France and Quebec enjoy close cultural and business ties that depend on low-cost parcel delivery and shipping options. This is especially true for Panier Bleu, Shopify and other direct to consumer sellers in Quebec with growing sales to France and the European Union.
Jet Worldwide has been providing courier, parcel and ecommerce shipping services to Paris from Montreal over 35 years ago!
A few quick points to consider when shipping international between Canada and France
Ship your online orders direct from YUL to CDG for immediate clearance,prepaid VAT, and delivery to all of France.Contact our team to build a direct import solution to France.
This post provides a deeper dive and explores of the main elements of international shipping between Canada and France:
Jet Worldwide provides logistics expertise (as evidenced by our industry-leading blog articles) and global parcel shipping solutions for e-commerce online orders.
Canada Post is the preferred option for individuals shipping small parcels and personal items from Canada to France.
Packages sent via Canada Post are imported and delivered by La Poste or their subsidiaries such as Chronopost and Coliposte.
Shipping France from Canada Post parcel packets:
Shipping parcels over 2 kg via Canada Post to France:
FedEx and UPS are North America's largest carriers and offer delivery to France from Montreal via their American hubs. FedEx and UPS, along with DHL, provide reliable shipping options to France from Canada.
Fedex and UPS shipping options to France from Canada include:
Purolator Courier is a leading domestic carrier in Canada and provide express delivery to France through partners - including UPS. Purolator is a division of Canada Post.
The default option for shipping internationally from Canada is Delivery Duty Unpaid. Common carriers use the term Ex Works (EXW) which essentially assigns all import related costs (duties, taxes and other fees) to the receiver/importer. Shippers from Canada can choose to pay the import fees on behalf of the receiver via a Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) options that many carriers offer. See our blog on Incoterms and shipping terms for packages and online orders.
The disadvantage of paying import fees on behalf of the receiver is that the bulk of the import fees to France are often from the 20% value added tax that the importing business may otherwise be able to claim back.
Most online orders shipped to France can be imported duty free but subject to prepayment of value added tax via online platforms. See section below on shipping online orders to France. Read about VAT collection for online orders to European Union countries.
Jet Worldwide provides France and EU parcel distribution from within the EU. Contact our French Canadian team for information on EU parcel last-mile distribution. Jet helps Canadian and Quebec independent sellers (via Shopify, Let Pannier Bleu, eBay etc) to France and the UK.
PDF presentation: Shipping to Europe from Canada
Goods shipped to France must be accompanied by an invoice for customs or other supporting documents.
CANADA'S MAJOR FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
Defined as used and for personal use only, personal effects shipped to France are eligible for clearance free of duty and taxes. Requirements include:
Shipping of excess baggage to France: Generally, it is simpler and easier to ship your personal effects as excess baggage when you travel. Carrier excess baggage fees for a couple of bags is most often less expensive than shipping separately without having to manage the entry requirements (discussed above).
Shipping a box or several boxes: Jet Worldwide provides solutions shipping of international personal effects to France from Canada via economy air. Get a shipping quote France from Canada via Jet.
Shipping a household/container level: For shipping a full household, it is best to contact a moving specialists to arrange for packing and ocean transport.
With an affinity for Canadian products, France’s online market is one of the world’s largest. Now more than ever, Canadian companies are looking for direct shipping, last-mile delivery, and clearance solutions for their shipping of e-commerce orders to France and the EU.
Read about VAT payment for online orders shipped to the European Union.
Here are a few things to consider when developing high-volume shipping solutions from Quebec and Canada to France and the EU:
Import One-Stop Shop: E-commerce shipments valued under EUR 150 can be imported via One-Stop Shop (IOSS) processes that allow sellers and online marketplaces to charge VAT at the point of sale and remit it directly to the authorities.
The Canadian e-commerce businesses and marketplaces will be able to register for a VAT account in only one EU country. Currently, sellers have to register in each country they sell and ship to.
Online marketplaces or direct to consumer (DTC) individual sellers (who do not use an online marketplace) are the responsible party for collecting VAT for orders up to €150.
EU countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. EU VAT rules for Northern Ireland are established in the EU-UK Joint Protocol.
Businesses not already established in the EU will likely need to appoint an EU-established intermediary to fulfill the VAT obligations.
For details on IOSS and the otherEU’s VAT rules, visit: Publications Office of the European Union.
Jet Worldwide has best in class solutions for Canada's leading e-commerce sellers.
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates are generally applicable for good traded between France and Canada. Goods that meet The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) rules of origin can benefit from preferential duty free import. The MFN tariff rates of Canada and France apply to goods that do not meet the rules of origin (non-originating goods) under CETA.
Simplified declarations are possible for low-value shipments under the CETA. Country origin rules are associated with factors used to determine if the product is eligible for preferential duty-free treatment under the CETA. Canadian shippers don’t require a formal certificate in order to obtain tariff benefits. A declaration on the invoice or any other commercial document accompanying the shipment is enough.
The CETA country of origin declaration has a specific wording, which is fairly straightforward (check with up-to-date regulations before shipping).
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