Import Compliance
Most goods imported into Canada do not require a specific import license — but all commercial importers need a CRA import account, and some product categories require additional permits.
Most goods do not require a specific import license to enter Canada. However, all commercial importers must have a Business Number (BN) with an import/export account from the Canada Revenue Agency. Certain product categories — including controlled goods, agricultural products, and quota-controlled textiles — require additional permits from the relevant federal authority.
Last reviewed: July 20, 2026 · Reviewed by Ezcustoms Inc., licensed CBSA customs broker
The General Rule
All businesses importing commercial goods into Canada need a Business Number (BN) with an RM (import/export) sub-account from the Canada Revenue Agency. This is not a license — it is a registration that allows CBSA to link your imports to your business.
Register at canada.ca/cra-registration or call CRA Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525.
Certain goods require a specific import permit from a federal authority before they can enter Canada. These are product-specific requirements, not general business licenses. Your customs broker can determine whether your goods fall into a controlled category.
Restricted Goods
These categories commonly require additional permits or CBSA authorization. Consult your customs broker to confirm whether your specific goods are affected.
| Product Category | Governing Authority |
|---|---|
| Firearms and weapons | Public Safety Canada |
| Agricultural products and food | Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) |
| Controlled drugs and substances | Health Canada |
| Textiles and apparel (quota) | Global Affairs Canada |
| Goods on EIPA control lists | Global Affairs Canada |
| CITES-listed species (wildlife) | Environment and Climate Change Canada |
Customs Brokerage
Ezcustoms Inc. is a licensed Canadian customs broker and the brokerage affiliate of Eztrans Logistics.
For every Eztrans shipment, Ezcustoms determines the correct HS code, calculates applicable duty rates, identifies whether permits are required for your specific goods, and files the CBSA customs entry. If your goods require a CFIA permit, Health Canada authorization, or other federal clearance, our team can advise on the process.
Understanding The Account
For most goods, there is no generic, all-purpose import license. The foundational requirement for a commercial importer is a Business Number with the CRA and an activated import export program account, identified by an RM suffix. This account does not grant permission to bring in a particular product — it is the identifier CBSA uses to record who the importer of record is on each customs transaction, so duties, taxes, and compliance history attach to a specific business rather than being processed anonymously. Treating this registration step as a product license is a common first time importer mix up.
Businesses that import regularly generally maintain their own CRA import export account, since they are consistently the importer of record. Occasional or first time importers more often rely on a licensed customs broker to handle the process. Depending on how the relationship is set up, a broker may act as an agent using its own account information, or may process the shipment under the client's own account with a formal authorization. Neither approach is inherently better — the right setup depends on how often a business imports and how much compliance work it wants to manage directly.
Other Compliance Considerations
Beyond customs duty, most commercial shipments are also subject to GST, or the federal portion of HST, generally assessed at the border much like a domestic sales tax applied to a purchase made inside Canada, and calculated on the value of the goods for customs purposes. Businesses registered for GST/HST can typically claim the tax paid on commercial imports back as an input tax credit on their own regular return, so it functions as a pass through cost rather than a permanent one, provided the right records are kept.
Registering a CRA import account and clearing goods through CBSA is the general requirement, but it is not the whole compliance picture. Categories such as food and agricultural products, plants and plant based materials, health and consumer products, and certain chemicals or restricted substances fall under the additional jurisdiction of other federal departments that regulate that specific product category. Goods in these areas may need an extra permit or authorization from the relevant department before CBSA will release the shipment. Since this depends on what the product is rather than who imports it, confirm early with a customs broker whether a planned shipment is affected.
FAQ
Clear answers for Canadian importers evaluating freight forwarding, China–Canada shipping, and integrated logistics options.
Most goods do not require a specific import license. You do need a Business Number (BN) with an import/export account from the Canada Revenue Agency to import commercial shipments. Some product categories — including controlled goods, certain food products, and quota-controlled textiles — require additional permits.
Register for a Business Number (BN) through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You can add an import/export account (RM) to an existing BN or register both at the same time at canada.ca/cra-registration.
Products that may require import permits include: firearms and weapons (Public Safety Canada), certain agricultural products and food items (CFIA), controlled drugs and substances (Health Canada), quota-controlled textiles and apparel, and goods on the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) control lists.
A licensed customs broker classifies your goods with the correct HS code, determines applicable duty rates, prepares and files the customs entry with CBSA, and advises on whether your specific goods require permits or additional documentation.
Contact Eztrans to discuss customs requirements, import account setup, and permit requirements for your specific goods.