Your guide to shipping goods from Canada to the UK

Shipping to the UK can lead to global opportunities for Canadian businesses – but it can be daunting to start the shipping process.

We’ve put together a guide to shipping from Canada to the UK, including essential know-how, costs and the best shipping companies for your goods.

We’ll also take a look at Wise, your international business account. Send money to 80 countries without currency conversion charges!

What is the essential know-how on exporting goods to the UK from Canada?

There are some things to think about before shipping your goods to the UK from Canada.

You’ll need to pay customs duty for goods worth more than 135 GBP, as well as excise duty for goods like alcohol or tobacco. You’ll also need to pay value added tax (VAT), as this is charged on all goods sent from outside the UK.¹

If you’re shipping to the UK, you’ll need to make sure your goods can successfully clear UK customs. Register any goods that may have restrictions, such as fresh produce, and get your products ready for inspection with the correct packaging.²

What are the essential requirements for shipping goods from Canada to the UK?

If you’re shipping goods from Canada to the UK, you’ll first need to work out the value of your goods. This can help you understand how much duty and VAT you need to pay.

There are some key documents and pieces of information you’ll need for your import:

• Bill of lading
• Certificate of origin³
• EORI number that starts with GB - you may need to apply for a new number before you send your shipment
• Import VAT Certificate (C79)
• Commodity code - this determines the rate of duty you need to pay
• Commercial invoice - this includes information like what you’re shipping and the value of your goods⁴

However, this list isn’t exhaustive. Make sure to contact UK customs for up-to-date information about your shipment.

Are there any restrictions on shipping goods from Canada to the UK?

Your shipment regulations will depend on what you want to ship to the UK, as different goods require different documents, packaging and licenses. For example, goods like animal products or medicines may need a special license to enter the UK.⁴

Some shipping companies may also have their own restrictions. For example, you can’t ship aerosols or nail polish with DHL.⁵

What are the typical costs of shipping goods from Canada to the UK?

You’ll need to cover the costs of your import. A few factors can influence shipment costs, including:

• weight, size and shape of goods
• taxes and duties for your shipment
• insurance - expensive goods may cost more to ship
• the geographical route taken by your courier

The cost of your shipment can also depend on whether you need general cargo or express cargo. General cargo is intended for regular goods, whereas items like perishables or live animals may need express or special cargo. These products often require additional requirements, such as urgent delivery.

For the most part, general shipping is less expensive. This is because express shipping often requires air freight, which is typically more expensive than sea or road freight.

You’ll also need to think about currency conversion charges, as you may need to pay for your UK shipment in GBP. Many banks and money transfer platforms charge for sending money abroad – and this can add to the cost of your import.

Some intermediary banks may also charge a fee for global payments in the SWIFT network. Make sure to explore your options before organising your shipment.

How to reduce costs on transactions between the UK and Canada

Reduce your shipping costs with a Wise multi-currency account!

Hold money in 40+ currencies or make speedy, stress-free payments in CAD, GBP, USD, EUR and many other currencies.

Wise saves your recipient’s local currency details to save costs on currency conversion and unexpected fees charged by intermediary banks.

Spend money at the mid-market exchange rate – the one you typically see on Google. This is the only ‘real’ exchange rate – and you’ll never pay markups or conversion fees with Wise.

You can even use your Wise Business account to:

• send automatic invoices to customers and clients
• set up batch payments to up to 1000 people at once
• access advanced security features such as two-factor authentication, 3D secure online payments, biometric recognition, and dedicated anti-fraud teams.

Enjoy transparent fees and full peace of mind with Wise!

Note: Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions

Please see the Terms and Conditions for your region and visit our pricing page for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information on Wise products.

Some of the well-known shipping companies for exporting from Canada to the UK

Let’s take a look at some popular shipping companies, including the cheapest ways to ship goods from Canada to the UK.

Canada Post

Founded in 1867, Canada Post is a common delivery option for shipments from Canada to the UK.

Canada Post covers 190 countries, with multiple shipping methods for businesses across Canada, including Xpresspost International.⁶ This service can deliver your shipment in 4 to 7 days.⁷

We’ve put together how much it costs to send a 30kg shipment from Ottawa to London with Canada Post on March 26 2024.

