Importer Resources
Importer Resources
Practical checklists and guides for Canadian importers. These resources are for general information only. They do not constitute legal or compliance advice. Requirements vary by commodity, country of origin, and transport mode. Contact us before your first shipment.
Disclaimer: These checklists are for general information only and do not constitute legal advice, compliance certification, or a guarantee of customs release. Requirements vary by commodity, country of origin, and transport mode. Always confirm requirements with your customs broker before your shipment departs.
Every commercial invoice presented to the CBSA must include the following fields. Incomplete invoices are the most common cause of customs delays and CBSA queries.
Seller and Buyer Information
Full legal name and complete address of the seller (exporter)
Full legal name and complete address of the buyer (importer)
Date of sale or invoice date
Goods Description
Detailed description of each item (what it is, what it is made of, and what it is used for)
Vague descriptions like "parts" or "merchandise" are not acceptable and will cause delays.
Quantity and unit of measure for each line item
Unit price and extended price for each line item
Total invoice value
Currency of transaction (e.g., USD, CAD, EUR)
Origin and Delivery
Country of origin of the goods (where they were manufactured or substantially transformed)
Country of origin is not the same as country of export. Goods shipped from the US but made in China have China as their country of origin.
Delivery terms and Incoterms (e.g., FOB, CIF, DDP)
Port of loading and port of discharge (for ocean and air shipments)
Additional Fields (when applicable)
HS tariff classification number (if known)
Country of export (if different from country of origin)
Marks, numbers, and container numbers
Gross weight and net weight
Number of packages and type of packaging
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