Hi,

I will be landing in Ottawa on May 31st, with my family following a few weeks later. Can anyone advise how detailed the list of goods that you are taking with you on the day needs to be for declaration at customs?

I can fully understand the need for detail on the goods to follow etc but does my list have to include details of clothing, how many razors, shampoos, etc?

Many thanks,

Peter

Not in detail, but a total value for such items is probably a good idea. No-one even wanted to look at my 'goods accompanying' form anyway, but I did put rough figures on there just in case.

I suspect the main issue would be if you brought in something expensive which you later took out of the country again on holiday; if you didn't list it on a stamped 'goods accompanying' form then you might get charged duty when you returned.

3 boxes CDs, value $800
5 boxes clothes, value $2500
1 box computer cables, value $200
2 suitcases value $200
1 box porn, ahem adult entertainment, value $500


General is enough, more along the lines of the quantities and values than each individual item.

Only details are items with serial numbers, such as computers, phones, electronics.

I am landing soon too. What form I have to fill for goods with me and goods to follow?

You do not have to fill out any forms. You may fill out forms in advance, if you wish. This is optional.

What you do have to do is make up lists of what you'll have with you when you land and what will follow later.

This is explained in painful detail in the Wiki article called Goods To Follow. The most pertinent information in that article is highlighted in red font.
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Thanks Judy.
One more question. I am planning to buy a SUV in the USA before my landing to Canada. The car will stay at my friends garage and after my landing my friend will send the car to me to Canada. Can I mark this car as goods to follow during landing to Canada?

That's a whole other kettle of fish. That's a much more complicated process, and you'll have to pay customs duty, GST and in some cases PST on the SUV. If you look into it, I think you'll conclude it isn't worth it. Check out the website of the Registrar of Imported Vehicles.
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I've added to the Wiki on Goods To Follow a section on vehicles.
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Thanks Judy and everyone else for the prompt and pertinent advice.

Regards,

Peter

Do I need to pay 6% custom taxes and GST/PST for MY car which has been declared as goods to follow? Is it not the same like to declare computers or home furniture?

Sorry, I was mistaken about customs duty and GST. As a settler importing his personal and household effects to Canada, you are not liable for customs duty and GST on your vehicle. However, it's quite a hassle to bring your car. In connection with vehilces, Canada Border Services Agency states:

Transport Canada requirements

Transport Canada’s requirements apply to vehicles that are less than 15 years old, and to buses manufactured on or after January 1, 1971.

Vehicles manufactured to meet United States safety standards do not comply with Canadian standards. As the importer, before you import your vehicle, you must contact the Transport Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) to ensure that it is admissible for importation and can be modified to meet the Canadian standards after you import it.

The RIV is an agency contracted by Transport Canada to administer a national program to ensure that imported vehicles are brought into compliance with Canada’s safety standards.

If you are considering importing a vehicle originally manufactured to meet United States safety and emission standards, contact the RIV at:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles
Suite 400
405 The West Mall
Toronto ON M9C 5K7

Telephone: 1-888-848-8240 (toll-free in Canada and the United States)
416-626-6812 (from all other countries)
Facsimile: 1-888-346-8235
Web site: www.riv.ca

If your vehicle does not meet Canadian safety standards but qualifies for importation, a border services officer will register your vehicle into the RIV program at the port of entry on your arrival in Canada. The program registration fee is CAN$182 in all provinces except Quebec, where it is CAN$197. You will then have 45 days to bring your vehicle into compliance with Canadian safety standards and have it inspected.

You cannot license your vehicle in Canada until it is modified and passes federal inspection under the RIV program.

.............


Other considerations

Your vehicle will also be subject to provincial or territorial sales tax and safety requirements, so you should check with the vehicle department of the province or territory to which you are moving.

Before you export your vehicle to Canada, inquire with the customs authority of the country from which you will be exporting it if there are any requirements you must meet before you can ship the vehicle out of the country.

Note to copyright police: This government information is not copyrighted.

You can read more about the procedure for importing a vehicle from the USA to Canada on the website of the Registrar of Imported Vehicles.

In the next day or so, I will correct the Wiki article called Goods To Follow, which incorrectly states that a new settler importing a vehicle has to pay customs duty and [federal] GST. In fact the new settler importing a vehicle only has to pay provincial sales tax (PST), $182 if he/she has to join the RIV program, and the costs (if any) of bringing his/her vehicle into compliance with Canadian standards.

Here is a website that explains the documentation required for exporting a vehicle from the United States.
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Um I don't think you'll be able to buy an SUV in the US and have it shipped into Canada and then claim it on your goods to follow. Goods to follow to be exempt are to be used personal affects and items. Buying a new car in yet another country and bringing it over doesn't count under a Settlers effects, and you'll have an extremely hard time trying to convince them otherwise.

The SUV I want to buy is not new, it is used one. I will now car's details in advance and can write at the list of goods to follow. I think it is the same like you bring your vehicle from UK or France or from some where UAE, Russia. Or do I wrong?

Technically , I believe that goods need to be used and (I think) 6 months old I.E , in your possession for the previous six months.

I know they don't really police it for standard goods but they may be a lot stricter with cars.

Do you have a link from where you took this info?