International
Shipping Guide

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Common Customs Forms

The most commonly required documents for sending an international shipment include the Commercial Invoice, Export Declaration, Certificate of Origin, and the Toxic Substances Control Act form. The details of your shipment will determine which documents are required.

Commercial Invoice

Overview

It is important to ensure that information on all your documents is consistent and accurate, starting with the Commercial Invoice. It is the foundation of all other documents and is the first international shipping document that should be completed. The information provided on other international shipping documents, including the air waybill or shipping label, must correspond with the Commercial Invoice.

What is it?

The Commercial Invoice is prepared by the exporter and is required by the foreign buyer to prove ownership and arrange for payment. FedEx provides separate Commercial Invoices forms for use with FedEx Express^® and FedEx Ground^® international shipping.

Why is it needed?

It is the primary document used by most foreign customs agencies for import control, valuation, and duty determination.

When is it needed?

The Commercial Invoice is required for all product/commodity (non-document) shipments for international trade.

Where can I find it?

FedEx Ship Manager™ at fedex.ca — automatically generated in the shipping process.
FedEx Document Preparation Centre for online completion or PDF download.
FedEx^® Global Trade Manager for online completion or PDF download.
FedEx Ship Manager™ Software
Download the Commercial Invoice for FedEx Express PDF
Download the Commercial Invoice for FedEx Ground PDF

How do I complete and submit it?

The Commercial Invoice for FedEx Express is only appropriate for international FedEx Express shipments (e.g., FedEx International Priority^®). For FedEx International Ground™ shipments, always use the Commercial Invoice for FedEx Ground.
Always include a copy of your Commercial Invoice INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE the package.
In order to comply with regulatory requirements, please review the chart below.
Commercial Invoice Customs Regulatory Compliance PDF
Please use FedEx Electronic Trade Documents, our customs support tool, for simple, efficient and automated document submission.
Always reference the air waybill or tracking number on the Commercial Invoice.

Export Declaration

What is it?

An export declaration is required by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to report commercial exports from Canada that are valued at CAD$2,000 or greater destined to any country other than the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Please note there are some exceptions to these requirements. For more information, please visit the CBSA website.

Why is it needed?

To control the export of strategic, controlled and regulated goods
To collect accurate Canadian export trade data
To control the outbound movement of goods in transit through Canada

When is it needed?

Commercial goods that are valued at CAD$2,000 or more destined to any country other than the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Shipping controlled, prohibited or regulated goods regardless of value. Learn more at fedex.ca/export or visit the Global Affairs Canada website.
If goods are exempt, obtain the Exemption/No Declaration Required (NDR) number. Learn about the current exemptions at fedex.ca/export.

How do I complete and submit it?

A secure, user-friendly online portal is provided by the CBSA for the electronic submission of export declarations.

Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS)

Please Note:

Failure to report export information and/or an Export Permit when required is subject to Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) penalties. Learn more at the CBSA website.
Missing required data elements on the export declaration are also subject to AMPS penalties.
Even though you may not be required to file an export declaration for a shipment, you may still be responsible for filing other documents such as export permits, certificates, and licenses required by other Canadian government departments or agencies that regulate the export of goods.

Certificate of Origin

What is it?

The Certificate of Origin is a signed declaration from the manufacturer of the goods indicating that the goods are of Canadian origin and meet the requirements of a free trade agreement.

Here is a list of some commonly used Free Trade Agreements:

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement
Canada-European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement
Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement
Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

NEW! A Certification of Origin is required to claim preferential treatment under CUSMA for your goods.

Learn more or download the Certification of Origin document now.

For a complete list of free trade agreements, requirements and forms, please visit the Global Affairs Canada website.

Why is it needed?

The importer in the foreign country may be entitled to claim a preferential tariff treatment and pay a lower duty rate if they have a valid certificate of origin.

When is it needed?

The type of commodity you're exporting and its destination country will determine whether it is required – for example, many countries require a Certificate of Origin for textiles, such as fabric or clothing, over a certain value.

Where can I find it?

FedEx Ship Manager™ at fedex.ca — available for download at the end of the shipping process.
FedEx Document Preparation Centre for online completion or PDF download.
FedEx^® Global Trade Manager for online completion or PDF download.
FedEx Ship Manager™ Software

How do I complete and submit it?

A Certificate of Origin must be completed and signed by the exporter of the goods. When the exporter is not the producer, the exporter can complete the certificate on the basis of knowledge of the goods' origin, reasonable reliance on the producer's written representation of the goods' origin, or a completed and signed Certificate of Origin for the goods voluntarily provided to the exporter by the producer.
A copy of this document should be forwarded to the importer and retained by the exporter. Be sure to include a copy of your Certificate of Origin INSIDE as well as OUTSIDE the shipment.
Canada Customs regulations require that you keep this certificate and the backup documentation for six years following the year of its issuance. Failure to do so could invalidate the preferential duty claim.
In some countries, the Certificate of Origin must be notarized. Please check the destination country's regulations.
Please use FedEx Electronic Trade Documents, our customs support tool, for simple, efficient and automated document submission.
To file a blanket Certificate of Origin with FedEx, contact FedEx Customer Service 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 for FedEx international express shipments. For FedEx International Ground™ shipments, please contact your broker.

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Form

What is it?

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) form is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This document is required for most chemical goods, water samples and products that fall under the jurisdiction of the EPA and are being imported into the U.S.

Why is it needed?

The Toxic Substances Control Act is intended to ensure that the human health and environmental effects of chemical substances are identified and properly controlled prior to placing these materials into commerce. The TSCA form is a declaration that the substances being shipped either comply with the TSCA or are not subject to the TSCA.

When is it needed?

The importer is required to submit a completed certification for each product imported into Canada that falls under the TSCA. The exporter may also submit the certification with written authorization from the importer.

Examples of goods that require the form are: water (imported as samples for testing), oil (crude and processed), plastic in raw forms (beads), chemicals in powder or liquid form, soaps, detergents, waxes, earth (clay in various forms), and stone (raw states). Chemical substances/mixtures/products such as additives in food and drug products, regulated by other government agencies, may fall under negative certification. To determine whether or not goods are subject to the TSCA, visit the EPA website.

Where can I find it?

Download the TSCA Form PDF now.

How do I complete and submit it?

The purpose of the form is to provide a TSCA positive or negative declaration. In lieu of the form, a positive or negative declaration may be preprinted, typed, or stamped on a signed Commercial Invoice.

The TSCA Form includes details on who should complete it, as well as certification options.

Please use FedEx Electronic Trade Documents, our customs support tool, for simple, efficient and automated document submission.

Please note:

Proper completion of all necessary documentation is the sole responsibility of the shipper. The information, products and services contained or referred to on this website may change or be updated without notice. Additional documentation not provided by this website may be required to clear your international package through Customs. In the event of a conflict between the FedEx service information on this website and the service information contained in the applicable FedEx Service Guide, the applicable FedEx Service Guide will control. FedEx EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. FedEx will not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages including without limitation damages for lost profits, business, data, or damage to your computer system resulting from any errors in or use of the information and features on the site or shipper's failure to properly complete all required fields on any of the forms described on this website.