Importing goods into Canada is not just a shipping task.
It is a regulated logistics and compliance process that combines transportation planning, customs clearance, tariff classification, tax calculation, regulatory approvals and domestic delivery.

This guide explains how to import goods into Canada step by step using the same operational workflow applied by professional freight forwarders and customs brokers working with Canadian importers.

The content is designed for:

Canadian businesses importing commercial cargo
manufacturers and distributors
e-commerce brands
project and industrial shippers
first-time importers

What does “importing into Canada” actually mean?

In Canada, importing means assuming full legal responsibility for:

customs declarations
correct product classification
declared customs value
origin statements
payment of duties and taxes
compliance with all federal regulatory agencies

The shipment may be moved by a freight forwarder or cleared by a broker, but the importer remains legally responsible.

Step 1. Confirm your legal readiness to import into Canada

Before arranging transportation, you must confirm that you are allowed to act as an importer in Canada.

To import commercial goods, you must have:

a valid Canadian Business Number (BN)
an active import/export program account (RM account) with the CRA

The RM account identifies you as the importer of record for Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

If you use a freight forwarder or customs broker, they file on your behalf, but the importer of record does not change unless a formal non-resident importer structure is established.

Step 2. Verify product admissibility and regulatory controls

Every product entering Canada is reviewed for regulatory compliance.

You must verify whether your product is regulated by any federal agency, including:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Health Canada
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Transport Canada
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Typical regulated cargo includes:

food and agricultural products
cosmetics and personal care products
medical devices and pharmaceuticals
radio and electronic equipment
chemicals and controlled substances
batteries and dangerous goods

Many shipments are delayed not because of customs issues, but because regulatory permits were not arranged before shipping.

Step 3. Determine the correct HS code and tariff classification

Every imported product must be classified under Canada’s tariff classification system based on the Harmonized System.

Canada uses a 10-digit tariff classification.

The HS code determines:

duty rate
admissibility requirements
regulatory controls
eligibility for trade agreements
reporting obligations

Incorrect classification is one of the most common causes of:

penalties
reassessments
post-release audits
duty underpayments

For machinery, assemblies, kits, composite goods and industrial equipment, professional classification review is strongly recommended.

Step 4. Calculate duties, taxes and total landed cost

Import planning in Canada must be based on landed cost, not just freight cost.

A correct landed cost calculation includes:

Cost element	Explanation
Customs duties	Based on HS classification and origin
GST or HST	Applied on value for tax
Excise or special taxes	If applicable
Customs brokerage	Filing and clearance service
Terminal handling	Port, airport or rail terminal charges
Transportation	International and domestic delivery
Accessorial charges	Waiting time, appointments, congestion

In Canada, GST or HST is applied to the value for tax, which includes:

declared customs value + duties + certain additional charges.

Many new importers underestimate tax exposure when budgeting.

Step 5. Select the correct transportation and routing model

Most imports into Canada use a multimodal structure.

The most common combinations include:

ocean freight (FCL or LCL) + drayage + trucking
ocean freight + intermodal rail + last-mile delivery
air freight + bonded trucking
cross-border trucking from the United States

Routing decisions must consider:

cargo characteristics
delivery deadlines
inland destination
rail terminal availability
port congestion patterns
container availability

This is where a freight forwarder becomes operationally valuable rather than transactional.

(Internal linking opportunity: freight forwarding services, intermodal logistics, container transport company pages.)

Step 6. Prepare mandatory commercial and shipping documentation

Canadian customs clearance requires accurate and consistent documentation.

The standard import documentation package includes:

Document	Purpose
Commercial invoice	Declares seller, buyer, value, product description and Incoterms
Packing list	Confirms quantities and packaging structure
Bill of lading / Air waybill	Transport contract
Certificate of origin	Used for preferential duty programs
Regulatory permits	When required by federal agencies

The commercial invoice must clearly state:

full product description
unit and total value
transaction currency
Incoterms
country of origin
seller and buyer details

Even small inconsistencies often trigger CBSA review.

Step 7. Arrange customs clearance and broker filing

Customs clearance in Canada is usually performed by a licensed customs broker.

The broker submits electronic release and accounting data to CBSA.

