Transit Time Guide
Shipping from Portugal to Canada
1–3 days express, 5–10 days economy air — CETA gives EU-origin goods 0% import duty into Canada.
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).
Cargosender books this route through Eurosender's courier network, which assigns the courier and service tier for a given shipment — so a single fixed number of days per carrier can't be stated reliably here. Actual transit time on any route depends on:
The price and estimated transit time you see when you get a quote reflect your actual parcel and route — treat that figure, not a general table, as the relevant estimate for your booking. Transit times are estimates subject to service conditions (customs, weather, courier network load), not a guaranteed arrival date.
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).
Major express carriers publish strong service to Canada generally, with reliable hub coverage in Toronto and Vancouver — but which courier actually handles your Cargosender shipment is assigned by Eurosender's network at booking, not chosen by you.
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.
Economy air service tiers are generally a good middle-ground for Canada — slower than priority express but at lower cost, available on most Canadian routes through Cargosender's instant quote.
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. Transatlantic shipping to Canada requires air express service. Cargosender books through Eurosender's courier network, which assigns the specific courier for an air express service — get an instant quote for your parcel's weight and dimensions, as pricing varies significantly by weight.
DHL Express offers Saturday delivery in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver when selected at booking. FedEx International Priority also has Saturday options for major Canadian cities. Saturday delivery must be confirmed at Cargosender checkout as availability varies by Canadian destination.
DHL and FedEx make two delivery attempts and then hold the parcel at a local facility for collection. UPS uses the UPS Access Point network across Canada. Recipients receive email or SMS delivery notifications and can redirect or reschedule via the carrier's app. Canadian delivery infrastructure is reliable and well-established.
Some express services carry a money-back guarantee from the carrier for late delivery; economy services generally do not. Cargosender's own Terms and Conditions (Section 3.3) describe delivery times as estimates rather than guarantees, regardless of which courier handles a shipment — contact Cargosender support if your delivery is delayed to find out what, if anything, applies to your specific booking.
Yes — DHL, FedEx and UPS all provide full end-to-end tracking to Canada. Canadian last-mile tracking is reliable including in remote provinces (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, northern British Columbia). Notifications are available in English and French. UPS My Choice and FedEx Delivery Manager allow recipients to customise delivery.
Major express carriers generally accept parcels up to around 68–70 kg per package with a maximum girth around 300 cm and single dimension around 120 cm. For very large or heavy shipments, air freight forwarding is more appropriate than express courier. Cargosender's own limit for a given booking depends on the specific service assigned by Eurosender — check the limit shown at quote time.
No — quoted transit times cover air transport only. Canadian CBSA customs clearance via CARM electronic pre-clearance typically adds 0–2 business days for well-documented shipments. Express carriers pre-file customs documentation electronically before the shipment arrives, meaning most parcels clear before landing. Delays occur for goods requiring physical examination.
Yes — all air express carriers charge fuel and energy surcharges (typically 15–25% of base rate), adjusted monthly. These surcharges are included in Cargosender's quoted total — no hidden additions at checkout.
Dangerous goods (lithium batteries, aerosols, flammables) require IATA-compliant packaging, labelling and carrier pre-approval. Canada has Transport Canada hazmat regulations for import by air. Some items are prohibited from passenger aircraft and must travel as cargo freight. Contact Cargosender before booking any DG shipment to Canada.
Book on Cargosender.com, which routes your shipment through Eurosender's courier network — get an instant quote for current pricing, choose your service tier, and confirm your pickup date. Before booking, prepare a commercial invoice including the CETA Statement on Origin to claim 0% Canadian import duty on qualifying EU-manufactured goods.
Major express carriers generally publish strong on-time performance for Canada via hubs like Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR). Which courier actually handles a given Cargosender shipment is assigned by Eurosender's network at booking, not chosen by you — you select your service tier (economy or express) and get an instant quote for current pricing and transit time.
Get an instant quote, booked through Eurosender's courier network, for your shipment to Canada.
Get a Free Quote →