Valuable goods by air freight to Canada

Valuable goods by air freight: security and speed

Gold, diamonds, watches, art, jewelry, banknotes and other valuable goods have two things in common: they are small (light shipments) and the value per kilogram is extremely high. Air freight is not only the fastest for this type of goods — it is also the safest mode of transport.

Sea freight with a container full of valuable goods is a security nightmare: container theft, long dwell times at ports, limited traceability. Air freight via secure cargo terminals with direct handling from aircraft to vault minimizes the risk.

What do we ship as valuable goods?

• Precious metals: gold, silver, platinum (in bars or coins)
• Precious stones: diamonds (certified), rubies, emeralds
• Luxury watches and jewelry (for brands, retailers and private individuals)
• Art and antiques (with ATA Carnet for temporary import)
• Banknotes and securities (on behalf of banks and central banks)
• Smartphones and high-end electronics with high street value

Exporting to Canada

Canada is one of the Netherlands’ key trading partners outside the EU — under the CETA trade agreement, nearly all Dutch goods benefit from preferential or zero-tariff import duties. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Toronto (YYZ) via Air Canada Cargo and KLM Cargo, with frequent connections to Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR). Cargo-to-cargo transit typically takes 8–12 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses the CARM system (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management). Importers must have a Business Number and a CARM Client Portal account. For most shipments, a commercial invoice, packing list, and — for applying CETA rates — a preparer’s declaration or Statement of Origin are sufficient. Health Canada and CFIA registration requirements apply to foodstuffs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Practical Tips

• Always specify “CETA Statement of Origin” on your invoice for preferential import — this can reduce duties by 100%
• Consider provincial sales tax differences (GST/HST/PST) when pricing
• Both English and French labeling may be required for consumer products in Quebec

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents in Toronto and Montreal and handles the complete documentation process — including CETA certification — for optimal throughput.

Important notes for valuable goods

Secure handling mandatory

Valuable goods at Schiphol are exclusively processed via secure cargo terminals with access control, CCTV surveillance and armed security if required. Aircargo.nl cooperates with specialized valuables handlers certified for high-value cargo.

Insurance

Standard air freight insurance covers up to 22 SDR per kilogram — usually insufficient for valuable goods. Aircargo.nl always advises additional all-risk transport insurance based on the actual value. We can arrange this insurance upon request.

Documentation

A detailed value declaration with serial numbers, photos and certificates (e.g. GIA certificate for diamonds, authenticity certificates for art) is essential. Upon import into some countries (e.g. India, UAE) high-value shipments are routinely subject to extra checks.

Routing & splitting

For very high values (above €500,000) we advise splitting the shipment over multiple flights to reduce risk. This requires coordination with the recipient and possibly additional security measures at the destination.