1–3 days express, 5–10 days economy air — CETA gives EU-origin goods 0% import duty into Canada.
Canada is one of Portugal's most important non-EU trade partners, with a strong Portuguese diaspora community and growing B2B trade. Under CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada, provisionally applied since September 2017), 98% of EU goods enter Canada at 0% import duty — making Canada one of the most favourable non-EU export destinations for Portuguese businesses. Canada uses the CAD (Canadian Dollar) and GST/HST (Goods and Services Tax / Harmonised Sales Tax, typically 5–15% depending on province) applies to imports. Express carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) deliver in 1–3 business days; economy air services take 5–10 days. Road economy is not practical for Canada (transatlantic).
| Carrier | Economy | Express | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 1–3 days | DHL Express Worldwide. Strong Toronto and Vancouver hubs. Best all-around for Canada. |
| FedEx | 4–6 days | 1–3 days | International Priority (1–3 days) or International Economy (4–6 days via air). |
| UPS | 5–8 days | 2–3 days | UPS Worldwide Express (2–3 days) or Worldwide Expedited (5–8 days). |
| DPD | — | — | DPD does not serve Canada — road network is EU-only. Use DHL, FedEx or UPS. |
| GLS | — | — | GLS does not serve Canada. Use DHL, FedEx or UPS for transatlantic. |
Times are business days. Customs clearance time (if applicable) is additional and variable.
Canada requires customs clearance on all imports. CETA (EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement): most EU-manufactured goods enter Canada at 0% import duty since September 2017. To claim CETA preference: include a Statement on Origin on your commercial invoice — 'The exporter of the products covered by this document declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of EU preferential origin.' Canadian GST (5% federal) applies to all imports regardless of origin. Provinces add HST (Ontario: 13% combined; Quebec: 14.975%; British Columbia: 12%). De minimis: commercial shipments valued under CAD 40 (~€28) are duty-exempt; under CAD 150 (~€105) are GST/HST-exempt. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) electronic system for commercial imports. Express carriers handle customs brokerage as part of international services.
Always include the CETA origin statement on your commercial invoice — without it, standard MFN Canadian duties apply (typically 0–18% depending on product category).
DHL Express is consistently the best carrier for Canada — strong Toronto and Vancouver hubs with reliable 1–2 day delivery to major Canadian cities.
Canada is a vast country — transit to major cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver) is fastest. Remote areas (northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, northern BC) may add 1–3 days.
Canadian customs is efficient for well-documented commercial shipments — use correct HS codes and accurate declared values to avoid delays.
FedEx International Economy is a good middle-ground option for Canada — 4–6 days at lower cost than Priority, available on most Canadian routes.
Portuguese community: Canada has a large Portuguese diaspora (over 400,000), particularly in Toronto and Montreal — B2C demand for Portuguese food, wine and crafts from family members.
DHL Express: 1–3 business days to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. FedEx International Priority: 1–3 days; Economy: 4–6 days. UPS Worldwide Express: 2–3 days; Expedited: 5–8 days. All Canada services travel by air — no road economy option for transatlantic routes.
Under CETA, 98% of EU-manufactured goods enter Canada at 0% import duty. To claim the 0% rate: include a Statement on Origin on your commercial invoice declaring EU preferential origin. Without the statement, standard MFN Canadian tariffs apply (0–18% depending on product). Canadian GST (5%) still applies to all imports regardless of CETA preference.
Canada applies GST (Goods and Services Tax) at 5% on all imports, collected by CBSA. Some provinces add PST (Provincial Sales Tax) or participate in HST (Harmonised Sales Tax): Ontario 13% combined, Quebec 14.975%, New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/PEI/Newfoundland 15%, British Columbia 12%. GST/HST is paid by the Canadian importer and can be recovered by GST-registered businesses.
Canada's de minimis thresholds: duties are waived on commercial imports under CAD 40 (~€28). GST/HST is waived on imports under CAD 150 (~€105). For B2C e-commerce sales to Canadian consumers under CAD 150, the overseas seller is responsible for collecting and remitting Canadian GST if they exceed the registration threshold (CAD 30,000/year in Canadian sales).
No — DPD and GLS are European road networks and do not serve Canada. For transatlantic shipping to Canada, you need air express carriers: DHL Express, FedEx or UPS. Compare their rates for your specific weight and dimensions on Cargosender — prices vary significantly by parcel weight.
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