Qatar is shaped like a fingernail and sticks strategically into the Persian Gulf. For centuries it was the center of the pearl and purple dye trade, but today, Qatar's Doha is the home of futuristic skyscrapers and ultramodern architecture.
As you would expect, modern e-commerce is also thriving in Qatar, having more than doubled since hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With English a common business language and money to spend, shipping parcels to Qatar couldn't look better.
Shipping Rates
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Qatar
through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Qatar. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking
information to Qatar
Disclaimer
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this
page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Qatar before shipping any
goods.
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Feb 21, 2026
8:49 am
Al Ghanim, AG, QA
Delivered
Feb 20, 2026
7:18 am
Abu Thaylah, AT, QA
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
9:03 pm
Abu az Zuluf, AZ, QA
International Clearance
Feb 19, 2026
8:14 am
Doha, DO, QA
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Feb 18, 2026
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will
require different paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting
statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Commercial Sample - Not for Resale
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Box
Commercial Sample - Advanced reading copy of Dan Brown's novel.
CA
$20.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Commercial Sample Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $20.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Advertising Material
Advertising material in the form of printed matter may be shipped
duty-free providing it is distributed without charge.
Examples of eligible items include:
Calendars
Catalogues
Posters
Price lists
Unframed photographs
Other types of goods shipped as advertising may also enter Qatar
duty-free as a temporary import providing they are shipped in a
quantity appropriate to the purpose and size of the event.
Items for display at exhibitions, meetings, trade fairs, etc. may stay
in Qatar for up to 6 months. Please see Temporary Imports for details.
Advertising Material Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Promotional Material - Not for
Resale' (see sample)
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Mohamed Al-Fakhro 1 Al Corniche St. Doha Qatar
Phone: +974 4442 0028
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Equipment that was repaired in Canada will incur duty and taxes on the
value of the repair when it re-enters Qatar providing they return
within 1 year of leaving Qatar.
Items Under Warranty
Equipment under warranty sent to Qatar for repairs will be exempt from
GST when it returns to Canada.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
If an item is sent to Qatar for repairs and is no longer under
warranty, GST will be charged. GST will be applied to the value of the
repair work plus any parts added for the repair, and on any duties
charged.
Sending Product for Repair to Qatar
Equipment shipped to Qatar from Canada for repair may enter as a
temporary import, and will be exempt from duty and taxes.
The goods must be returned to Canada within 1 year of their arrival in
Qatar.
Returning Repaired Product to Qatar
Equipment that was repaired in Canada will incur duty and taxes on the
value of the repair when it re-enters Qatar.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General
Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under
the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the
item was first exported to Qatar or exported to Canada (depending on
which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Temporary imports may enter Qatar from Canada exempt from duty and
taxes providing they stay in the country no longer than 1 year.
Items that can benefit from this exemption include:
Equipment for a stage production or fair
Commercial samples put on display at an exhibition, meeting, or
trade fair
Equipment and machinery for repair
Qualifying for Duty & Tax Free Temporary Import
In order to import your goods duty and tax free into Qatar, you can
pick from Option 1 or 2 of the Temporary Import Methods listed below.
Each option has its pros and cons. Regardless, each of the following
methods requires you to complete a commercial invoice. More details
below
Option #
Temporary Import Method
Risk of paying
1
Commercial Invoice Only (no other documentation is provided)
High - if broker cannot clear goods temporarily
2
Commercial Invoice + ATA Carnet
Very Low
1. Complete a Commercial Invoice (CI) only
This is the simplest and quickest option. See example.
NOTE:You should be aware that shipping using this
method doesn't guarantee that your items will be imported duty/tax
free. Not all brokers will clear goods as temporary imports (i.e.
UPS, Fedex, DHL) nor is it a guarantee that customs won't charge any
duties and taxes.
2. Commercial Invoice (CI) + an ATA Carnet
Completing an ATA Carnet is great option for items that frequently travel
in and out of the country. It's also great because once you have an ATA
Carnet, it is accepted by 176 countries worldwide making the application
process a one-time thing.
In addition to declaring your commercial invoice as a temporary
import, you can get an ATA Carnet for the items that are of
temporary nature.
ATA Carnets are beyond the scope of the article however, you can
find more information here: http://www.chamber.ca/carnet/
NOTE:It is highly recommended to get an ATA Carnet
for items that frequently travel in and out of the country and
especially so when it is valued over $2,500 USD
In addition to choosing option 1 or 2, the following conditions must also be met in order to qualify for a duty and VAT free exemption:
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition (except for
equipment entering for repair)
Stay no longer than 1 years in Qatar
NOTES:
If the above conditions are not followed, duties and taxes will
be charged as though the goods have been imported permanently.
Your Customs broker can clear goods of a temporary nature
(FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. typically CANNOT clear goods of temporary nature)
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written
in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods. (see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no
repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received
within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2027
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
Parcel shipments to Qatar from Canada are generally exempt from duty
charges up to the value of QAR 1,000 (about $345 CAD).
Be sure to check the Prohibited and Restricted Goods section before
shipping a parcel to Qatar.
Occasional Shipper
If you occasionally ship sold goods to Qatar, a shipment is exempt
from a duty charge if its value is QAR 1,000 or less (about $345 CAD).
Most items over this amount will incur a duty rate of 5%.
Regular shipper
If you regularly ship sold goods to Qatar from Canada, we recommend
the use of a licensed Qatari customs broker.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Mohamed Al-Fakhro 1 Al Corniche St. Doha Qatar
Phone: +974 4442 0028
Carrier tracking number: 736534736 General Description: Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number:
123456MGEP4916926
Customs Broker: UPS Date: 28 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None Total number of packages: 1 Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00 Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided
is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This
process alone can be confusing and time-consuming. So we’ve narrowed
down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of
being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.).
Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's
destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the
commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels). These
are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document
pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the
system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled
good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a
controlled good and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US
Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Qatar. A COO
proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in
Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Qatar, it will
incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters
of credit for the goods. Otherwise, it is generally your choice
whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you
can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process
and ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties
and taxes.
The state of Qatar uses the CIF value of a shipment to calculate the
customs duty owed, i.e., the sum of the customs value plus insurance
charges plus freight fees.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
By knowing the CIF value of a shipment, you will be able to predict the
amount of duty the recipient will have to pay.
Thresholds
The duty threshold of shipments to QATAR is QAR 1,000 (about $345
CAD). This means parcels below this value will not incur duty. The
threshold is also called the de minimis value.
Currency
Qatar Riyal QAR
Duty Exemption (De minimis Value)
QAR 1,000 (about $345 CAD)
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
5%
Tax Exemption (De minimis Value)
Unknown
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Qatar continues to evaluate VAT implementation as part of the GCC VAT
framework. Shippers should check current regulations for any updates
on tax requirements.
Duties on Imports
Excise Taxes
The following items will incur an excise tax of 100%:
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco products
Energy drinks
Carbonated beverages (excluding non-flavoured water) will incur a 50%
excise tax
You can purchase insurance
through Secureship, and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting
your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared
insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment, our
system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or
damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is
insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable,
if it doesn't meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased
through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Qatar from Canada can take between 3-5 business days through
the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform. More
economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2
months to complete the delivery.
