Commercial Invoice Template for Canada
Generate carrier-ready Commercial Invoices for Canada shipments. Exact FedEx M-1054, UPS Paperless, DHL MyDHL+ layouts. Incoterms® 2020, HS Codes, BN, LETTER format. Zero retention — documents never touch our servers. Free up to 3/month.
receipt_longCommercial Invoice vs Proforma for Canada Customs
check_circleCommercial Invoice — REQUIRED for Canada customs clearance
- Final transaction values (not estimates)
- Legal demand for payment
- Basis for duty/tax calculation
- Signed declaration of truth
blockProforma Invoice — NOT accepted for Canada customs clearance
- Quote/estimate only
- No legal payment demand
- Values may differ from final sale
- Use only for LC, permits, booking
→ Need a quote first? Proforma Invoice Template Canada
ruleCanada-Specific Commercial Invoice Requirements
| Field | Requirement | Canada Specifics |
|---|---|---|
| Document Title | "COMMERCIAL INVOICE" | Mandatory — customs checks for this exact wording |
| Invoice Number | Unique, sequential | Must match packing list & AWB references |
| Invoice Date | Date of sale/shipment | Per local customs code |
| Shipper/Exporter | Full legal name, address, BN | BN = BN |
| Consignee/Buyer | Full legal name, address, BN | BN required |
| Importer of Record (IOR) | If different from consignee | DHL requires explicit IOR block; FedEx/UPS use 'Sold To' |
| Goods Description (per line) | What + material + use + brand/model | NO generic terms. E.g., 'Men\'s 100% cotton t-shirts, HS 6109.10' |
| HS Code (per line) | 6-digit minimum | 8-10 digits per destination |
| Country of Origin (per line) | Where manufactured | Must match certificate of origin if claiming FTA |
| Quantity + UOM | Per line item | Must match packing list exactly |
| Unit Price + Total Value | Transaction currency | Currency: CAD. NEVER $0. Fair market value for samples/gifts. |
| Incoterms® 2020 | Code + named place | e.g., FCA Canada (Incoterms 2020). Determines customs value basis. |
| Freight & Insurance | Separate line items if not in price | CIF/CIP include; FOB/FCA exclude. Customs may add to value. |
| Weight (Net/Gross) | Per line + totals | Kg or lb. Must match packing list & carrier AWB. |
| Packages + Marks/Numbers | Box count, shipping marks | Cross-validated with packing list |
| Export Reason | Sale / Sample / Gift / Repair / Return | FedEx: CPC code; UPS: Reason enum; DHL: 7-value enum |
| FTA Eligibility | USMCA / EU FTA / CPTPP etc. | USMCA certification as SEPARATE doc (not embedded) |
| Signature + Date | Authorized signatory | Typed name + title + date acceptable for EDI/Paperless |
printCarrier-Ready PDF Layouts for Canada
ProformaFlow generates exact carrier layouts — not generic templates. Each button below downloads a PDF formatted to that carrier's official specification.
local_shippingFedEx
M-1054 (2-page)
12-digit AWB, CPC code, ETD badge, Mexico RFC / EU EORI fields
View FedEx CI for Canada →local_shippingUPS
Paperless/EDI ready
1Z tracking, Sold To / Producer / Related-Not Related, USMCA separate, paper surcharge warning
View UPS CI for Canada →local_shippingDHL
MyDHL+ format
10-digit AWB, 7-value export reason, 3-value export type, IOR block, payment method
View DHL CI for Canada →picture_as_pdfPaper Size & Format for Canada
Auto-Selected Paper Size
LETTER
US/Canada/Mexico/Chile/Colombia standard (8.5" x 11")
Generator auto-selects based on destination country, not your location.
Orientation
Portrait (vertical) — standard for Commercial Invoice
Packing List uses Landscape; Bundle (CI+PL) uses Landscape.
flagCanadaCustoms & Broker Requirements
Customs Specifics
CBSA requires HS Code 10 digits (HTSUS). EORI not required but import license may be. De minimis $20 CAD suspended.
Top Exports to Canada
- • Automobiles
- • Crude oil
- • Wood
- • Natural gas
- • Wheat
Broker Requirements
Customs broker not mandatory but recommended. BN (Business Number) required. CBSA portal: CARM.
handshakeFree Trade Agreements with Canada
USMCA (US/MX), Canada-EU CETA, Canada-Japan EPA. USMCA certification as SEPARATE document required.
⚠️ USMCA certification: Must be SEPARATE document, not embedded in CI.
report_problemTop Canada Customs Rejection Reasons (and how we prevent them)
Generic description ("goods", "parts", "clothing")
Fix: Generator blocks vague terms; enforces material + use + identity per 19 CFR 141.86
Missing or invalid HS Code
Fix: Syntactic validation (6-10 digits); chapter lookup helper; blocks non-numeric
Value declared as $0
Fix: Hard block: unit value must be > 0 on every line
Missing/invalid BN on buyer
Fix: Validates BN format per {country.name} rules
Weight mismatch: CI vs Packing List vs AWB
Fix: Cross-document validation at blocking level — all three must match
Incoterms missing or vague ("FOB" without port)
Fix: Controlled vocabulary (11 Incoterms 2020); requires named place
FTA claimed without proper certification
Fix: USMCA certification generated as SEPARATE document (UPS requirement); EUR.1/origin statement for EU
checklistFree: Canada Commercial Invoice Checklist (PDF)
Carrier-specific field checklist for Canada exports: FedEx M-1054, UPS Paperless, DHL MyDHL+. Includes BN format, HS code tips, Incoterms guide, and common rejection codes.
7-email nurture sequence (export tips, Incoterms, HS codes, carrier updates). Unsubscribe anytime.
Generate Your Canada Commercial Invoice Now
Select carrier (FedEx/UPS/DHL), fill buyer/goods/terms, download carrier-ready PDF in 60 seconds. Free up to 3 documents/month. No credit card.
Start Free — Canada Commercial Invoicearrow_forwardFree up to 3 docs/month · Carrier-ready PDFs · Zero retention