Check if you're ready to export from Canada

A few yes-or-no questions, then a plain-language list of what you need. Free, no account, no email.

Are you shipping goods for a business?

For example to resell, or to use in your company. Personal purchases and gifts are not covered here.

General information only — not legal advice. CustomsHero is independent and not affiliated with the CBSA, CRA, or Government of Canada.

Every export requirement, explained

The full reference behind the export check — every requirement that applies when you ship commercial goods out of Canada, what each one is for, and the official source for every claim on this page.

Register your business

Business Number + export account

A CRA Business Number and, if you'll report exports (CERS) or hold export permits, an appropriately configured account.

01Register or confirm your CRA Business Number (BN9).
02Register for a CERS account so you're ready to file if a shipment ever requires it (non-US ≥ CAD $2,000, or transit through the US).
03If dealing in controlled/strategic goods, separately register with Global Affairs Canada's export controls system — independent of CRA/CBSA accounts.
04Pure US-only exporters with no controlled goods often need no CBSA export account beyond the BN — confirm this applies before skipping the step.

Most-missed
Exporting to the US, on its own, does not require CARM enrolment (CARM governs the import side). Don't let this over-scare pure US-bound exporters into unnecessary CARM registration.

Report your export (CERS)

Export declaration (CERS)

Correctly identifying whether a CERS export declaration is legally required for a shipment, and filing it before export when it is.

01Register for CERS access (free, web-based) if you haven't already.
02Goods exported for consumption in the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands are exempt regardless of value — UNLESS controlled/permit-required, in which case a declaration/permit is always required.
03File within the CERS timing rules for your transport mode, and give the resulting confirmation number to your carrier before departure.
04Keep export declaration records as part of your business records.

Most-missed
The #1 export gotcha: 'we only ship to the US so we're exempt' is true for the value threshold but FALSE for controlled/permit goods — those must always be reported/permitted, even direct-to-US. Goods transiting the US to elsewhere are NOT US-bound; CERS applies.

Export permits & controls

Export permit (Export Control List)

Whether goods/technology are on the Export Control List or subject to sanctions, and if so a permit obtained before shipping — including to the US.

01Consult the current 'Guide to Canada's Export Control List' to see if your good/technology falls under a controlled group/item number.
02Screen your transaction and counterparties against the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List, independent of the ECL.
03If controlled, register in Export Controls Online (NEXCOL) and submit a permit application before export.
04Some categories have a general permit or a US exception — but confirm item-by-item; do not assume a blanket US exemption.

Most-missed
Export control is destination-independent for many categories — 'it's just going to the US' does not exempt controlled/strategic goods or dual-use tech. Even emailing controlled technical data to a US person can be a controlled export.

Controlled Goods Program

Anyone examining, possessing, or transferring 'controlled goods' (defence/military, distinct from the ECL) is registered with the Controlled Goods Program.

01Determine if your goods/technical data fall under the controlled goods definition (generally Guns and Ammunition List / Group 2 items).
02If yes, register your business (individuals undergo security assessment) with the Controlled Goods Program, before any examination, possession, or transfer.
03Maintain registration and ongoing security obligations (visitor logs, security plans).
04Coordinate with export permit timelines — CGP registration can take weeks, so start early.

Most-missed
CGP registration is required for domestic examination/possession, not just export — you can be non-compliant before anything crosses the border by letting unregistered staff handle the goods/data. It's separate from CBSA and export-permit regimes; all three can apply at once.

Controlled Goods Program (Public Services and Procurement Canada)

Free-trade savings (CUSMA)

CUSMA origin (for your US buyer)

That the exporter/producer can substantiate CUSMA-originating status, since the US importer relies on it to claim preference at CBP.

