If you're trying to figure out how to send something from Canada to Russia, you know that it's a bit of a problem. Canadian shipping companies have stopped offering this destination because of the sanctions, which make it against the rules to do business with certain people and organizations in the Russian Federation. But don't worry, because Time Saving Machine can help!
We're like a hub for over 120 courier companies from all around the world. With us you can send documents, envelopes, packages, and freight to 240 different countries, including Russia. We'll quickly give you price options for both express and standard delivery. Plus, we take care of all the necessary paperwork for the courier and customs – and that's included in the price.
How to Send Parcel to Russia from Canada?
If you ever find yourself needing to send something from Canada to Russia in 2023, you might run into some challenges when it comes to choosing a carrier that can deliver your parcel. It's become quite difficult to find a shipping company or courier service that can handle this route.
In fact, during February and March of 2022, many of the well-known shipping companies and courier services stopped transporting mail, parcels, and freight to Russia and vice versa. They even went as far as closing their offices and liquidating any businesses associated with Russia. So, unfortunately, popular carriers like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS are not an option for Canada to Russia shipping.
When you visit the official websites of companies like Canada Post, TFI, Purolator, Blue Dart, and GLS, you won't be able to select Russia as a destination. It will either show an error message stating that it's an invalid country code or display a disclaimer saying that shipping to Russia is currently suspended. So what should you do if you need to send a package to Russia?
The Russian Federation used to be a significant and growing e-commerce market for online stores worldwide. Many families and companies had strong connections there. Is there a way to overcome this issue? Yes, there is. Allow us to introduce you to the Time Saving Machine.
Shipping a package to Russia from Canada
Our Time Saving Machine is perfect for anyone looking to quickly send a parcel from Canada to Russia. It's super easy - just take 3 minutes to fill out a form on our website or call +1 213-459-5581 and within 15 minutes, you'll receive an offer. We work with multiple shipping carriers in different countries who will personally handle your package and deliver it all the way to Russia.
Shipping mail from Canada to Russia
And it's not just for parcels - if you need to send a letter or a bunch of personal or business documents, TSM has got you covered. We can deliver shipments starting from just 1 sheet of A4 paper. You have the option of choosing our express delivery, which will get your package to its destination within 48-96 hours, or our standard method, which takes about 8-12 business days.
Shipping documents from Canada to Russia
When it comes to documents, we can handle both plain paper and hard-covered ones like passports, diplomas, and employment records. If your package weighs over 1 ounce, it will be treated as a parcel, including hard-covered documents. We'll prepare a contract for you within 1 hour and arrange for pickups on the same day or the next day once we receive prepayment, depending on the time of day.
Canada Post Suspends Mail Service to Russia
Recently, many people have been facing difficulties with sending letters and parcels to Russia because Canada Post suspended all shipments to the country on March 10, 2022. This was due to Western airlines stopping their flights to Russia as a result of sanctions, and there are also challenges with making payments to Russia. This has caused a lot of frustration for senders trying to retrieve their items.
Russian airlines and banks faced the same issue: they couldn't fly to Europe or North America, and they couldn't make international payments in USD or Euro. Even global carriers Canada Post collaborated with in Europe like FedEx stopped their operations in Russia. As a result, there are no Western companies that can ship mail to Russia anymore.
Even if you manage to find a shipping company, you might hesitate to openly write the address in Russia. That's where Time Saving Machine comes to the rescue. We have a unique solution - we deliver shipments addressed to a company in Asia, and then another carrier takes it to Russia. Similarly, when you receive a parcel from Russia, we deliver it to a third party, and then the receiver in Canada gets the package from a company located somewhere in Asia.
Shipping Prohibitions
Russia has broken a new record when it comes to the number of sanctions imposed on it. Since 2014, they have faced over 14,000 separate restrictions, which is 3.5 times more than Iran. These sanctions mainly prevent people and companies from doing business with individuals and entities mentioned in a special list. So, in theory, if your business partner is not on that list, you can still work together.
There are also other restrictions related to the financial and energy sectors. However, the ones that have had the most impact are the regulations that prohibit Russian ships from docking or passing through Canadian waters. Additionally, Canadian companies are not allowed to provide insurance services for Russian planes and ships. This has had a significant effect on transportation worldwide.
