Step 1: Classify your goods correctly under the new rules

One of the biggest reasons shipments to Canada are held for inspection at the Vietnamese border is an incorrect goods code.

New goods classification rules from July 30, 2026

From July 30, 2026, Vietnam is applying new rules on classifying export goods to simplify customs clearance. However, shippers, especially shop owners who pack their own goods, must understand the new classification to declare accurately. Declaring the wrong product group can get the whole shipment held at the border for inspection, seriously delaying delivery.

Important note for electronics from July 13

If your business sells technology products, smart devices, storage devices or hardware with security features (civil cryptography products), you must declare the correct regulated code from July 13. Customs will stop clearance or impose administrative fines if these tech products are not declared with the correct technical code when exported. Ask your Vietnamese supplier for clear technical specifications before shipping to Canada.

Step 2: Prepare origin documents and file with the right office from August 1

For your goods to receive tariff preferences when imported into Canada, preparing a certificate of origin (C/O) is extremely important.

Since August 1, the authorities have tightened the rules on where applications are accepted. Businesses that want tariff preferences must identify the correct office to issue the certificate of origin for their goods. Filing in the wrong place leads to long clearance delays and late deliveries to buyers in Canada. Check in advance which authority is responsible for your product category so you file correctly the first time.

Step 3: Avoid prohibited goods under the latest decree

Canadian customs (CBSA) and Vietnamese customs both have strict rules on imports and exports. Under the latest decree, the list of goods banned from export and import now includes many stricter provisions that directly affect shippers:

• Cosmetics and dried foods: These are easily held or destroyed if they lack clear inspection permits or don’t meet food safety standards. Food products and lithium batteries each have their own rules on every shipping route, so research them carefully before packing.
• Strictly prohibited goods: Our entire shipping network prohibits drugs, cash, dangerous goods and cremated remains. Deliberately shipping these items leads to immediate confiscation and legal liability.

Step 4: Optimise shipping costs and use storage in Canada

With ocean freight rates swinging wildly and soaring, sea shipping is no longer the best option for small and medium-sized shops that need to turn over their capital quickly. Instead, many household businesses are switching to fast air freight combined with fulfillment in Canada to keep their cash flow steady and their retail customers happy.

Soleil Transportation offers flexible solutions to help you optimise costs:

• Two-way Vietnam–Canada air freight: From just $16/kg. Transit from Vietnam to Canada averages 7 to 14 days (10 to 21 days in the other direction). This price includes import duties, so you can easily calculate your cost of goods without surprise charges at the border.
• ePacket for small parcels: If you sell souvenirs, personal items or very light products in small parcels, our ePacket service is very affordable, from just $8.50 CAD per parcel.
• Fulfillment in Canada: For shops that want to sell professionally, you can send stock in bulk for storage at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6. When an order comes in, Soleil Transportation packs it and delivers it to the customer from just $5 CAD per order. We also ship within Canada and to the US from $35 per parcel (for Canada to US shipments, the recipient pays any import duties).

Step 5: Invoicing and packing to formal export standards

Once you switch to formal export shipping, every shipping cost must appear clearly in your business’s accounts. Soleil Transportation issues full invoices and accepts flexible payment methods including bank transfer, credit card, Interac e-Transfer and cash.

For packing, every shipment to Canada includes basic packing in a sturdy carton. For heavy, oversized or fragile items that need a wooden crate or a pallet, we can do this for a reasonable surcharge to keep them completely safe in flight. You can track your order online with your order number or receive automatic updates by email, SMS or Zalo. For extra protection on high-value shipments, you can ask to buy additional shipping insurance, as insurance is not usually included in the basic rate.

To make your move to formal export shipping to Canada as smooth as possible, prepare a detailed list of the goods you plan to export and your purchase invoices (if any), then contact the Soleil Transportation team on +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com. We will advise you on the best classification and the safest clearance route for your business.

Why does it matter where you apply for a C/O for Canada from August 1?

