With the increasing trade between Australia and Canada comes the big, head-scratching question — how to do it easily without devoting extensive time and costs?
The trick is to begin by determining whether your business is prepared for international shipping and whether this specific trade route is advantageous for your company. If you have decided that it is the right move for your business, it is time to plan the logistics so that you don’t overwhelm your budgets and plans.
That said, we will begin by discussing the methods you should consider when shipping from Australia to Canada.
Top Two Shipping Methods You Can Choose From
Over the years, the trade route between Australia and Canada has opened up avenues of growth for retailers from both countries. When shipping goods from Australia to Canada, you must consider the following two types of freight shipping, based on your shipment's nature, speed, and budget:
Air Freight
When you want the fastest method for shipping to Canada from Australia, air freight is a great option to consider. It is also one of the most popular options, considering eCommerce accounts for about 97% of air cargo in Australia, and outbound air cargo in Australia has witnessed a year-on-year increase of 36% as of October 2024. The typical transit times for transporting goods between the two countries range from two to eight days.
However, air freight is one of the most expensive international shipping options, making it the perfect option for highly valuable goods and items that are perishable or need to be delivered on an urgent timeline.
Sea Freight
The other shipping option to consider for shipping goods between the two destinations is sea freight. Sea freight entails the cheapest shipping from Australia to Canada and involves deciding whether your goods qualify for an LCL (less than container load) or an FCL (full container load). While LCL is ideal for smaller shipments and tighter budgets, FCL is for larger shipments that take up an entire container.
That said, opting for sea freight shipping for your goods should be considered only if you are not keen on adhering to a strict timeline. The transit times associated with transporting goods from Australian ports to Canada can range from 30 to 50 days, depending on the route and service of the chosen shipping partner.
7 Things to Do Before Shipping From Australia to Canada
Aside from the shipping method you choose, you must consider a few factors before shipping goods from Australia to Canada. Here are the most important ones that you should bear in mind:
1. Understand the Canadian Regulatory Compliance Requirements
First things first, you should know that Australia and Canada are both countries with some of the strictest customs regulations. With a definitive list of restricted and prohibited items for importation and a comprehensive list of documents required in the process, Canada is one of the toughest countries to import goods to.
While the taxes and fees associated with the shipping process depend on the specific province or territory in Canada you are shipping to, the rest of the regulatory requirements remain the same. You must adhere to certain processes, consider all the charges and costs associated with the shipping process, and the documents and information you should send along with your goods.
It is best to seek the help of an experienced shipping partner when navigating the regulations and to ensure that the compliance aspects of the international shipping processes run smoothly.
2. Measure and Weigh the Shipment
One of the primary aspects of freight forwarding from any location in Australia to any destination around the world is to prepare them for transit. And a major part of it involves measuring the weight and dimensions of the shipment, with and without the outer packaging material, before handing it over to a shipping service or courier partner.
Calculating the accurate size, dimensions, and weight of the shipment will help you come up with a more effective pricing estimate and even adhere to regulatory and compliance requirements.
3. Assess the Shipping Costs
Once you have the taxes and charges associated with the shipping process narrowed down, ensure that you account for any other additional costs you may encounter before drawing up the estimate of total shipping cost from Australia to Canada.
Aside from the standard costs depending on the size, weight, dimensions, and transportation charges, some additional costs you must account for include:
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Customs Duty/Import Taxes
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Currency Conversion Costs
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Goods and Services Tax (GST)
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Provincial Sales Tax (PST)
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Harmonised Sales Tax (HST)
4. Compare Different Transit Times and Shipping Speeds
Depending on the goods you are shipping and the shipping timeline you are considering for it, you must choose the right courier or freight partner to help you along the way. The primary parameters to use when making this decision are the shipping time from Australia to Canada and the shipping speeds each of them offers.
Most freight forwarders will offer different kinds of freight options along with different transit times. For instance, shipping goods using sea freight might take longer than sending them through air freight.
Additionally, most freight forwarders will let you opt for either traditional or expedited shipping speed for your goods. It is important to consider that expedited shipping may cost you more than traditional shipping speeds, though.
