Export Declaration
Did you know that an export declaration is required for commercial goods from Canada? Here are a few exceptions to this rule:
- Shipments of unrestricted goods valued at less than CAD$2,000;
- Exports of unrestricted goods to the United States; and
- Personal effects that are not for resale.
Under the Customs Act, goods exported from Canada must be declared. The three main objectives of the export declaration are to:
- Ensure that goods leaving Canada do not pose a threat to another country
- Support the Government of Canada’s national priorities by administering applicable export requirements
- Collect accurate information on Canadian exports for the purpose of producing Government of Canada economic reports
With your export declaration, additional documentation may be required. To ensure that prohibited or controlled goods are not illegally exported from Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency assists other federal departments and agencies by administering and enforcing legislation and regulations on their behalf.
These goods include:
- Firearms;
- Nuclear substances, equipment and technology; and
- Endangered animals and plants.
Once you have determined that an export declaration is required and you may need to obtain an export permit, make sure your business number is authorized for export.
Next, you will need to determine when to submit your declaration:
- Air: 2 hours before the goods are loaded onto the aircraft
- Marine: 48 hours before the goods are loaded onto the vessel
- Rail: 2 hours before the goods are loaded onto the railcar
- Mail: 2 hours before the goods are delivered to the post office
- Highway: Immediately before leaving the country
Finally, your declaration must be completed and submitted by the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS).
You must include the customs classification code and the Canadian Tariff or Statistics Canada code in your export declaration .
For more details on the export declaration, please do not miss our September seminar. Check out our website for more information.