How Long Does Canada Customs Clearance Really Take

One of the first questions people ask once their shipment reaches the border is:

“How long is this supposed to take?”

What they usually mean is:

• “Is this delay normal?”
• “Is something wrong?”
• “Should I be worried?”

This post explains how long customs clearance in Canada really takes, based on what actually happens across thousands of shipments, not ideal scenarios.

The Short Answer

There is no single clearance time. Customs clearance in Canada can take:

• A few minutes
• A few hours
• A few days
• Much longer

The difference is almost never random. It depends on how quickly CBSA can complete its review of the information provided.

When Clearance Is Fast

Clearance is usually quick when:

• The product description is clear
• The commercial invoice makes sense
• The value is reasonable and supported
• The importer's responsibility is clear
• No additional information is needed

In these cases, clearance can happen the same day or within one business day. This is why some people say:

“It cleared almost immediately.”

When Clearance Takes Longer

Most interactions come from people in this category. Clearance takes longer when:

• CBSA needs clarification
• Documents are incomplete or unclear
• The value doesn’t align with the goods
• Importer details are missing
• Supporting documents are required

At this point, the clock is no longer the main factor. Information is.

Why “Waiting Longer” Doesn’t Always Help

A common assumption is:

“If I just wait, it will clear.”

Time alone does not resolve most clearance delays. If CBSA is waiting for:

• Corrected documents
• Additional details
• Confirmation of responsibility

The shipment stays in the same status until that happens. This is why some shipments appear stuck for days with no visible progress.

What Status Updates Actually Mean

Many people rely on status messages like:

• “In customs”
• “Under review”
• “Held”

These do not indicate how long clearance will take. They simply mean:

• CBSA has not completed their review
• Something is pending before release

Status updates rarely explain what is pending.

Typical Clearance Time Ranges (What Importers Experience)

Based on our experience, most shipments fall into one of these ranges:

• Same day to 1 business day
  When everything is clear and complete
  
  
• 2 to 5 business days
  When CBSA asks questions or needs clarification
  
  
• Longer than a week
  When documents need correction, values are disputed, or compliance questions arise

Long delays almost always correlate with unresolved issues, not processing speed.

Why Some Shipments Take Much Longer Than Others

Two shipments arriving at the same time can clear very differently. That’s because clearance is affected by:

• The quality of information provided
• The type of goods
• The origin of the goods
• The declared value
• Whether Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) need to review the shipment
• How complete and consistent the invoice and product descriptions are
• Whether the shipment matches the importer’s normal trade patterns or appears unusual
• Whether the importer is properly registered in CARM with an active BN/RM import account
• Whether the customs broker has been correctly delegated authority in the CARM Client Portal to act on the importer’s behalf
• Whether duties, taxes, or security requirements (such as a Release Prior to Payment customs bond) are in place
• The level of risk CBSA assigns based on commodity, supplier, or routing history
• Whether the shipment is selected for random or targeted inspection
• How quickly the importer can respond to CBSA questions or document requests.Whether additional checks are required

This is why people often wonder:

“Someone else’s shipment cleared, but mine didn’t.”

Can Clearance Be Sped Up?

Sometimes. Clearance moves faster when:

• CBSA receives clear, complete answers
• Documents are corrected quickly
• Responsibility is clearly established

What doesn’t help:

• Repeatedly checking status
• Waiting without addressing the underlying issue
• Assuming the problem will resolve itself

When Should You Be Concerned?

Based on real interactions, concern usually makes sense when:

• Clearance hasn’t progressed for several days
• CBSA has asked for information that hasn’t been resolved
• No one is clearly responsible for responding
• Duties or taxes haven’t been addressed

At that point, the delay is usually actionable rather than procedural.

The Most Important Takeaway

Canada customs clearance doesn’t take a fixed amount of time. It takes as long as CBSA needs to get the information they need.

When shipments clear quickly, it’s because the groundwork was done before shipping. When they don’t, it’s usually because problems are discovered at the border.

Delays often start when charges are unresolved.

Estimate duties and taxes with BorderBuddy’s calculator to avoid clearance delays from cost surprises. BorderBuddy’s calculator also uses AI to help classify goods under the correct HS (Harmonized System) code, a key factor in determining the duty rate applied to an import.

What to Read Next

People who ask about timelines almost always ask these next:

• Why shipments get stuck at Canadian customs?
• What does “held at customs” actually mean in Canada? (coming soon)
• Why does CBSA ask for more information after submission? (coming soon)
• Common paperwork mistakes that delay Canadian customs clearance. (coming soon)

Still Need Help With Your Import?

If you still didn’t find what you were looking for, BorderBuddy is here to help.

• Call us at 1 (877) 409-8163
• Or email us anytime at service@borderbuddy.com

Our team can help you get clear answers and avoid delays at the border.