The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is perhaps best known for its gas and oil reserves, which have made it the richest country in the Middle East and ranks it 18th in the world.
However, less well known is that the olive tree is indigenous to Saudi Arabia and it has the world's largest olive plantation - 5 million trees!
Also noteworthy is the rapid rise of internet use from 2% of the population in 2000 to 68% today. Combine that with a very young demographic: 50% below the age of 25 - 17 million strong, Saudi Arabia is a country booming with eager and internet savvy consumers.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Saudi Arabia through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Saudi Arabia. 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 Saudi Arabia
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Jun 2, 2023
8:49 am
Medina, ME, SA
Delivered
Jun 1, 2023
7:18 am
Ad Dammam, DA, SA
In transit
May 31, 2023
9:03 pm
Jeddah, JE, SA
International Clearance
May 31, 2023
8:14 am
Riyadh, RI, SA
In transit
May 31, 2023
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
May 30, 2023
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
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 Saudi Arabia before shipping any goods.
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:
Personal effects and household appliances can be shipped from Canada to Saudi Arabia exempt from duty and taxes.
This exemption is available to Canadian or Saudi Arabian citizens moving permanently to Saudi Arabia.
The amount of goods in the shipment must be in line with the number of people in the household.
Moving Temporarily
Canadian citizens moving to Saudi Arabia for the first time may ship their personal effects VAT-free.
Moving Permanently
Students and those on a work contract in Canada returning to Saudi Arabia may ship their personal effects exempt from customs fees, including VAT.
The returnee must provide proof of being in Canada for work or study.
Personal Effects Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
State clearly on the commercial invoice 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
A detailed description of each item is provided
If any item is new, an invoice for that item is required
A copy of your passport, or ID card
For Saudi citizens, provide a proof of Canadian residence
For Canadian citizens, provide a proof of arrival in Saudi Arabia
Sample Commercial Invoice for Food, Chocolate, Candies
Ship To
Invoice
Faisal Wahhab Al Faisalyah Centre Al Olaya Riyadh 12212 Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 11 273 2222
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Food Shipment - Assorted chocolate bars in their original manufacturer's packaging
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Box
Nestle Chocolate Bars in original packaging expiring May 2021 (shelf life of 6 months or longer)
CA
$20.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent / Sold 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
Samples
Commercial samples are shipped to promote products and encourage sales
Commercial samples from Canada are allowed entry to Saudi Arabia as temporary imports providing
The goods are for exhibition only
The samples are returned to Canada at the end of the exhibition
They have prior permission from the Director of Customs in Riyadh
A refundable deposit* is paid to cover the customs duty and surcharge
They return to Canada within 12 months of entry to Saudi Arabia
*The deposit will be returned at the end of the trade show and the samples' owner provides a document indicating that he or she participated in the show or exhibition
NOTE:
Samples of watches and jewellery will be levied a non-refundable duty.
Commercial Sample Checklist
A Commercial Invoice must be included with your shipment
Clearly indicate 'Commercial Samples' on the commercial invoice in the General Description & Detailed Description of Goods (see sample)
The item shipped has tearing, perforation, slashing, defacing, or has permanent marking clearing indicating the item as commercial sample
Certificate of origin
The request for prior permission is accompanied with samples, a catalogue, and price list
Faisal Wahhab Al Faisalyah Centre Al Olaya Riyadh 12212 Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 11 273 2222
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Commercial Sample - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 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 may enter Saudi Arabia from Canada for items destined for exhibitions, trade shows, and similar events.
Material* allowed duty-free importation includes:
Factory advertising
Catalogues
Brochures
*Excludes all calendars (illustrated and printed)
Temporary importations are permissible, e.g., for trade fairs and exhibitions. Goods to be imported temporarily are to be accompanied by a Commercial Invoice stating that the goods will be re-exported. For commercial samples in particular, invoices must contain the wording "Not For Sale - No Commercial Value". In general, Saudi Customs requires deposits for all goods imported under a suspensive procedure that equal the customs duties that would be applied if the goods were intended for free circulation. The deposit will be refunded upon re-exportation, but additional handling charges may be due.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Faisal Wahhab Al Faisalyah Centre Al Olaya Riyadh 12212 Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 11 273 2222
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 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 and machinery for repair may enter Saudi Arabia from Canada without payment of duty and taxes under the country's temporary admission rules.
Items Under Warranty
Equipment under warranty sent to Saudi Arabia for repairs will be exempt from GST when it returns to Canada
Items No Longer Under Warranty
If an item is sent to Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia
Sending equipment and machinery from Canada for repair in Saudi Arabia will incur no duty and taxes under the country's temporary admission rules.
Returning Repaired Product to Saudi Arabia
Machinery that was repaired in Canada and is returning to Saudi Arabia will have VAT incurred based on the value added to the machinery, i.e. the cost of repairs and parts
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 Saudi Arabia or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Faisal Wahhab Al Faisalyah Centre Al Olaya Riyadh 12212 Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 11 273 2222
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 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
Goods may enter Saudi Arabia as a temporary import with permission of the Director General of Customs in Riyadh.
Duties will not be incurred providing the items are re-exported within 6 months.
Temporary imports include items such as:
Items imported for processing
Goods destined for theatres and performances
Equipment for repair
Commercial samples for display at trade fairs and exhibitions
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
Faisal Wahhab Al Faisalyah Centre Al Olaya Riyadh 12212 Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 11 273 2222
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2020
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 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
Occasional Shipper
For goods sold on-line, they will be duty-free if their value is 1,000 SAR (about $370 CAD). However, VAT will be charged regardless of the value of the shipment
Regular Shipper
If you regularly sell and ship goods to Saudi Arabia, we recommend the use of a Saudi customs broker
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Faisal Wahhab Al Faisalyah Centre Al Olaya Riyadh 12212 Saudi Arabia
Phone: +966 11 273 2222
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 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 Saudi Arabia. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Saudi Arabia, 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.
Import duties and taxes in Saudi Arabia are calculated based on the sum of the Customs Value, Insurance Amount, and Freight costs (shipping costs). This is known as the CIF value.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
Using the CIF Value, you can predict how much duty and tax the recipient must pay to import goods to Saudi Arabia.
Thresholds
A shipment with a value of less than 1,000 SAR (about $370 CAD) will be exempt from customs duty. This is called the de minimis value.
There is no de minimis value for VAT; all shipments will incur VAT.
Certain products will incur excise taxes. They include soft drinks, energy drinks, sweetened drinks, and e-cigarettes. Details can be found
here .
Currency
Saudi Arabian Riyal SAR
Duty Exemption
(De minimis Value)
1000 SAR [about $370 CAD)
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)*
15%* (standard)
Tax Exemption
(De minimis Value)
No threshold
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
In addition to import duties, certain goods such as tobacco products and alcoholic beverages incur excise taxes. Details for these products may be found
here.
The first set of tariff cuts started in January 2019, and once fully implemented 99% of all trade duties will be eliminated.
Candy8%
Chocolate5%
Spirits and Winesbanned
Tobacco100%
Books0%
Documents0%
Video Games & Consoles5%
Computers & Laptops0%
Tablets0%
Mobiles0%
Cameras5%
Accessories for Electronics0%
Coats5%
Beauty Products & Cosmetics5%
Jewellery5%
Shirts & Pants5%
Home Appliances5% - 10%
Toys5%
Sports Equipment5%
*A minimum limit of 40 - 300 SAR per kg (about $15 - $110 CAD) - depending on the type of tobacco product. Details can be found
here.
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 Saudi Arabia 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 2-3 months to complete the delivery.
