If you are waiting for a gift from Vietnam, you may get a notice from the courier asking you to pay duties plus a customs brokerage fee. This service fee is sometimes even higher than the actual duty on the item. Few people know that Canadian law lets recipients go to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office and clear the goods themselves (self-accounting) to save this cost.
This article walks you through the process of dealing with CBSA yourself so you can receive your gift from home in full.
Why are you charged brokerage fees, and when should you self-clear?
When goods from Vietnam arrive at a Canadian airport, couriers declare them to customs on your behalf by default and charge for this service. For small gifts and personal items sent by ePacket (from just $8.50 CAD per parcel) or ordinary air shipments, paying an extra $20 to $50 CAD in brokerage fees to a major courier is an unnecessary cost.
You have every right to refuse this brokerage service and do it yourself. However, it is only practical if:
- You live near a CBSA office that offers clearance services to the public (an inland CBSA office).
- You have time to travel there during business hours.
- The parcel hasn’t been delivered yet (you must ask the courier to hold it at their warehouse).
5 steps to self-clear at a CBSA office
Step 1: Decline the courier’s brokerage service
When you receive an email, text or call saying the goods have arrived in Canada and asking you to pay duties and fees for delivery, reply immediately. Say clearly: “I want to self-clear this shipment. Please provide the manifest and invoice so I can pay the duties directly to CBSA.”
The courier must give you two key documents: the Cargo Control Document (also called the manifest, with a barcode) and the commercial invoice or other proof of the goods’ value from the sender in Vietnam.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
Before going to the CBSA office, print and bring:
- The Cargo Control Document (CCD) from the courier.
- The purchase invoice or the gift value declaration prepared by the sender in Vietnam.
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s licence, photo card or passport).
- Proof that you live at the delivery address (if the address on your ID doesn’t match, bring a utility bill or lease).
Step 3: Find the right CBSA office
Not every CBSA office handles self-clearance for individuals. Check the official CBSA website for locations marked “Inland Office” or “Low Value Shipment (LVS)”. For example, if you live in Mississauga or Toronto, look for offices near the airport or major logistics centres.
Step 4: Declare and pay duties at the CBSA counter
At the CBSA office, show your documents to the customs officer. They will check them and ask you a few simple questions about the item (what it is, what it’s used for, whether it’s a gift) to apply the correct tariff code.
A note on gift taxes: in Canada, gifts sent by relatives abroad to an individual are usually duty- and tax-free if worth less than $60 CAD. If the gift is worth more than $60 CAD, you only pay on the amount above that.
Once the officer has calculated the amount, you pay at the counter by cash, credit card or debit. CBSA will give you an official receipt, Form B15 (Casual Goods Accounting Document), stamped “PAID”.
Step 5: Send the receipt to the courier to get your parcel
Photograph or scan the stamped B15 and email it to the courier as proof that you have paid. The courier will update the tracking status and deliver to your home without charging any further customs fees.
Common mistakes when self-clearing with CBSA
- Asking to self-clear after delivery: Once the courier has delivered and you have signed for the parcel, you have accepted their terms, and getting the brokerage fee back is very difficult.
- Not preparing proof of value: If customs suspects the declared value is too low, they can reassess it themselves. Have screenshots of the transaction or equivalent prices in Vietnam ready to explain.
- Sending prohibited goods: Drugs, cash, dangerous goods and cremated remains are banned on every route. Food and items with lithium batteries are subject to strict CBSA inspection rules, which self-clearance can’t get around without a permit.
If you regularly send and receive goods between Vietnam and Canada and want to avoid this paperwork, a duties-included shipping service is the best solution. Soleil Transportation’s two-way Vietnam–Canada air service (7–12 business days on average) starts at just $16/kg and includes all import duties and customs procedures at both ends, so you can simply wait for delivery at home.
For more advice on shipping rules and customs clearance for specific items, visit the Soleil Transportation office at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6, call +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com.
