This article shows you how to prepare, pack and declare cleaned bird’s nest so your shipment goes smoothly.

Canada’s rules on importing bird’s nest for personal use

To bring or send bird’s nest into Canada as a personal gift, the product must meet strict disease-safety standards:

• Only fully cleaned bird’s nest is accepted: The nest must be cleaned of feathers, dirt and organic matter. Raw nests with feathers are strictly prohibited because of the risk of carrying avian influenza.
• Commercially packaged with clear labels: Bird’s nest should be in the packaging of a reputable producer, with the brand, expiry date and ingredients clearly stated in English or French. This makes it easy for customs officers to verify its origin.
• Non-commercial purpose: The parcel must clearly be a personal gift, in a modest quantity, not for resale.

How to pack bird’s nest so it doesn’t break in air transit

Bird’s nest is very brittle and can crumble under pressure during loading and air transport. To keep each nest whole, pack it as follows:

Step 1: Protect each nest

Place each nest in a moulded plastic tray or wrap it in a thin layer of food-grade PE cling film. This stops the nests knocking against each other and chipping.

Step 2: Use a foam box or rigid plastic box

Put the wrapped nests inside a purpose-made plastic box or a small foam box. Fill the gaps with medical cotton wool or packing peanuts so the nests can’t move when the box is shaken.

Step 3: Pack in an outer carton

Put the plastic boxes inside a sturdy carton. Soleil Transportation’s shipping service to Canada includes basic packing in a standard carton for maximum protection.

How to declare it accurately so it isn’t held

The declaration is the most important step in getting your parcel cleared. Even a small mistake in describing the goods can make customs suspicious and hold the parcel for inspection.

• Describe it in detail and honestly: On the customs declaration, don’t write a vague “food” or “gift”. Write in English: “Cleaned Edible Bird’s Nest (For personal consumption/Gift)”.
• Declare the real value: Don’t declare a value far below what the bird’s nest is really worth, because Canadian customs checks values very closely. A false value can lead to administrative fines for fraud.

Send bird’s nest safely to Canada with Soleil Transportation

If you are still worried about complicated paperwork or your goods being lost or damaged, let Soleil Transportation help. We offer fast, professional two-way Vietnam–Canada air shipping.

• Great rates: Air shipping from Vietnam to Canada with door delivery from just $16/kg. For small gift parcels, you can choose ePacket from just $8.50 CAD per parcel.
• Fast transit: Just 7–14 days from Vietnam to the recipient in Canada (7–12 business days on average, depending on the location).
• Import duties included: Soleil Transportation’s Vietnam–Canada service includes import duties, so the recipient in Canada doesn’t need to worry about extra charges on delivery.
• Easy tracking: Track your order online anytime with your order or booking number. The system sends automatic status updates by email, SMS or Zalo for complete peace of mind.

Before packing bird’s nest to send, contact us on +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com. The Soleil Transportation team at our Mississauga office (2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, L5A 3K6) is always ready to advise you on packing and to check whether your shipment meets Canada’s latest customs requirements.

This article walks you through the process of dealing with CBSA yourself so you can receive your gift from home in full.

Why are you charged brokerage fees, and when should you self-clear?

When goods from Vietnam arrive at a Canadian airport, couriers declare them to customs on your behalf by default and charge for this service. For small gifts and personal items sent by ePacket (from just $8.50 CAD per parcel) or ordinary air shipments, paying an extra $20 to $50 CAD in brokerage fees to a major courier is an unnecessary cost.

You have every right to refuse this brokerage service and do it yourself. However, it is only practical if:

• You live near a CBSA office that offers clearance services to the public (an inland CBSA office).
• You have time to travel there during business hours.
• The parcel hasn’t been delivered yet (you must ask the courier to hold it at their warehouse).

5 steps to self-clear at a CBSA office

Step 1: Decline the courier’s brokerage service

When you receive an email, text or call saying the goods have arrived in Canada and asking you to pay duties and fees for delivery, reply immediately. Say clearly: “I want to self-clear this shipment. Please provide the manifest and invoice so I can pay the duties directly to CBSA.”

The courier must give you two key documents: the Cargo Control Document (also called the manifest, with a barcode) and the commercial invoice or other proof of the goods’ value from the sender in Vietnam.

Step 2: Prepare your documents

Before going to the CBSA office, print and bring:

• The Cargo Control Document (CCD) from the courier.
• The purchase invoice or the gift value declaration prepared by the sender in Vietnam.
• Government-issued photo ID (driver’s licence, photo card or passport).
• Proof that you live at the delivery address (if the address on your ID doesn’t match, bring a utility bill or lease).

Step 3: Find the right CBSA office

Not every CBSA office handles self-clearance for individuals. Check the official CBSA website for locations marked “Inland Office” or “Low Value Shipment (LVS)”. For example, if you live in Mississauga or Toronto, look for offices near the airport or major logistics centres.

