Canada Customs & Import Duty on Packages from Europe: 2026 Guide
What taxes and duties do you pay when importing packages from European stores to Canada? This guide covers CBSA rules, the de minimis threshold, GST/HST rates, and real examples from EU brands.
Shopping from European stores and shipping to Canada is one of the most popular use cases on Resendify — EU fashion, LEGO, sporting goods, and beauty products frequently undercut Canadian retail prices by 20–50%. Understanding what you'll pay in Canadian customs and taxes helps you budget accurately and decide which purchases are worthwhile.
Canada's De Minimis Threshold: CAD 20
Canada has one of the lowest de minimis thresholds in the world: CAD 20. This means almost every shipment from a European retailer — even a single item — is subject to Canadian customs duties and taxes. Unlike the US ($800), Australia (AUD 1,000), or the UK (£135), Canada offers virtually no duty-free buffer for courier shipments.
What this means in practice: for courier shipments (FedEx, DHL, UPS — which is what Resendify uses), goods above CAD 20 are assessed for GST/HST and potentially customs duty. Most EU purchases will exceed this threshold.
GST and HST: Province Matters
Canada levies GST (Goods and Services Tax) federally at 5%, and most provinces add a provincial sales tax. In harmonised provinces (Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island), this becomes HST at 13–15%. In other provinces, GST (5%) applies at customs and provincial tax may be due separately.
Canadian Customs Duty on EU Goods
In addition to GST/HST, customs duty (Customs Tariff) applies to most goods from the EU. Canada does not have a free trade agreement with the EU for most goods categories (CETA has specific exemptions). MFN (Most Favoured Nation) duty rates apply:
- Clothing and apparel: 16–18%
- Footwear: 18–20%
- Electronics (computers, phones, cameras): 0%
- Cosmetics and beauty products: 6.5%
- Toys and games (LEGO etc.): 0%
- Books: 0%
- Furniture: 9.5%
- Sporting goods: 0–6%
Note on CETA: The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) eliminates or reduces duties on many goods from EU member states. Eligible goods must include a CETA certificate of origin. Resendify shipments shipped as private purchases typically don't include formal CETA documentation, so MFN rates are the practical baseline to plan around.
Worked Examples — EU to Canada
Example 1: €200 Zara Spain Order (Clothing) → Ontario
- Goods value: €200 (~CAD 290 at 1.45 EUR/CAD)
- Canadian customs duty (clothing, ~18%): ~CAD 52
- HST 13% on (CAD 290 + CAD 52): ~CAD 44
- Forwarding from Spain to Canada: ~CAD 35–45
- Total additional costs: ~CAD 131–141
- Same items from Zara Canada: typically CAD 370–430
- Net saving: approximately CAD 100–140 — savings exist but smaller than US/AU
Example 2: €150 LEGO Technic Set → British Columbia
- Goods value: €150 (~CAD 218)
- Canadian customs duty on toys: 0%
- GST 5% on CAD 218: ~CAD 11
- Forwarding from Germany to Canada: ~CAD 28–35
- Total additional costs: ~CAD 39–46
- Same set at Canadian LEGO retailer: typically CAD 270–310
- Net saving: approximately CAD 60–90
Example 3: €89 L'Occitane Order (Cosmetics) → Alberta
- Goods value: €89 (~CAD 129)
- Canadian customs duty (cosmetics, 6.5%): ~CAD 8
- GST 5% on (CAD 129 + CAD 8): ~CAD 7
- Forwarding from France to Canada: ~CAD 22–28
- Total additional costs: ~CAD 37–43
- Same products at Canadian L'Occitane: typically CAD 180–220
- Net saving: approximately CAD 50–80
CBSA Clearance Process
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) processes all incoming courier shipments. Resendify uses commercial courier services (DHL, FedEx) which file electronic customs declarations. For most consumer goods, clearance is automated. You'll receive a customs invoice from the courier before delivery — payment triggers final release of your package.
Canada does not have significant biosecurity restrictions on most EU consumer goods (fashion, toys, electronics, beauty). However, food products, plants, and animal products are restricted.
When Does Buying from EU Still Make Sense for Canada?
Despite higher effective duty rates than the US or Australia, EU shopping is worthwhile for Canadian buyers in these scenarios:
- Electronics and tech (0% duty + 5% GST): Best value category — savings of 15–35% over Canadian prices are common
- LEGO and toys (0% duty): CAD prices are consistently higher than EU prices by 25–45%
- Luxury and premium EU brands: Items not stocked in Canada or with 60–80%+ price premiums
- Consolidation orders: Combining several purchases into one shipment reduces the per-unit shipping cost significantly
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