Customs experience

Customs is a pain point for many people when traveling internationally. Post landing in Canada, you have to declare what goods you are getting into the country. There is difference between the 1st time landing and subsequent landings. We had a pretty smooth process when immigrating from USA to Canada. We would like to share our 1st time landing experience in Canada. Ultimately when you are prepared with your facts and documentation then you are all set. For us, the officers in Halifax just scanned the sheets we had prepared and didn't even open our bags!

Disclaimer - This is our experience in the Halifax airport but others could have it differently. 

How should you prepare if you want to send goods to follow?

Since you will be outside of Canada and landing for the 1st time in Canada, you might not be able to carry everything when you would be landing in Canada. You can also plan to send boxes via international carriers like UPS, Fedex, DHL from your current resident country. Usually it takes 4-5 weeks for the boxes to land in Canada. We shipped our boxes just a week before we flew to Canada. When we were packing, we made a list of items that we were packing in each of the boxes. What would your carrier i.e. UPS etc. need from you?

• List of contents in each of your boxes
• Estimated value of each of the items in each of the boxes
• Each of the boxes would have the following -
• List of contents in the box would be pasted.
• Address to which you are shipping the box
• If it is not your address then put "Attn : <Your name>" so that the officers know that it is your box.

A video to help you for the same.

What is the process of declaring the items you are bringing into Canada?

When you land in Canada as a permanent resident, make sure you have 2 lists -

1. Personal effects accounting document - This tells the custom officials what you have in your suitcases right now (Regardless of whether you are flying or driving). Download the PDF and here are some pointers for you -
• Importer's name - YOUR name
• Importer's address - The place where your shipment will arrive. It could be a friend's address or rented apartment which you might have booked.
• Country of origin - Place from where you are shipping. For instance Texas, US
• List of items that you are carrying in your suitcases and cabin baggage. If they are used items then state declare the same. If used, the value of the item would be the deprecated value. Use your best guess. You don't need receipts unless you are coming with an exorbitant package! For example - "Used books".
2. Goods to follow - This tells the custom officials what is coming in later. Download the PDF and here are some pointers for you -
• Importer's name - YOUR name
• List of ALL the items in ALL the shipments. For instance, if you have shipped 5 boxes then state the contents and net worth of ALL of them.
• Some example declarations -
• Used comforter, yoga gear, pillows
• Used clothes
• Used DVDs, used monitor
• Used computer peripherals (mouse, keyboard, modem)
• Used decorative items
• Used instant pot
• Used shoes
• Used hair dryer, iron

What are some things I should note?

1. When you immigrate as a permanent resident, you don't have to pay duty for the first time.
2. State everything truthfully. We got more than 10000 CAD and we stated it. No one asked us a thing.
3. State your used items as "used jewelry", "used clothes", "used electronics" etc. and state the depreciated value for the same. This is expected as you are immigrating permanently. As long as you are not bringing these items for business, you should be okay.
4. Have these letters ready with the value stated correctly and you should be fine.
5. Note for "goods to follow" -
1. If you are shipping to a friend's address, make sure that you also put your name as "Attn : <your name>" on the labels on the boxes so that the customs officials in Canada know that you are shipping items to a friend's address. Give your phone number and your friend's number too. That way there is no ambiguity on whose package it is.
2. On the day you land, once your passport is stamped at immigration, your luggage will be screened at the customs section. For your "goods to follow" list, they will give you an approval stamp on the document and that is your receipt.

What happens when your shipment arrives in Canada?

1. Once your shipment arrives in Canada, it first goes to the customs department.
2. The receipt you got on landing and the list on the actual shipment will be compared. 
3. Officers can also inspect your shipment, if they wish -
• They can call you or your friend (if you have given a friend's address) to verify the contents.
• That is why ensure that you do due diligence to create these lists and share the same with international carrier and custom officials on landing.
• If approved - They would deliver the package to that address. 
• If not - You would have to work with custom officials to clear up any misunderstanding and have them release your shipment. The custom officials have the right to confiscate your shipment if your declaration has been false.
4. For us the end-to-end process between shipping it from US, arriving in Canada and receiving the package was less than 1 month.

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Next steps -

• Get started with your life in Canada with this post.