Buying a boat is a big time purchase. Not unlike purchasing a home or a car, acquiring the vessel of your dreams requires a lot of research and thought, as well as a significant investment. With that in mind, it sometimes makes sense to import a vessel from America. Sometimes, there’s better selection abroad for what you’re looking for, and maybe you can save some money as well. If you’re considering importing a vessel into Canada from the U.S.A., here are a few things to consider.
Satisfying Canadian Customs
Any boat that you purchase from a foreign country is going to need to clear Canadian customs. Whether you arrive in Canada by land or by sea, Customs will need to be notified as soon as you cross the border or make landfall. At this point, a Customs official will come about your vessel and perform an inspection, filling out the necessary paperwork on-site. Should you choose to do so, there are Customs brokerage companies that will handle the transport of your vessel for you, including assisting with the paperwork.
A Deletion of Documentation if Registered in the U.S.
Once you arrive in Canada with your new vessel, you will also be required to show Customs a Bill of Sale for your purchase in order to confirm the transaction. Also, in the likely event that your boat was previously registered with the United States Coast Guard, you will need to provide a form known as a Deletion from Documentation, which proves that the boat has been removed from the U.S. registry. You should also note that a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) may be required to be paid to Customs under the current terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Register Your New Vessel with Canadian Vessel Registry Center
Once you’ve cleared all of the necessary hurdles for getting your dream vessel into Canada from the United States, you’ll want to take steps to protect your purchase. If you’ve already gone through the trouble of importing a vessel into Canada, it only makes sense to apply for official registration with the Canadian government. At Canadian Vessel Registry Center, we make this process easy. Take a minute or two to explore our website you’ll see that we offer a simple to use web-based portal for filing all of your vessel registration needs, so you’ll be able to protect your investment for years to come.