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Does AliExpress ship to Canada?
Yes. You choose Canada as your ship-to country and Canadian dollars as your currency, and AliExpress shows the delivery options available to your address. Set both first. AliExpress ties coupons to the ship-to country you had when they were issued, and the delivery methods, prices and estimated dates you see all depend on it.
Payment options also vary by country. AliExpress lists cards, digital wallets such as PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and buy-now-pay-later options, and says what you see depends on your country and currency. Which payment method is safest.
Duties and taxes: what you may owe
All international mail coming into Canada is subject to review by the CBSA, which decides whether duty or tax applies. Here is how the rules work for a typical AliExpress order.
| Order value (in Canadian dollars) | What the CBSA says you owe |
|---|---|
| CAD$20 or less | No duty or tax. |
| More than CAD$20 | Applicable duty, plus GST or HST, plus any provincial sales tax, on the item’s full value, not just the part above CAD$20. |
- Couriers get the same line. For courier shipments from countries other than the United States and Mexico, the CBSA also remits duty and tax on goods worth CAD$20 or less.
- A US warehouse can change the thresholds. CBSA says courier shipments from the US or Mexico have higher thresholds of CAD$150 for duty and CAD$40 for taxes. These apply to goods of any origin that have entered the commerce of the US or Mexico. Postal shipments from the US or Mexico, and any courier or postal shipments from other countries, stay at CAD$20. If an item ships from a US warehouse by courier, the higher thresholds may apply, but check the item page and the carrier.
- GST is 5%. In participating provinces the HST replaces GST. Canada Post says provincial tax is collected on most taxable imports valued over CAD$20 based on your province of residence. The CBSA has a duty and taxes estimator you can use for your goods.
- Duty depends on the goods and where they were made. Rates differ by product type and country of origin, and the CBSA calculates them on the value in Canadian dollars.
- Canada Post adds a fee. It applies a handling fee of CAD$9.95 per dutiable or taxable mail item. Couriers set their own charges, so ask before delivery.
- The gift exemption doesn’t apply. The CAD$60 gift rule is for a gift that a friend or relative sends you personally. Canada Post excludes business-to-consumer shipments, so retail orders don’t qualify.
Why crossing CAD$20 costs more than it looks
The CAD$9.95 fee is fixed, so it hurts most on small orders. This example uses the sourced rules only, and assumes the item carries no duty and no provincial sales tax.
| Item value | GST (5%) | Canada Post fee | Extra to pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD$19.99 | CAD$0.00 | CAD$0.00 | CAD$0.00 |
| CAD$21.00 | CAD$1.05 | CAD$9.95 | CAD$11.00 |
| CAD$50.00 | CAD$2.50 | CAD$9.95 | CAD$12.45 |
A CAD$21 item costs about CAD$11 more on delivery, an increase of more than half. So compare the total, not the sticker price, when a cheap item sits just above the line. Duty, HST or provincial tax would add to these figures. Why AliExpress can be cheap, and when the gap closes.
Who collects the charges, and how to pay
AliExpress’s Help Center says import duties, taxes and other customs charges are normally collected by the shipping company on delivery. Read the price breakdown at checkout, because it may show some charges up front. If none are shown, expect the carrier to ask for payment.
- Online before delivery. Canada Post says you can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) through its tracking tool or mobile app.
- At delivery. Canada Post accepts a credit card, a commercial account, or proof of online payment.
- At the post office. Canada Post accepts cash, debit, credit card, cheque or money order.
Pay only through the carrier’s official channel, such as Canada Post’s own tracking page or app. Don’t pay a link that arrives in an unexpected message.
Delivery in Canada: what decides the wait
- The shipping method you pick. Standard shipping is slower and cheaper. Faster or tracked options cost more. Compare the estimated delivery date on the item page.
- Choice and local-warehouse items. Items that ship from a warehouse closer to you can arrive faster, and a parcel that doesn’t cross the border on your order usually avoids import charges. Check the item page to see what your address qualifies for. How Choice works.