5. Narrow Down Any Special Requirements
Depending on the goods you are sending from Australia to Canada, you may be looking at special considerations in the shipping process. Perishable goods might require refrigerated containers, and important documents may need the right envelopes, postage, and labels so that they are safely delivered at the destination.
For instance, if you are shipping fragile or valuable goods, you may need wooden crates to prevent damage during transit. You may also need to mark the shipment as fragile and add handling requirements on the packaging. However, special handling requirements are chargeable and can hike up your shipping costs.
6. Identify If You Are Shipping Any Restricted or Prohibited Items
When preparing and packing your goods before shipping, you must be wary of the items inside the shipment and whether they adhere to the list of restricted and prohibited items announced by Canadian authorities. For instance, shipping furniture from Australia to Canada may not require much diligence, but transporting medicines and meat will.
The items restricted for import by Canadian authorities include:
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Bees and beeswax
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Fruit, wheat, onions, and tomatoes
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Fish and fishery products
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Meat and meat products
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Medicines
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Plants
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Films
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Liquids and oils
These items are deemed restricted, which means that the shipper must meet certain provisions for these goods to be released by the Canadian customs department. However, the following prohibited items must NOT be a part of your shipment:
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Essential Oils
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Organic and Inorganic Chemicals
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Pharmaceutical Products
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Seeds
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Weapons
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Wood, or wood articles
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Soil, Salts, and Minerals
You can check out the complete list of restricted and prohibited items on the Canada Border Services Agency website.
7. Opt for the Right Packaging Materials and Policies
In most cases, using corrugated boxes to pack and ship your goods will ensure that they remain intact during transit. If you are shipping goods like musical instruments, surfboards, or bikes, you might need tailored shipping boxes or stronger packaging materials.
To enjoy regular, cheapest shipping to Australia from Canada, or Australia to Canada, you’ll also need to set down stringent policies to standardize and regularize the packaging process. Doing so will help you calculate the shipping cost from Canada to Australia, or vice versa, accurately and ensure that your shipments can be successfully shipped out of Australia and reach their destination in Canada.
Navigating the Documentation and Customs When Shipping from Australia to Canada
Aside from the considerations we have discussed so far, the most important part of shipping from Australia to Canada is the customs clearance process.
Here are the primary aspects to keep in mind when shipping from Australia to Canada:
Essential Documents
The most important documents you must prepare and keep easily accessible are:
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Commercial Invoice detailing the transaction details, buyer and seller details, as well as the value of goods used by the customs department to calculate taxes
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Packing List with a detailed breakdown of the shipment contents, including its weight and dimensions
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Bill of Lading or Air Waybill acts as a contract between the shipper and the carrier and as a shipment proof
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Certificate of Origin to declare the country in which your goods are manufactured
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An Export Declaration filed with the Australian Border Force (ABF) to declare valuable and controlled goods
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Import/Export Licenses, Dangerous Goods Declaration, Insurance Certificate, Other Permits or Certificates (if applicable)
Keep in mind that all goods exported out of Australia need an export declaration if they cost more than AUD 2000, need an export permit, are dutiable or excisable, and have a duty drawback being claimed.
Customs Clearance Process
Upon receiving your goods in Canada, the customs department is likely to hold your goods unless they pass through the entire process successfully. Double-check to ensure that you have prepared all the aforementioned essential documents before shipping your goods, to ensure that you navigate the initial stage of the customs process smoothly.
Next, you must double-check that your shipment adheres to the customs regulations and can be successfully imported into Canada. Once you have navigated both steps, you must pay all the applicable duties and taxes to finish the customs process. The CBSA will release your goods once you have paid all the duties and taxes.
Concluding Remarks
Shipping from Australia to Canada involves a fairly straightforward packing and transportation process. As long as you make adequate preparations, including arranging for relevant documents, preparing and packaging shipments properly, and shipping them through the right methods, the process will go smoothly.
To avoid any hurdles at later stages, measure and weigh your goods, pack them with appropriate materials, and ship them through reputable freight forwarders.