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Importing & Exporting

Updated May 26, 2025

Sending/shipping equipment internationally

At this time, these instructions assume that Fedex is being used to make the shipment.

  1. The one unknown variable is the customs agents of the country you’re sending the equipment to. Take this into account for the timing of when it has to arrive. Delays can be from 12 hours to many days.
  2. You need to fill in a document called “Commercial Invoice”, and these details need to be absolutely present:
  3. There is a template attached below.
    1. Country of origin of goods: with Apple products, they usually come from China, but could also come from India. For a few years now Apple uses a new serial number system that no longer reflects the country that the item was assembled. If you know, you should not it in the entry for this item in 1Password.
    2. Country of ultimate destination: This would obviously be the country where the employee is to receive the equipment.
    3. International air waybill # : make sure the staff adds this to the invoice, so they it is connected with the waybill.
    4. In the list where you describe the items in the shipment, put in the serial number of the computer and how much it weighs, and list every other items like peripherals in the box.
    5. Somewhere, you need to write these important words:
      • No optical drives
      • Complies with FCC Standards
        • N.B.: if you’re shipping to the US, check with the country you’re sending to for its equivalency in that country).
      • Non-transactional, for personal use.
        • N.B.: This is to prevent them from treating this as a sale and charge extra fees.
    6. Indicate the value of each item, with the currency (CAD, USD, etc) in the list of items in the shipment.
    7. As for weights, write them in both kilograms and pounds.
  4. Once at the Fedex office, you need to fill in the International Airway Bill with the same details for the equipment (section 3).

U.S. Customs form 3299...

I asked a rep for Fedex in March 2023, what should we do to prevent being taxed in the future, and here's what she said:

A customs form 3299 is required, also the goods must be under $800 (Fred: I presume this is USD), then personal effects on the commercial invoice is needed.

Kimberly Goodwin | Post Summary Operations Specialist | Trade Solutions  |Mobile 716.336.0300 |555 Riverwalk Parkway, Tonawanda, NY 14150 | ftn.fedex.com/us

Download the PDF

Importing equipment into Canada

Info

This needs more polishing — Fred

Service d’information sur la frontière/ Border Information Services

1 (800) 461-9999

Importation de marchandises commerciales au Canada: 1. Préparatifs à l'importation (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/guide-fra.html

Mémorandum D17-1-10 - Codage des documents de déclaration en détail des douanes (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d17/d17-1-10-fra.html

Mémorandum D1-6-1 - Autorisation de transiger à titre de mandataire (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-6-1-fra.html

Laptop SI / HS Classification number

8471.30.90 or 8471.30.00.00