Step 4: Declare and pay duties at the CBSA counter

At the CBSA office, show your documents to the customs officer. They will check them and ask you a few simple questions about the item (what it is, what it’s used for, whether it’s a gift) to apply the correct tariff code.

A note on gift taxes: in Canada, gifts sent by relatives abroad to an individual are usually duty- and tax-free if worth less than $60 CAD. If the gift is worth more than $60 CAD, you only pay on the amount above that.

Once the officer has calculated the amount, you pay at the counter by cash, credit card or debit. CBSA will give you an official receipt, Form B15 (Casual Goods Accounting Document), stamped “PAID”.

Step 5: Send the receipt to the courier to get your parcel

Photograph or scan the stamped B15 and email it to the courier as proof that you have paid. The courier will update the tracking status and deliver to your home without charging any further customs fees.

Common mistakes when self-clearing with CBSA

• Asking to self-clear after delivery: Once the courier has delivered and you have signed for the parcel, you have accepted their terms, and getting the brokerage fee back is very difficult.
• Not preparing proof of value: If customs suspects the declared value is too low, they can reassess it themselves. Have screenshots of the transaction or equivalent prices in Vietnam ready to explain.
• Sending prohibited goods: Drugs, cash, dangerous goods and cremated remains are banned on every route. Food and items with lithium batteries are subject to strict CBSA inspection rules, which self-clearance can’t get around without a permit.

If you regularly send and receive goods between Vietnam and Canada and want to avoid this paperwork, a duties-included shipping service is the best solution. Soleil Transportation’s two-way Vietnam–Canada air service (7–12 business days on average) starts at just $16/kg and includes all import duties and customs procedures at both ends, so you can simply wait for delivery at home.

For more advice on shipping rules and customs clearance for specific items, visit the Soleil Transportation office at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6, call +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com.

Canadian customs rules for duty-free gifts

When you send gifts to Canada, the Canadian government allows gifts worth $60 CAD or less per gift to enter duty- and tax-free. However, this comes with specific conditions:

• The gift must be sent by an individual abroad to an individual in Canada.
• The parcel must include a card or a clear note stating that it is a gift.
• Alcohol, beer, tobacco and advertising materials never count as gifts for the exemption.

If your gift is worth more than $60 CAD, the amount above $60 CAD is subject to import duty and GST/HST according to the rules of the recipient’s province.

How GST/HST is calculated on gifts over $60 CAD

Say you send a designer jacket worth $100 CAD from Vietnam to Toronto (Ontario). Canadian customs calculates the tax like this:

1. Deduct the exemption: $100 CAD (gift value) – $60 CAD (maximum exemption) = $40 CAD.
2. Calculate the tax: Customs only charges import duty and GST/HST on this $40 CAD difference.

The GST/HST rate depends on the delivery address. For example, Ontario charges 13% HST, while Alberta charges only 5% GST. If the item is also subject to Canadian import duty, the preferential or standard duty rate is added before GST/HST is calculated.

Steps to declare a gift sent to Canada

To prevent the parcel from being delayed or returned, senders in Vietnam need to declare it accurately:

Step 1: Prepare an invoice and a detailed description

On the customs declaration (usually form CN22 or CN23), describe each item inside. Instead of a vague “Gift”, write something specific like “Knitted wool sweater as a gift”. State the actual value of each item in CAD or USD.

Step 2: Pack to standard

Goods sent to Canada should be packed securely in a cardboard box. At Soleil Transportation, the shipping price includes basic packing in a carton to keep your gift safe throughout its 7 to 14 day journey.

Step 3: Declare who pays the tax

Decide clearly who is responsible for paying any tax on the value above $60 CAD. The recipient can pay on delivery (door-to-door), or you can use a duties-included service from a professional carrier.

Common mistakes that get gifts held at the border

Many people who send parcels through the post on their own run into these problems:

• Under-declaring the value: Declaring a lower value (for example, declaring $30 CAD for a $200 CAD item) to avoid tax. Canadian customs compares declared values with market prices very strictly. If they find a false declaration, they will hold the goods, ask for the purchase invoice or apply a much higher value themselves.
• Undeclared prohibited goods: Food containing meat, eggs or dairy, and seeds, are strictly banned from entering Canada as personal gifts. Make sure your gift is not on the prohibited list.

Send gifts to Canada safely with Soleil Transportation’s all-in-one service

If you don’t want your family in Canada to deal with customs or worry about complicated taxes, the best solution is Soleil Transportation’s dedicated route service.

We offer Vietnam–Canada air shipping with an average transit time of 7 to 12 business days. Rates start from just $16/kg and include all import duties, so the recipient in Canada simply receives the parcel at home without paying any extra charges at the border.

For small gifts and personal souvenirs under 2 kg, you can choose ePacket from just $8.50 CAD per parcel, with a tracking number so you and the recipient can follow its journey online from drop-off in Vietnam to delivery in Canada.

When you want to send a gift to your loved ones, call us on +1 888-998-5199 or email the details to info@soleiltransportation.com. Our staff will advise you on the most accurate customs declaration so your gift arrives safely and on time.