Sending a package abroad can be complicated, especially when it comes to countries separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
Still, if you’re in Birmingham looking for how to deliver a package to Canada — be it for business, family, or for a friend — there are ways to save you time, money and a massive headache later.
In the following post, you will learn how to send a package to Canada from the UK without stress or without your budget getting out of hand.
1. Pick the Right Courier
Choosing how to send a package to Canada isn’t hard because there are so many options. You can choose between standout, big-name couriers or even national postal services, but as you weigh them up, keep your priorities in mind.
Do you need it there in a hurry? Do you want tracking to be a part of the deal? Do you want the option of adding insurance to protect your package?
Find a service that can help you compare how long each one will take, how much it will cost and what services you can include.
2. Pack Like a Pro
Your parcel is about to travel over 3,000 miles, across countless conveyor belts, into numerous lorries, a plane, and let’s not forget snowdrifts. So no half commsies on the packing.
Use a double-walled cardboard box, quality tape (not your regular kitchen drawer stash) and packing materials like bubble wrap. Oh, and if it rattles when you shake it, it’s not packed correctly!
3. Fill Out Customs Forms Properly
Filling out customs forms may be a necessary evil, but not only is it important, it can actually cost you time and money.
That means declaring what the items are, their value and what their purpose is. If it’s personal items or gifts, tell the truth and be complete about it. If it does relate to business, you may need an accompanying commercial invoice.
Canadian customs officials are certainly going to take a long, hard look at those documents, so honesty is always the best policy. Don’t fill out all the necessary forms in the proper manner, and you should expect either a holdup or a refuse-to-deliver slip.
4. Watch Out for Prohibited Items
Canada has quite a long list of banned and prohibited items. You cannot send fresh food, alcohol, explosives, flammable items, etc.
Even some medicines and food supplements can result in your parcel being quarantined. Better to be safe than sorry — refer to the UK Export Rules and Canada Import Guidelines before taping up the parcel.
5. Label It Clearly
Getting the address format right is more important than you think. Canadian addresses have specific layouts and six-character postcodes.
Here’s a simplified version:
Jane Doe
123 Maple Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1A 0B1
CANADA
Use capital letters, avoid abbreviations, and always include “CANADA” in bold at the bottom. And don’t forget your UK return address, just in case.
6. Know the Cost
It can range from £12 to £70+ to send a parcel from Birmingham to Canada. It really depends on the speed, size and extras that you opt for.
As a rule of thumb:
- Economy international services for small parcels (less than 2kg): £12–£25 (7–20 working days)
- Standard services: Anything from £25–£45 (normally around 5–7 days)
- Express services: £45+ (1–3 days)
You can use comparison sites online to see the different rates and transit times, and pick the level you want to pay for.
Final Word
Sending a parcel from Birmingham to Canada is pretty easy. Plan ahead, make sure you don’t leave any forms undone and thank your lucky stars that we live in a world where you can safely and cheaply send a little bit of the UK halfway across the world at a moment’s notice.
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