01Apply the same CUSMA product-specific rule-of-origin analysis (tariff shift and/or RVC) from the Canadian export side.
02Prepare a CUSMA certification of origin with the required data elements — no prescribed government form; it can be on an invoice or a standalone document.
03Provide the certification to your US customer/importer — they need it on file to support their CBP entry claim.
04Retain supporting cost/sourcing records — a CUSMA certification is valid up to 4 years; keep records at least that long.

Most-missed
CBP rejects a CUSMA claim missing any required data element — incompleteness, not just error, is a common US-side rejection. The exporter/producer, not only the US importer, can face Canadian-side verification and penalties for a wrong origin claim.

The US import side

US importer-of-record readiness

US-side coordination flag (US law, not CBSA): who is the US Importer of Record, whether a CBP bond exists, HTSUS classification, and any US agency requirements.

01Identify the US Importer of Record (often your US customer, or you as a non-resident importer) — they need an IRS EIN or a CBP-assigned number.
02Confirm a CBP customs bond (continuous or single-transaction) is in place, especially for PGA-regulated or higher-value/frequent entries.
03Cross-check your Canadian HS classification against the US HTSUS — they aren't always identical at 8-10 digits.
04Screen for US agency requirements (FDA, USDA/APHIS, EPA) in parallel with the Canadian OGD check — separate regimes.

Most-missed
This is US law/CBP practice, not CBSA. A smooth Canadian export does not guarantee US entry — the two sides have separate agencies, bonds, classifications, and permits.

Records, rulings & help

Export recordkeeping

Retention of export declarations, permits, invoices, and origin certifications for an appropriate period.

01Retain CERS confirmations, permits, and commercial documentation — use the 6-year import-side benchmark as a conservative default, and at least as long as any certification of origin could be verified (up to 4 years for CUSMA).
02Keep records retrievable on request by CBSA (declarations/permits) or CRA (tax).
03If you issued a CUSMA certification, keep the full cost/sourcing support behind it, not just the certification document.
04Use a simple per-shipment document checklist (CERS number, permit number, invoice, packing list, certification of origin).

Most-missed
There is no single explicit CBSA export-records retention period the way there is for importers — treat 6 years as a prudent default and confirm with a professional rather than citing it as a hard rule.

GST/HST on exports (zero-rated)

That qualifying exports are zero-rated (not exempt — key for Input Tax Credit recovery) and the documentary conditions.

01Confirm your export qualifies for zero-rating: generally the purchaser exports the goods within a reasonable time and doesn't use them in Canada first.
02Zero-rated (0%) differs from tax-exempt — you can still claim Input Tax Credits on related costs; don't leave that recovery on the table.
03Keep proof of export (carrier documents, CERS confirmation, shipping records) to support zero-rating on audit.
04For tricky structures (drop-shipping, intangibles, bundled services), consult the CRA GST/HST Memoranda on exports or a tax professional.

Most-missed
'Zero-rated' and 'exempt' are frequently confused — only zero-rated supplies preserve Input Tax Credit recovery. Bundled or digital elements attached to a physical export can be treated differently; worth professional review.

Broker / freight forwarder

If using a broker/forwarder, the exporter still owns responsibility, and the provider is reputable and appropriately licensed on each side.

01Confirm Canadian licensing (if acting as a customs broker) via the CBSA list, and separately confirm US customs brokerage/CBP filer credentials if they handle US entry.
02Put a clear service agreement in place covering export declarations, permits, and CUSMA certification support.
03Provide accurate product, origin, and value information — errors on their end trace back to your data.
04Periodically audit a sample of filed declarations/entries against your own records.

Most-missed
A Canadian-licensed customs broker is not automatically licensed to file US CBP entries, and vice versa — two separate licensing regimes. Verify both if one provider claims to handle the full cross-border move.

Reporting your exports through CERS

Most commercial goods leaving Canada must be reported to the CBSA before they go, and most shipments to the United States are exempt from that. Which of the two applies to you decides whether you file at all, so it is worth settling before your first shipment rather than at the border.

Keep reading

The next steps most people take from here.