Buying and Importing a Vessel from the U.S.

Vessel Importation

Being on the water in your favourite vessel is an amazing experience in and of itself. To clarify, it is enjoyable to be on any boat; however, it is even more satisfying to be on a boat that is special to you, perhaps one that you travelled a great distance to obtain. Everyone who has ever been in the market for a boat is aware of how difficult it can be to find the vessel that best suits their needs. In order to acquire one, the owners of a great number of Canadian vessels have been forced to search further afield, even beyond Canadian borders. It’s possible that importing a boat from the United States into Canada is just what you’re looking for, but there are several key elements that you need to be aware of. Allow us to make the whole vessel importation process simpler for you.

Who Do I Need to Inform?

In an ideal world, it would be as simple as bringing a vessel into Canada without being required to inform anyone about your most recent purchase. Getting your boat into Canada is not as simple as purchasing a vessel and then sailing it across the border. You are required to inform the CBSA in Canada whenever you bring a boat into the country. 

The Main Types of Boats and Crafts That May Be Imported

Vessels used for non-commercial purposes are the basic definition when talking about a “pleasure craft” in Canada. This means that passengers basically did not pay to be on board the vessel. It is still considered a “non-commercial vessel” even if someone contributed cash to pay for the food at your party, which is just one example of how this definition can be applied. On the other hand, if you intend to use the vessel to conduct tours for which participants will be required to pay an actually established fee or you’re planning to use it in other ways to earn an income, then the vessel is considered to be a commercial vessel. Personal watercraft, such as float boats, Sea-Doos, speedboats, and other similar types of vessels, make up the bulk of these pleasure crafts. It also encompasses fishing boats, sailboats, dinghies, yachts, and other types of watercraft.

When Purchasing A New Vessel, It Is Essential To Have All Of The Necessary Documentation.

Prepare all of the required documents as soon as you begin planning the purchase. This will allow you to avoid having to wait an excessive amount of time for the bill of sale to be cleared. With every passing day, officers at Customs Police are becoming more suspicious of incoming vessels that are registered in the United States, so you can be sure that they will check all of your paperwork. Here’s where the paperwork you have may also come in handy: You’ll probably need to show proof of ownership and the bills of sale you’ve collected. Depending on where you entered Canada, you may have to pay a different kind of sales tax.

Using the Help of a Broker

Another choice is that you could use a broker to help you make your purchase. All the details can be taken care of by an experienced and qualified broker. Your broker will not only help you find the right boat for you, but they will also help you with everything else. This includes helping you get financing for the boat, getting all your paperwork in order, and taking care of the details for the vessel importation process. When you use a broker, you will have to pay for their services, so you should be ready to do this.

Bringing Your Boat Through Land or Sea

You can choose to import the vessel either through land or at a border crossing. If you do it by boat, then you have to go to one of the marine sites designated by the CBSA. If you travel by land, you will have to disclose this information to an official working at the border. Make sure that you have the bill of sale as well as some other proof of ownership with you at all times, regardless of who you declare it to or how you do so. Those forms are absolutely necessary to ensure that the importation of the boat goes off without a hitch in any way.

 Vessel Importation

All the Forms You Require To Import Boat from the USA

When it comes to forms and vessel documentation, here on the Canadian Vessel Registry website, we are able to provide you with online and secure forms for any and all of the documentation requirements that you might need. Right here on our website, you can perform a wide variety of tasks, including registering your vessel and obtaining the necessary licenses. The most frequently used forms are in the middle, and the less frequently used ones are on the left. You can take your time to deeply explore our site for further information.