Canadians aren't allowed to trade luxury goods or things that could be used for making military products. Another issue is the sanctions on Russian Banks, including the Central Bank, Sberbank, Alfa Bank, Gazprombank, and other top 20 institutions and disconnecting them from the SWIFT system. Even if you don't sell pipes to Russian oil or gas platforms, you could still be accused of collaborating. That's why the best option for doing business with Russia is to use a third party.
With TSM, you or your small business or ecommerce enterprise can sell or buy something in Russia using our company's account in USD or Euro and have the packages shipped through transit countries. This is legal according to Canadian and US rules because the transactions take place in a different jurisdiction.
Exceptions
Sometimes, you can still make transactions even if the bank is on the list of restricted banks according to the Special Economic Measures Act. Basically, there are exceptions that cover debts and contracts that were made before the sanctions were put in place. So, you can still receive payments from blacklisted entities, but you can't make payments to them. If you had a loan before the sanctions, you can continue making loan payments without any issues.
Additionally, pension payments to Canadians or people living in Canada are still allowed. And if you're a diplomatic or a non-governmental organization in Canada, you can receive payments from sanctioned individuals or companies to cover your needs.
The other exception lets someone who's been blacklisted pay for a lawyer in Canada to help them figure out how to handle sanctions. In short, none of these exceptions let you buy or sell stuff or cover shipping costs. However, there's a way around it if you use the international courier service TSM.
Documents required for shipping a parcel to Russia
If you're sending a package from Canada to Russia, you might be concerned about all the complicated paperwork you'll have to deal with. And honestly, there is some truth to that. You'll need a form for the courier and some documents for customs. It can be tough to get everything right without professional help.
At TSM, we understand that sending a package from Canada to Russia can be a bit overwhelming. We're here to make it easier for you. Our team takes care of all the necessary documents required by the courier services and customs, ensuring that your parcel smoothly passes through both Canadian and Russian customs. In some cases, when the package crosses the US borders, we also take US laws into consideration. As part of our service, we provide a complete set of documents, and this is already included in the price of international delivery.
Commercial invoice
One important document is the commercial invoice, which provides a detailed description of the items in the parcel, as well as the names and addresses of the sender and receiver. The invoice serves as proof of the transaction between the seller and the buyer, so it's crucial that the information matches the contract or proforma. Any discrepancies can lead to delays, returns, or even confiscations.
With TSM, you can trust that we'll handle all the necessary paperwork, making your shipping experience hassle-free and ensuring your package reaches its destination without any issues. If you're sending personal items that are valued below the duty limit, you probably won't need to provide an invoice. Our managers will handle everything for you and consult with you if necessary. All you need to do is make a list of the items you're putting in the box.
Customs declaration
There's also a customs declaration form that describes the contents and their value. This form goes on the outside of the package. It's different from an invoice because it has specific requirements set by both the origin and destination countries' customs.
This document is all about giving you information on what's inside the box and how much it costs. The reason for including the cost is because it helps calculate customs duties. We include all the important details about the sender and receiver.
Unlike an invoice, a declaration is required for parcels that contain personal belongings. This is because for some items, it doesn't matter if they're being sold, given away for free, or sent between family members. Even if you're just moving to another country and sending things to yourself, it's still necessary. It's hard to know in advance if duties need to be paid without looking at all the information.
With TSM, we're here to help you with customs clearance. We'll take care of filling out all the necessary paperwork and give you information on whether or not there will be any duties to pay, as well as an estimate of how much they might be.
Certificate of Origin (CO)
A certificate of origin is basically a proof that shows where the goods were made. It's especially important for things like plants, coffee, wood, and grains. In Russia, they require COs for electronic devices and some other items. But if you're just sending stuff for personal use, you don't need one. However, if there's something fishy going on and you don't have a CO, you'll just have to pay the full duty.
Single Administrative Document (SAD)
This is a document from the European Union that deals with importing and exporting. Before sanctions were put in place, parcels from Canada to Russia used to go through a European hub, so they had to have a SAD. When arranging the delivery, TSM determines what documents are necessary, like safety certificates, MSDSs, COs, and inspection certificates for health, veterinary, or plant-related stuff.