However, the importer remains responsible for:

accuracy of declarations
tariff classification
declared customs value
origin claims

CBSA may perform:

document verifications
physical examinations
post-release audits

Using a broker does not transfer liability.

Step 8. Cargo arrival and terminal processing

Once cargo arrives at a Canadian port, airport or land border terminal, it enters terminal operations.

Typical operational steps include:

unloading and container availability confirmation
release message validation
inspection selection (if applicable)
appointment scheduling with terminal operators

Most operational delays at this stage are caused by:

incomplete customs filings
missing regulatory permits
unpaid terminal or carrier charges

Step 9. Inland transportation and final delivery

After customs release, cargo moves through domestic transportation.

Depending on shipment structure, this may involve:

container drayage from port or rail terminal
intermodal rail transport
bonded or non-bonded trucking
warehouse delivery
project-site delivery

Professional coordination between customs release and dispatch scheduling is critical to avoid demurrage and detention charges.

(Internal linking opportunity: drayage services, intermodal logistics, container delivery services.)

Step 10. Post-entry compliance and record retention

Canadian importers must maintain all import records for a minimum of six years.

Post-entry obligations include:

responding to CBSA verification requests
correcting declaration errors
updating classification rulings
maintaining valuation documentation

Import compliance is an ongoing operational responsibility, not a one-time task.

Common mistakes when importing into Canada

Mistake	Operational impact
Using incorrect HS codes	Penalties, reassessments, audits
Missing regulatory permits	Cargo holds and delays
Incorrect declared value	Additional duties and interest
Shipping before compliance review	Port congestion exposure
Poor inland planning	Demurrage and detention costs

When a freight forwarder becomes essential for Canadian imports

A freight forwarder becomes operationally necessary when:

shipments involve multiple countries of origin
multiple transportation modes are required
regulatory approvals are involved
oversized or project cargo is shipped
time-critical supply chains are used
inland rail coordination is required

A qualified logistics partner coordinates:

international carriers
domestic trucking and rail
customs brokers
documentation flows
terminal appointments

within a single operational framework.

Incoterms and Contract Structure for Canadian Imports

Incoterms directly influence cost exposure, operational control, insurance responsibility and delivery coordination when importing goods into Canada.

For Canadian importers, the most operationally relevant Incoterms are:

EXW and FCA place most logistics responsibility on the Canadian buyer, including export pickup, origin handling and international transport coordination.

FOB and CIF are commonly used for ocean shipments to Canada, but the Canadian importer still remains fully responsible for:

customs clearance
duties and taxes
inland transportation
compliance with Canadian regulatory agencies

DDP shifts transportation organisation to the seller, but it does not remove the importer’s legal responsibility for import compliance and CBSA declarations.

Misalignment between the Incoterms used in the contract and the actual logistics execution is one of the most frequent causes of:

duplicated freight charges
unclear insurance coverage
terminal delays
disputes between buyer and seller

For Canadian importers, Incoterms must be selected together with the logistics and customs strategy, not only during commercial negotiations.

Import Risk Management and Cargo Insurance Strategy

Importing goods into Canada exposes companies to several operational risks:

damage during international transportation
handling damage at ports and terminals
storage exposure during customs holds
schedule disruption caused by inspections and regulatory reviews

Standard carrier liability is not cargo insurance and usually covers only a very small portion of the real commercial value of the shipment.

A professional cargo insurance strategy should be built based on:

commercial value of the cargo
replacement and production lead time
sensitivity to delays
transit complexity (number of carriers and handling points)
temporary storage exposure

Cargo insurance becomes operationally critical for:

industrial machinery
pharmaceutical and medical equipment
high-value electronics
fragile project cargo
exhibition and time-sensitive shipments

For Canadian importers, insurance planning should be aligned with the selected Incoterms and the actual handover points along the transport chain.

Import Planning for Regulated and Controlled Goods in Canada

Regulated and controlled goods require operational planning beyond standard customs clearance.

Typical additional requirements may include:

pre-approved import permits
product registration or licensing
technical conformity documentation
safety or compliance certificates
mandatory product labelling rules

Regulatory clearance is usually handled in parallel with CBSA clearance, but the two processes are not the same.

