What counts as commercial goods in Canada?

Identifying whether your goods are commercial or casual will help you meet the correct import requirements from the start, which can reduce border delays and ensure CBSA compliance.

If you’re bringing goods into Canada, it’s important to understand whether your imports are classified as commercial goods or casual goods.

This classification determines how your shipment will be handled at the border and the requirements for customs clearance.

In this article, we explain what commercial goods are, how they differ from casual goods, and what is required to clear them.

What are commercial goods?

Commercial goods are those intended for sale or for any commercial, industrial, occupational, institutional or other similar use.

In other words, if the goods are tied to a business or income-generating activity, they’re considered commercial.

On the other hand, if they’re intended for personal use, they’re considered casual.

How casual and commercial goods are classified

Casual and commercial goods are treated differently because they enter Canada for different purposes. Here’s how they’re classified:

Casual goods

A casual import involves goods that are:

• • Imported strictly for personal use or consumption
  • Not intended for resale, distribution, or business use 

Even when you import casual goods, you are required to provide documentation that describes the goods and their value.  

Commercial goods

A commercial import involves goods that are:

• • Intended for sale or resale (wholesale or retail)
  • Used in a business, trade, or professional practice
  • Used as inputs to produce, manufacture, or repair other goods

    To process and clear commercial goods, you typically need to have:

• • A valid Business Number (BN) with an import/export (RM) account
  • The right information that allows the CBSA to identify the goods
  • Documentation that describes the goods and their value
  • The correct tariff classification and origin information
  • Any required permits, licences, or certificates

Commercial goods are accounted for digitally in the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system using a Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD).

For goods purchased from a foreign vendor (online or otherwise), classification can also depend on who is acting as the importer, even when the goods are for personal use.

If an individual in Canada purchases goods from a foreign vendor for personal use and has them shipped by a courier on their behalf, the goods are generally considered casual.  

However, if the same goods are imported by the foreign vendor as a non-resident importer (NRI), the shipment is treated as a commercial import.

How we can help

At Cole International, we offer customs brokerage and trade consulting services to help Canadian businesses navigate import requirements with greater clarity and confidence. 

Our team can work with you to:

• Confirm whether your goods qualify as commercial or casual
• Ensure you have the right information and documents ready
• Classify your imports correctly to avoid any delays at the border

Reach out to one of our trade professionals to discuss how we can help with customs clearance for your commercial goods and ensure compliance with CBSA requirements.

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