For a tiny country with a small population, Switzerland is known worldwide for its iconic symbols:
Mountains and alpine sports
Cows, cheese, and chocolate
Watches, cuckoo clocks, and bankers
Though Switzerland sits in the middle of Europe, it is not part of the EU and has been neutral since 1815. But the Swiss have connected themselves to the world by internet and e-commerce. With 8 billion euros of revenue for 8 million people in 2019, that will buy you a lot of Swiss cheese.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Switzerland through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Switzerland. 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 Switzerland
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Mar 1, 2021
8:49 am
Sion, SI, CH
Delivered
Feb 28, 2021
7:18 am
Fribourg, FR, CH
In transit
Feb 27, 2021
9:03 pm
Interlaken, IN, CH
International Clearance
Feb 27, 2021
8:14 am
Thun, TH, CH
In transit
Feb 27, 2021
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Feb 26, 2021
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 Switzerland 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 may be shipped to Switzerland from Canada duty and tax free.
Moving Temporarily
Students
If you are moving temporarily to Switzerland as a student, you may ship your personal effects from Canada duty free.
Items that qualify for this exemption include:
Household goods
Clothing and footwear
Sports equipment
Books, computer, and other school related materials
Non-Students
There is no information available at this time regarding non-students shipping personal effects for a temporary stay in Switzerland.
Moving Permanently
If you are moving permanently to Switzerland, you may ship your personal effects and household goods from Canada duty free. Your shipment may include goods required for a profession or trade.
Your goods are to follow the conditions below:
They must have been used by you or your family for at least 6 months
They will be used by you or your family after you have moved to Switzerland
The shipment must arrive in Switzerland within 2 years of your arrival
There are limits to the amount of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products that may be included (click here
for details)
Marriage
If you are moving to Switzerland because of marriage, you may ship your personal effects duty free from Canada. The shipment can include wedding gifts and household items.
Personal Effects Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
A detailed description of each item is provided
Complete Form 18.44
household effects (click here for details)
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Commercial Sample - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 26 Feb 2021
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 is material destined for display at trade fairs, exhibitions, and commercial meetings. Advertising shipped to Switzerland
from Canada is exempt from duties and taxes.
Advertising Material Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Promotional Material - Not for Resale' (see sample)
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 26 Feb 2021
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
Sending equipment for repair to Switzerland from Canada will incur:
Duty and VAT on replacement parts for the repair
VAT on the labour charges
Items Under Warranty
Equipment sent to Switzerland for repairs covered by a warranty will not incur GST.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
GST will be charged if an item is sent to Switzerland for repairs and is no longer under warranty. 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 Switzerland
Equipment of Canadian origin sent to Switzerland for repair will incur VAT and duty on the replacement parts used for the repair. VAT will also be applied to the labour charges.
If an item of Swiss origin is sent to Switzerland for repair, it will be duty free if its VAT value is CHF 1,298 (about $1,830 CAD) or less.
Returning Repaired Product to Switzerland
If an item has been repaired in Canada, it will incur VAT on the labour costs and replacement parts.
These charges must be clearly stated on the commercial invoice.
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 Switzerland 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: 26 Feb 2021
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 shipped to Switzerland from Canada for temporary admission will require a deposit to cover the duties.
The goods must follow the requirements below:
They must be returned to Canada
They undergo no changes during their stay in Switzerland
They are readily identifiable
They remain in Switzerland for a maximum of 2 years (a 1 year extension up to 3 times may be allowed by customs authorities)
Goods that are typically shipped for temporary admission include:
Professional equipment
Items used in sporting events
Products sent to an exhibition or trade fair
To test equipment
NOTE: Portable musical instruments are considered personal effects so they are not required to be declared as a temporary admission.
Qualifying for Duty & Tax Free Temporary Import
In order to import your goods duty and tax free into Switzerland, you can pick from 1 of the 2 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 are shown in the table.
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, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than 24 months in Switzerland
NOTE:
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:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 26 Feb 2021
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
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Switzerland. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Switzerland, 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 amount of duty owing on a shipment is calculated on the gross weight of a parcel, including the packaging. The rate is often less than CHF 1 per kilogram
(about $1.40 CAD). However, higher duty rates are applied to shipments of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, jewellery, textiles, and foodstuffs.
The amount of VAT owing on a shipment is calculated using the assessment basis of the shipment. The assessment basis is the sum of the customs value, shipping costs, and import duties.
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)
Television
Jewelry 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 Switzerland 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.