Shipments most frequently affected by regulatory controls in Canada include:

food and agricultural products
pharmaceuticals and medical devices
cosmetics and personal care products
chemicals and controlled substances
batteries and electronic equipment
radio and communication devices

If regulatory approvals are not completed before arrival, the cargo may be placed on hold even if customs documentation is fully correct.

This is one of the most common reasons for unexpected storage, inspection and terminal handling costs.

How CBSA Inspections and Verifications Affect Import Operations

Canada Border Services Agency may select shipments for:

documentary verification
physical examination
post-release compliance verification

Inspection selection is risk-based and may depend on:

product type
origin country
historical compliance profile of the importer
valuation and classification risk
regulatory involvement

When a shipment is selected for inspection:

terminal handling timelines are extended
carrier appointments must be re-scheduled
storage and demurrage exposure increases

Operational planning must therefore include buffer time for inspection risk, especially for:

first-time importers
high-risk product categories
complex or mixed cargo

Import Workflow for Containerized Cargo vs Air Freight Shipments

The operational workflow differs significantly between containerized ocean cargo and air freight imports.

For ocean container imports:

cargo is released at a marine terminal
container drayage must be coordinated with terminal appointment systems
detention and demurrage exposure applies
inland rail may be used for long-distance delivery

For air freight imports:

cargo is released at airline cargo terminals
storage charges accrue much faster
delivery windows are usually shorter
bonded trucking is often required for inland moves

Choosing the transport mode affects not only transit time, but also:

customs processing workflow
cost structure
terminal risk exposure
delivery scheduling

Inland Distribution Strategy After Import Clearance

After customs release, Canadian importers must integrate the shipment into their domestic distribution network.

Depending on cargo type and destination, this may involve:

container drayage from marine or rail terminals
intermodal rail transport to inland hubs
bonded trucking to distribution centres
direct last-mile delivery to project sites

Poor coordination between customs release and inland dispatch is one of the primary causes of:

unnecessary demurrage and detention
missed delivery windows
warehouse receiving congestion

For high-volume importers, inland distribution planning should be treated as part of the import strategy, not as a separate operational task.

Import Compliance Management for Ongoing Operations

Import compliance in Canada is continuous.

After the shipment is released, the importer remains responsible for:

maintaining classification and valuation documentation
responding to CBSA verification requests
correcting declaration errors
updating product rulings when goods or specifications change

CBSA may perform post-entry verifications months after the original clearance.

For growing importers, formal compliance procedures should include:

internal product classification registers
document retention policies
supplier data validation processes
periodic compliance reviews

This reduces financial exposure and operational disruption during audits.

When a Freight Forwarder Adds Strategic Value to Canadian Imports

A freight forwarder adds the most value when the import operation involves:

multiple countries of origin
combined ocean, rail and trucking movements
regulatory agency involvement
project cargo or oversized shipments
strict production or installation schedules
multiple delivery locations within Canada

In these scenarios, the forwarder coordinates:

carrier selection and routing
documentation flows
customs broker interaction
terminal operations
inland dispatch planning

under one operational control structure, reducing both commercial risk and delivery uncertainty.

Conclusion – Importing into Canada Requires More Than Just Shipping

Importing goods into Canada is a structured operational and compliance process that combines transportation planning, customs clearance, tariff classification, regulatory approvals and inland distribution.

For Canadian businesses, the real risk is not international transit itself, but poor coordination between customs, regulatory requirements and domestic delivery. Delays, inspections, missing permits and incorrect declarations quickly turn into storage charges, demurrage, detention and lost production time.

A well-designed import workflow connects origin pickup, international transport, customs clearance and final delivery into one controlled logistics operation. This is the only way to maintain predictable costs, reliable transit timelines and full compliance with Canadian regulations.

Import Logistics Support Across Canada

If you are planning to import commercial cargo into Canada and need professional coordination of transportation, customs clearance and inland delivery, Metropolitan Logistics can support your operation from origin to final destination.

Our team provides freight forwarding, container drayage, intermodal rail coordination and domestic trucking across Canada, helping importers reduce clearance delays, control landed costs and avoid demurrage and detention exposure.

Request import logistics support

Tags: Canada

How to Import Goods into Canada – Step-by-Step Logistics Guide