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 a thriving digital economy generating billions of euros annually for its 8 million people, that will buy you a lot of Swiss cheese.
Shipping Rates
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
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.
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Feb 21, 2026
8:49 am
Sion, SI, CH
Delivered
Feb 20, 2026
7:18 am
Fribourg, FR, CH
In transit
Feb 19, 2026
9:03 pm
Interlaken, IN, CH
International Clearance
Feb 19, 2026
8:14 am
Thun, TH, CH
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:
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: 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 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: 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
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: 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
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: 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 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)
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 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.