- AliExpress’s safety net. For items without a “Fast delivery” label, AliExpress says you can apply for a refund and keep the item if it isn’t delivered within 60, 75, 90 or 120 days of shipment, depending on delivery conditions.
Orders are often split into several parcels, so track each one separately.
Returns and Buyer Protection
AliExpress’s Buyer Protection covers items that don’t arrive, arrive damaged or aren’t as described. AliExpress says you can claim within 15 days of receiving an item that doesn’t match its description, and a Free Return service applies within 15 days of delivery. Start by contacting the seller, then file a return or refund request from your order. Certain items, such as underwear, socks, food, batteries and customised goods, are excluded from the return policy. Full guide to Buyer Protection.
Before you order from Canada: a checklist
- Set Canada as your ship-to country and CAD as your currency.
- Check the item’s value in Canadian dollars against the CAD$20 line.
- Estimate the extra charges with the CBSA’s duty and taxes estimator.
- Compare the total cost of a Choice or local-warehouse option against a standard one.
- Read the estimated delivery date, then decide if the wait is acceptable.
- Apply your coupons and check the final total before you pay. How coupons work.
- Check the seller and the listing. Seller checks and product red flags.
- Keep the order number and tracking for each parcel.
Don’t ask a seller to mark a parcel as a gift or to declare a lower value to avoid charges. The gift rule requires a personal gift, and under-declaring can cause problems at the border.
Ready to shop?
Before you order, add the item to your cart on AliExpress and read the duty and tax charges shown for your address. If you want a small first order, browse low-price items on AliExpress, then check the current price and delivery estimate before you pay.
Where to go next
- Best time to buy on AliExpress: wait for a sale or buy now?
- Is AliExpress legit? Which purchases need extra checks
- AliExpress payment methods: which is safest to use?
- How AliExpress coupons work and stack
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay tax on AliExpress orders in Canada?
If an item is worth CAD$20 or less, no duty or tax is payable. Above that, you owe duty where it applies, GST or HST and any provincial tax on the full value.
Why did Canada Post ask me to pay for my AliExpress parcel?
Because the item was over the CAD$20 exemption. Canada Post collects the duty and taxes for the CBSA and adds a CAD$9.95 handling fee per taxable or dutiable item.
Can I avoid customs charges on AliExpress?
Legitimately, by keeping each item at CAD$20 or less, or by choosing an item that ships from within Canada. Don’t ask sellers to under-declare or mislabel a parcel as a gift.
Does an item shipped from a US warehouse have different limits?
It can. CBSA says courier shipments from the US or Mexico have higher thresholds of CAD$150 for duty and CAD$40 for taxes, while postal shipments and shipments from other countries stay at CAD$20. Check the item page and the carrier.
Is the CAD$60 gift exemption useful for AliExpress orders?
No. It covers a personal gift from a friend or relative abroad. Items sent by a business don’t qualify.
Is AliExpress safe to use in Canada?
It is a large marketplace with a Buyer Protection programme and a refund safety net for undelivered items. Check seller ratings and reviews, keep your records, and use the protection if something goes wrong. How to check a seller.
How do I find the exact tax on my order?
Use the CBSA’s duty and taxes estimator with the value in Canadian dollars, and check the price breakdown at checkout.
The bottom line
AliExpress works well from Canada when you know the rules. Keep the CAD$20 line in mind, budget for the CAD$9.95 fee above it, set your ship-to country first and compare the total, not just the price. Then apply your coupons and order.
Check current prices on AliExpress →
Sources
- CBSA: Importing by mail or courier, determining duty and taxes owed
- CBSA: Paying duty and/or taxes on imported goods
- CBSA: Courier Imports Remission Order (Memorandum D8-2-16)
- CBSA: CUSMA, overview of key changes affecting imports
- CBSA: Duty and taxes estimator
- Canada Post: Customs duty, taxes and exemptions
- AliExpress: Commitment (free shipping, free returns, shipping guarantee, payment methods)
- AliExpress: Buyer Protection
- AliExpress Help Center: Do I have to pay for customs and import taxes?
Duty and tax rules, exemptions and fees change. Confirm current details with the CBSA and Canada Post before you order.
