FAQ
You have questions about importing to Canada, using a Customs Broker, our ProImporter Software, or upcoming changes to CBSA regulations. Here's a good place to start looking, but if you don't see an answer here, contact us!
Customs Brokerage & Importing
How do I become an Importer?
- In order to become a commercial importer, your company needs a business number with CRA. You need to verify that your business has also been set up as an importer (we can help with that)
- An officer at your company will need to sign an agency agreement with NGB authorizing us to clear goods on your company’s behalf.
- When you have a shipment on the way to Canada, forward the information required to NGB via e-mail (preferable) or fax (if you're trapped in the 90's!) This includes a commercial invoice, freight information from the carrier (Bill of Lading, Cargo Control Document) and occasionally other required documents (there are sometimes extra certificates/documents required for food or plants, for example.)
- NGB will set up your shipment for release by Canada Customs well before it arrives at the border so it can proceed quickly and efficiently through the border and directly to its destination in Canada.
What is NGB's pricing model for customs brokerage services?
Pricing is determined by the amount of work required to clear your goods. We charge a flat fee/shipment unless there is an exceptionally large number of unique items in the shipment (and on the invoice). There is a slight surcharge for shipments that require extra documentation (like food, or plants), and there is a small fee to use our customs bond if you do not have one of your own.
Does my customs broker need an office at the port where my shipment is crossing?
Absolutely not. NGB can get your shipments customs released at all ports across the country, electronically. One of the ways we can keep our prices low is that we don't have the legacy costs of maintaining property at all major ports in the country.
Are there restrictions to what I can import into Canada?
There are definitely laws in some provinces preventing or regulating the importation of certain categories of goods such as firearms, alcohol and live animals. If you have a question about importing a specific commodity, please contact us.
Can you be our broker for UPS and FedEx shipments?
Yes! You can grant us access to all of your UPS and FedEx shipping information and benefit from both our low-cost courier shipment broker fees, our superior service and a single end-of-month duty and tax payment.Â
Self-Clearance Software
When should my company consider doing our own customs clearances?
There are several reasons why you might want to use a software solution to do your own customs clearance rather than using a broker. You may want more control over your logistics function. You may be in a better position to ensure your customs process is compliant (correctly categorized commodities, properly identified countries of origin resulting in lower customs duties). Or you may just want to reduce the "customs brokerage" line-item on your corporate budget. We've typically found that if a company is importing more than 100 shipments/year, they'll likely save money using our software. Contact us to see if self-clearing your own shipments is a better solution for you.
What is the ProImporter software licensing model?
We charge an annual maintenance for our software which ensures all updates to both our software and all updates from customs such as HS codes and exchange rates. This rate varies depending on the number of seats you require us to support. There is also a small fee for each shipment customs cleared using our software, which is often less than 1/10th of the fee that a customs broker would charge you.
How can my company use NGB's ProImporter self-clearance software?
Our software currently operates on the Windows 10 platform, and requires a reasonably recent PC with at least 16GB of memory, and a 1 TB hard drive. We support 1024x768 monitors, but recommend a larger monitor to see more data on screen at any one time. In multi-seat installations, the ProImporter database can be installed on a server to allow for centralized administration and easy disaster recovery.
While the database currently would sit on-site at your organization, we are in the process of benchmarking cloud-hosted database peformance, which may be particularly useful if you have switched to a distributed organization model in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can I use the ProImporter self-clearance software to do my own customs brokerage for FedEx and UPS shipments?
Absolutely. our ProImporter software can easily file monthly Low Value Shipment (LVS) consolidated accounting documents, allowing you to add any courier shipment tax and liability to your single end-of-month payment to the CBSA. You also gain the comfort of knowing your goods are appropriately classified and cleared in a timely manner.
Customs Regulations
What is CARM?
Oof, that's a deceptively small question that requires a lengthy answer. We have several blog posts that discuss the current state of CARM, as well as future plans and the roadmap for this ambitious Customs initiative. We'd suggest starting here to get a broad overview, and then using the links within the blog post to learn more.
What is CUSMA? Can I bring in my goods duty-free using NAFTA?
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is a trade agreement signed by these three countries that entered into effect on July 1, 2020. Known as CUSMA in Canada, it's also known as USMCA in the USA and T-MEC in Mexico. CUSMA-qualified commodities may have reduced duties and/or taxes applicable.
While CUSMA replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), commodities that have previously qualified for reduced tariffs under NAFTA do not necessarily qualify under CUSMA.
CUSMA is much more comprehensive an agreement than can be summarized here. Please see our blog post here for more information concerning CUSMA and the circumstances under which a commodity may qualify.
Forms & Downloadable Content
Stay In the Know
From time to time we send out e-mails updating our clients and friends about upcoming Canada Customs procedures and regulations, and our thoughts on contemporary trade issues. Sign up to get on our mailing list!
