How the Courier Low Value Shipment (CLVS) Program actually works

The CLVS Program offers a faster and more efficient path through customs for goods entering Canada by courier. But not every shipment qualifies.

The Courier Low Value Shipment program, commonly known as the CLVS Program, is the customs framework that allows qualifying goods valued at $3,300 or less to enter Canada through an authorized courier.

If your shipments fall under that threshold and are handled by a participating courier, they may be moving through this program.

In this article, we explain how the CLVS Program works for commercial goods, what goods qualify, and what you need to do to stay compliant.

What is the CLVS Program?

The CLVS Program is an initiative offered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to streamline the reporting, release, and accounting of low-value goods arriving by courier.

The program covers both commercial goods (those imported for business purposes) and casual goods (those imported for personal use). While this article focuses on commercial imports, the same value for duty threshold and clearance process applies to both.

For commercial goods, rather than processing each shipment individually through the standard commercial stream, the courier submits a consolidated cargo/release list (CRL) that covers multiple shipments at once.

This can speed up the clearance of your goods because shipments that are not selected for examination are considered released upon arrival at the courier’s approved sufferance warehouse. However, both the courier and the importer of record can be subject to CBSA compliance verification, and penalties can apply to the liable party.

The CLVS Program is still running, but it has been closed to new courier applications since June 2019.

What goods qualify for the CLVS Program?

To qualify, your shipment must have an estimated value for duty of $3,300 or less. That limit applies to the whole transaction, so you can't split a higher-value shipment into smaller ones to bring it under the limit.

Goods that don’t qualify

Some of the goods that cannot be imported through the CLVS Program, regardless of their value, are:

• Goods that are prohibited, controlled, or regulated by an Act of Parliament or regulation
• Commercial intoxicating liquors
• Diplomatic bags
• Goods imported for temporary use that require a Temporary Admission Permit

How to stay compliant and avoid penalties

The CBSA conducts compliance verifications to confirm that your shipments have been properly reported and accounted for. Discrepancies in valuation, tariff classification, or payment of duties and taxes can result in reassessment and interest charges.

CARM registration

To import commercial goods through the CLVS Program, you’ll need to be registered in the CARM Client Portal (CCP), post financial security to obtain Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privileges, and delegate authority to your customs broker, where applicable.

Record keeping

You must maintain all related records for six years from the date of importation, including invoices, packing slips, accounting documents, origin and value-for-duty support, and documentation showing how duties and taxes were calculated.

When things go wrong

If a shipment is removed from the program, it must be processed through the standard commercial stream. This can mean extra release and accounting documentation, possible delays, and Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) penalties in cases of non-compliance.

How to correct a CLVS accounting error

If your goods were released under the CLVS Program by mistake, you or your customs broker must submit a Voluntary Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD), Type V, through the CCP within five business days of release, or immediately once the error is discovered. You must support the CAD with the corresponding invoice.

For other commercial CLVS accounting corrections, the process depends on timing. Corrections before the payment due date follow CBSA’s accounting correction process, while adjustments or refund requests after the payment due date follow the CAD adjustment process.

If the error relates to origin, tariff classification, or value for duty, a ‘reason to believe’ obligation may also apply.

How we can help

At Cole International, we offer trade consulting and customs brokerage services to help Canadian businesses import goods efficiently while staying compliant with CBSA requirements.

Reach out to one of our trade professionals to verify the eligibility of your next shipment and make sure your goods clear customs without any issues.