Delivery option/Weight	Shipping costs	Transit duration
International Parcel - Surface	336.02 CAD	Information not provided
Xpresspost - International	572.22 CAD	7 business days (guaranteed)⁸

Learn how you can use Canada Post to support your business.

Canpar Express

Canpar Express first opened in 1976, serving 215 countries across the globe.⁹ You can use Canpar Express International shipping to send goods from Canada to the UK.¹⁰

Let’s take a look at how much it costs to send 34kg from Ottawa to the UK on 26 March 2024.

Delivery option/Weight	Shipping costs	Transit duration
Canpar Express International	1540.05 CAD	Information not provided¹¹

There are a few things you can’t ship with Canpar Express, including plants, live animals, paintings and goods that aren’t properly packaged.¹²

DHL

DHL is a well-known company for shipments from Canada to the UK. Founded in 1969, you can use DHL to send goods to over 220 countries.¹³

DHL offers a selection of delivery methods, including:

• DHL Express Worldwide - delivery by end of day
• DHL Express 9:00 - delivery by 9 am on next or second business day
• DHL Express 12:00 - delivery by 12 noon on next business day \

Let’s take a closer look at these shipping methods.

Services	DHL Express Worldwide	DHL Express 9:00	DHL Express 12:00
Money-back guarantee	No	Yes	Yes
Delivery attempts	2	2	2
Maximum piece weight	70kg	30kg	70kg
Max. pieces per shipment	N/A	10	10
Max. piece dimensions (L x W x H)	120 x 80 x 80cm	120 x 80 x 80cm	120 x 80 x 80cm
Max. pallet weight	1000kg	Pallets aren’t accepted	Pallets aren’t accepted
Max. shipment weight	3000kg	300kg	300kg
Max. pallet dimensions (L x W x H)	300 x 300 x 160cm	Pallets not accepted	Pallets not accepted¹⁴

Prices are available on request. You’ll need to contact DHL for a personalised quote for your business.

Globex Courier

Globex Courier first opened in 1995 in Québec, offering delivery services in more than 220 countries.¹⁵ You can use Globex Courier to send goods by fast freight forwarding, including flexible international shipping.

You’ll need to contact Globex Courier for a full list of shipment rates. Your fees may depend on where and how you send your shipment.

You’ll also need a commercial invoice to send your UK shipment with Globex Courier. This document needs to include a description of each item, its value and why you’re exporting it.¹⁶

FedEx

FedEx is a common option for shipments from Canada to the UK. The company first started in 1971 and it covers delivery to over 220 countries.¹⁷

There are lots of different shipping methods with FedEx, including FedEx International Economy, which will deliver your shipment in 2 to 5 business days, or FedEx International Priority, which ships in 1 to 3 business days.¹⁸

Let’s take a look at the costs for shipping 200kg from Ottawa to London on 13 March 2024.

Delivery option/Weight	Shipping costs
FedEx International Priority Freight	8,948.77 CAD
FedEx International Economy Freight	8,514.83 CAD¹⁹

There are a few things you can’t send to the UK with FedEx, including live animals.²⁰

Essential local know-how when shipping from Canada to the UK

Some businesses and postal services in the UK may close on certain holidays, so you’ll need to think about how these holidays will affect your delivery times.

For example, the UK celebrates bank holidays for Easter, Christmas and May Day. Many Royal Mail post offices also close at the weekend, so make sure to factor this into your shipment times.

Conclusion

Shipping to the UK from Canada can help you take your business to new markets, but you’ll need to follow the correct shipping procedures to successfully import your goods.

In particular, pay attention to the documents you need to clear UK customs and always ensure you leave enough time for your courier to deliver your shipment.

To start paying for your shipments at the mid-market rate, check out Wise!

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Sources

1. UK Government
2. UK Government
3. Sea Rates
4. UK Government
5. DHL
6. Post Grid
7. Canada Post
8. Canada Post
9. Canpar Express
10. Canpar Express
11. Canpar Express
12. Canpar Express
13. DHL
14. DHL
15. Globex Courier
16. Globex Courier
17. FedEx
18. FedEx
19. FedEx
20. FedEx

Sources verified on 17 April 2024