From August 1, the authorities began reorganising and aligning which body may issue certificates of origin for each group of export goods. The change is meant to tighten control and prevent origin fraud, but it has made life harder for household businesses and e-commerce shop owners who are not used to complex paperwork.

If you file with the wrong office, you face two major risks:

• Rejected documents and missed flights: Redoing the paperwork can take weeks and delay deliveries to your customers in Canada.
• High duties from Canadian customs: When your goods arrive at a Canadian airport, if customs finds that the C/O was issued by the wrong authority or is invalid, they will refuse to apply the preferential rate under the trade agreement. Your shipment may be charged the much higher standard import duty, wiping out your price advantage.

How to find the right C/O office for Canada from August 1

To avoid confusion when preparing documents from August 1, first work out which group your goods belong to so you file at the right place.

Goods certified by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and its Import-Export Management Offices

Generally, consumer industrial goods, textiles, footwear and highly processed products exported to Canada under tariff preferences are certified by the regional Import-Export Management Offices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT).

• How to tell: If your products are your own clothing designs, leather shoes or plastic household goods, register an account on the MOIT electronic certificate of origin system (eCoSys) first, then submit the paper file at the Import-Export Management Office where your business is registered.
• Note: A first-time application needs a very detailed explanation of the production process and invoices for the raw materials purchased.

Goods certified by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

For raw agricultural products, frozen or dried seafood, herbs, wooden handicrafts and goods that do not qualify for special tariff preferences (requiring only a standard Form B C/O), the issuing authority is VCCI and its local branches.

• How to tell: If you are sending tea, coffee, cashews or bamboo and rattan goods to a retail partner in Canada, prepare your file for the nearest VCCI office.
• Common mistake: Many shop owners assume that all agricultural products go to the MOIT, so their file sits for a week before they are told it cannot be accepted.

Document checklist for a smooth C/O application

To get your application assessed quickly without the officer asking for repeated corrections, prepare a clean set of documents including:

• Export customs declaration: Cleared and digitally signed.
• Commercial invoice: Must clearly show the product name, quantity, unit price and total value in USD or CAD.
• Packing list: A detailed description of how the goods are packed, with the net and gross weight of each package.
• Transport document: An air waybill proving the goods have been loaded.
• Proof of origin: Invoices for raw materials bought in Vietnam, import declarations for materials (if any), or an origin declaration from the Vietnamese manufacturer.

Remember that the information on all of these documents must match word for word. A single discrepancy in weight between the customs declaration and the packing list is enough to have your C/O application returned immediately.

Shipping to Canada without the customs headaches

For a small shop owner, handling the C/O, customs declarations and proof of origin yourself is a heavy burden in both time and money. Instead of struggling with the rule changes from August 1, many shops now send their goods through specialist Vietnam–Canada carriers such as Soleil Transportation.

Soleil Transportation offers flexible service options designed around what sellers need:

• Direct Vietnam–Canada air service: Door delivery from just $16/kg. This price includes all import duties and customs clearance in Canada. Just drop your goods at our Vietnam warehouse and our professional team handles the rest, so you don’t need to worry about a C/O or complex paperwork.
• ePacket: The ideal option for small parcels, gifts and e-commerce orders, from just $8.50 CAD per parcel. Average transit time is 7–12 business days, so you keep your reputation with your customers in Canada.
• Fulfillment in Canada: Storage, packing and domestic delivery in Canada from just $5 CAD per order. Send your stock in bulk to our warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario, then focus on selling while we pack and ship quickly to your customers in Canada and the US.

Every parcel shipped with Soleil Transportation is packed in a basic carton for free and comes with a clear online tracking number. You can check your order’s progress by email, SMS or Zalo at any time.

Before shipping, review your product list to make sure nothing breaks the prohibited-goods rules of either country. For detailed advice on declaring your goods and choosing the most economical service, contact Soleil Transportation on +1 888-998-5199 or email your shipment details to info@soleiltransportation.com. Our team at the warehouse at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario is always ready to help your goods clear customs safely and quickly.