E-commerce Customs Clearance in Canada
If you sell on Shopify, Amazon, or your own store and import inventory into Canada, customs is part of your supply chain whether you planned for it or not — and for small parcels, the rules are genuinely different.
Ambassador Customs Brokerage clears e-commerce imports of every size — from a single carton a courier has parked ‘pending customs paperwork’ to full containers headed for a fulfilment centre.
Customs Services Built for Online Sellers
The right entry stream, the right duty rate, the right paperwork — so a $400 restock parcel doesn't carry a $150 brokerage bill.
What We Handle
- Courier low-value shipment (CLVS) entries
- Formal entries for larger consignments
- Catalogue HS classification
- CUSMA claims on U.S.-origin goods
- CARM registration and RPP setup
- Returns, samples and warranty shipments
Why Sellers Choose Ambassador
- Flat fees that keep small shipments viable
- Each shipment routed to the correct entry stream
- Verified classification database for your catalogue
- Licensed Canadian Customs Broker
- Replenishments that clear on schedule
We Help Online Sellers With
From first inventory order to daily replenishment — the border stops being the scary part of the funnel.
Shopify & DTC brands
Amazon FBA sellers
Courier parcels (CLVS)
Returns & samples
Marketplace inventory
Streams, Thresholds and the GST You Can Reclaim
Two streams — and why the choice matters
Smaller consignments typically move under the Courier Low Value Shipment (CLVS) program, with simplified reporting and faster release. Larger shipments, regulated goods, and anything above the program's ceiling require a formal entry with full classification and valuation.
Forcing everything through courier programs invites delays and reassessments; over-formalizing small parcels burns money on paperwork. We route each shipment where it actually belongs.
Inbound Amazon FBA freight needs a Canadian importer of record and correct classification — Amazon will not act as your importer. Our Amazon FBA Canada guide walks through the process step by step.
Thresholds, duties and recoverable GST
For goods shipped by courier from the U.S. or Mexico, CUSMA sets two thresholds every seller should know: under CAD $40 — free of duties and taxes; under CAD $150 — duty-free (taxes apply above $40). Postal imports use a lower CAD $20 threshold. Details in our CUSMA guide.
If your business is GST-registered, the 5% GST paid at the border on commercial imports is generally recoverable as an input tax credit — money many new sellers quietly overpay for years.
At catalogue scale, classification errors multiply: our HS code classification service builds a verified code database so every entry is consistent and defensible.
How the Process Works
Complete our Account Setup Form
Accept our request in the CARM Client Portal
Send us your shipping documents (Invoice, BOL, Arrival Notice)
We handle customs clearance and release your shipment
The Numbers Every Seller Should Know
Courier imports from the U.S./Mexico: tax-free under CAD $40, duty-free under CAD $150. Postal imports: CAD $20. Above the thresholds, GST/HST and any duty are collected on entry — which makes the HS code behind the duty rate a direct input into your unit economics.
Registered for GST? The import GST you pay is generally recoverable as an input tax credit — ask us how to document it properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
My courier offers ‘brokerage included’. Why use a separate broker?
Courier brokerage is built for speed at volume, not for your duty rate: classification is often generic, CUSMA claims are frequently skipped, and disbursement fees add up. A broker working for you optimizes the entry — and on recurring inventory, the difference compounds.
Do I charge my Canadian customers GST if I import the inventory myself?
Import GST at the border and GST on your sales are two separate mechanisms — and registration thresholds and marketplace rules affect the answer. We handle the border side and will flag when the sales-tax side needs your accountant's attention.
What documents do you need to clear my inventory shipment?
A commercial invoice showing seller, buyer, accurate product descriptions, values and currency; a packing list; and the carrier's shipment details. With a completed CUSMA certification where goods qualify, duty often drops to zero.
Ready to import inventory without the guesswork?
Talk to a broker who works with online sellers every day — or get started with our Account Setup Form.