemption, please visit the Canada Border Services Agency’s website.

How do I index my belongings?

To inventory your personal effects, create a list of all your personal belongings you intend to bring to Canada. Write the value, brand, model and (if possible) serial number of each item. Divide this list in two parts: one for items you’ll bring with you and the other for the ones you’ll have imported to Canada later.

Using this list, fill out the Personal effects accounting document BSF186 either ahead of time or upon your arrival in Canada with a border services officer. You will have to specify whether some of your belongings will arrive later to receive a duties and taxes exemption on them, if eligible.

Are there any conditions to fulfill to receive the exemption?

Regardless of your status for customs purposes, there are three conditions for an article to be eligible for an exemption: the article must belong to you, it must be in your possession, and you need to have used it before your arrival to Canada.

Additionally, regardless of your status for customs purposes, any article you intend to sell within a year of its importation into Canada is subject to duties and taxes. In general, you must pay the duties and taxes on any item you bring into the country to use for commercial purposes.

Are there any specific conditions for former residents?

As a former resident, you need to fulfill all conditions listed above. Additionally, you need to have used the articles in question within the six months preceding your return to Canada, unless you have been absent from Canada for more than five years. In that case, you don’t need to have used the article within six months of your return, but you still need to have used it during your stay abroad. Let’s say you are a former resident of Canada returning after two years abroad with $2000 in clothes and furniture that belong to you and are in your possession, but have not been used for over six months. You will likely have to pay duties and taxes on part of the sum.

On top of this, you will have to pay duties and taxes on any articles that individually cost $10, 000 or more.

You may also obtain an additional personal exemption on up to 800 dollars’ worth of articles bought outside of Canada, even if they have not belonged to you, have not been in your possession and have not been used prior to your return to Canada. For further information, visit www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

Are any articles difficult or impossible to bring into Canada?

Regardless of your status for customs purposes, some restrictions apply on bringing firearms, explosives, pyrotechnical products, ammunition or vehicles. Other products may also be subject to restrictions: we invite you to visit the Canadian Border Services Agency’s website to find out more.

It should be obvious that you may not be able to bring some items along with you to Canada. As the Canadian Border Services Agency’s website points out, “the Hazardous Products Act prohibits the importation of consumer products that could pose a danger to the public.” To learn more about the types of products that may be prohibited or regulated, please consult the page Bringing Consumer Products Into Canada on the CBSA’s website.

You must also take heed of any plant and animal-based food and other related products that you’re intending to bring with you. Some may transmit infectious diseases or present a threat to the Canadian flora and fauna. Consult the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)’s website for more information.

Can I move to Canada with my pet?

Yes, you can move to Canada with a pet, but some restrictions may apply depending on the type of animal. Our article is at your disposal if you wish to learn the procedures to be followed when you’re bringing a pet into the country.

In conclusion

Whether you’re moving to Canada for the first time or returning after a long stay abroad, it’s a good idea to index both the items you will bring with you as you move and the items that will follow you later. Take the time to check whether the articles you’re bringing with you are among the items that may receive a duties and taxes exemption and whether they respect the conditions to receive this exemption. Make sure to do your research about the products you intend to bring into Canada: they may be subject to restrictions or even prohibited from being imported. If you have any doubts regarding the articles you’d like to bring with you, W2C’s specialists will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

 

About the author

author picture

John Weight

Customs Management Specialist

John is our senior consultant with more than 40 years of experience in the industry. A licensed and certified customs broker and a certified customs specialist, he has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of import and export regulations.

John is our go-to guy when trying to navigate the complex world of trade compliance. When it comes to customs compliance audits, saving money on import duties or any other Customs issues, John is the one you want on your side.

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