Parcel forwarding from France to Canada: prices, delays, customs
Canada is one of the places where a parcel from France makes the most sense — and one where the numbers reward patience. Here's how the price is built, how long it takes, and what the CBSA collects when it lands.
A lot of French shops simply don't list Canada at checkout. Those that do tend to price shipping by the item, so three orders mean three shipping charges and three trips through customs. And the French marketplaces — Vinted, Leboncoin — don't ship abroad at all, whatever your card.
This guide explains where the price of a shipment comes from, how to bring it down, and what awaits you on arrival. The exact price of your own parcel is calculated live on our estimator, from its weight and size.
Reading this from Québec? There's a French-language version written for you, with the TPS/TVQ side of customs.
Two ways to get a parcel to you
You order yourself. On sites that accept your card, you enter your FrenchShopper address at checkout. The parcel lands at our warehouse in France, we receive it, and we forward it. The address is free and comes with your account.
We buy for you. On Vinted, Leboncoin, and any seller who only ships within France or rejects a Canadian card, you send us the link: we check, quote, and once you've paid, buy with our own French account and card. Here's how that works.
Both routes end in the same place: your items wait free for 45 days so you can gather several, then leave together in one box.
How the shipping price is built
Our price covers transport, packaging and insurance, and it depends on two things: the weight of the box and its size. Carriers charge on whichever is higher, actual or volumetric weight — a big half-empty box is billed as if it were full. For every shipment you see all the available offers, with their price and delivery time, before you pay.
The rule that matters: the price rises far more slowly than the weight. A lone 1 kg parcel is the worst ratio between what you get and what you pay; five orders in one box is the best. Canada rewards consolidation more than most destinations we serve. Estimate your parcel from its real weight, before you order anything.
The delivery times we see
On our measurements, FedEx International Economy — the cheapest option — shows delivery eight days after handover; the Priority and Chronopost options show six. Customs clearance is included in those windows. Each offer displays its own time before you pay.
What the CBSA collects
A parcel from France is an import. Above a low value threshold, the Canada Border Services Agency assesses duties and the applicable sales taxes — GST or HST, plus the provincial tax where one applies — on the declared value of your goods. The carrier pays these on your behalf, collects them at delivery, and usually adds a brokerage fee of its own. The threshold and rates change: check the CBSA's current rules before a large order.
What we do, and what we don't
- We declare the real value of your items, from your invoices. It's the law, and it's what protects you: our insurance covers the declared value.
- We never under-declare, even on request. An under-declared parcel can be held, reassessed, or seized.
- Duties, taxes and brokerage fees are never in our price. They depend on Canada, not on us — and can only be known on arrival.
Why Canada suits this service
Our price is a shipping price, not a subscription: nothing to pay until you ship, nothing recurring. Receiving is free, storage is free for 45 days. What you pay for is the box that leaves — and the fuller it is, the less each item costs you.
Add the buying service for anything you can't order yourself, and Canada becomes one of the easiest places in the world to shop France from. The distance is real. The friction isn't, once someone on the French side is handling it.
Frequently asked questions
Are Canadian duties and taxes included in your price?
No — they can't be. The CBSA assesses duties and sales taxes on arrival, on the declared value, and the carrier collects them at delivery, usually with a brokerage fee. Our price covers transport, packaging and insurance, never your country's taxes.
Does French Vinted ship to Canada?
No. Vinted has no Canadian version, and French sellers almost all restrict their listings to France. That's the typical case where we buy for you, then ship to you.
How long does a parcel from France to Canada take?
On our measurements, between six and eight business days from handover to the carrier to delivery, depending on the offer — customs clearance included. The exact time is shown with each offer before you pay.
I'm in Québec — is there a French version of this guide?
Yes, written for Québec specifically, with the TPS/TVQ side of customs. You'll find it on our French-language blog.
