Fast Abstract at a Look
- Use BSF186 in your private results file.
- Use BSF186A should you want extra space (continuation sheet).
- Deliver two copies of your lists (one for CBSA, one for you).
- Declare every thing at your first level of entry into Canada.
Once I first ready my very own items to comply with listing, I used to be targeted on flights and immigration paperwork. Like many newcomers, we arrived with suitcases first, then went again and shipped our belongings later. I additionally keep in mind reaching out to a buddy in Canada for steering. That helped me notice a vital element: your “Items to comply with” listing (or Kind BSF186) might seem to be a small job, however it might probably prevent from paying duties and taxes in your belongings later.
If a few of your private belongings will arrive in Canada after you do, you need to put together a items to comply with listing earlier than you land utilizing Kind BSF186 and, if wanted, the continuation sheet BSF186A. That is the listing you present on the border, so your later cargo is already recorded.
What’s a Items to Observe Listing for Canada?
💡A items to comply with listing is a file of the stuff you personal that may arrive in Canada after you do. Declaring these things once you first enter Canada could make it simpler to deliver them in later.
In easy phrases, that is the file that tells the Canada Border Providers Company (CBSA) which belongings are coming later.
Who Wants a Items to Observe Listing?

This file is important if you’re:
- Touchdown as a everlasting resident
- Shifting to Canada in levels
- Doing a tender touchdown
- Arriving with solely a few of your belongings and sending different gadgets later
That is quite common. It was my expertise too. A easy query to ask your self is:
Will any of my belongings arrive in Canada after I land?
If the reply is sure, you need to put together a items to comply with listing.
What’s the distinction between BSF186, BSF186A, and B4?
That is the place many newcomers get confused, and actually, that’s comprehensible. Individuals hear one time period from associates, see one other time period on-line, after which discover a totally different type identify on the official web site.
Right here is a straightforward method to perceive the totally different names you might even see on-line and on official types.
BSF186 vs BSF186A at a Look
| Identify | Standing | What’s it for? |
| *BSF186 | Present / Official | The primary type used to listing your private belongings. |
| BSF186A | Present / Official | An “further continuation web page” when you have too many gadgets to suit on the primary type. |
| B4 / B4A | Outdated / Outdated | The previous names for these types. Many web sites nonetheless use these phrases. |
*Entry the shape Private Results Accounting Doc (BSF186) also referred to as Settler’s Impact Lists.
Why Your Items to Observe Listing Issues
This step issues as a result of many newcomers don’t transfer every thing directly. For instance, some individuals might do a “tender touchdown”, or return to complete work or household commitments, or wait till they discover housing in Canada earlier than delivery bigger gadgets. Others can not handle a full worldwide transfer in a single journey.
A correct items to comply with listing might help you:
- Present clearly what’s coming later
- Keep away from confusion when your cargo arrives
- Maintain your belongings tied to your unique touchdown file
- Make the border course of smoother
That is a kind of duties that will not really feel pressing earlier than you journey, however you’ll be glad you probably did it correctly later.
When Do I Present the Items to Observe Listing?
You should present your items to comply with listing Canada at your first level of entry. That is normally the primary airport the place you land or the primary land border you cross.
💡Essential: Do that even should you aren’t delivery your items for one more six months. In the event you don’t get your listing stamped throughout your preliminary touchdown, it’s tough so as to add gadgets later.
Many newcomers suppose that they should wait till the cargo is on the best way. Normally, that isn’t the very best method. It’s higher to organize the listing earlier than you journey so you might be prepared once you arrive. CBSA additionally explains you can full Kind BSF186 earlier than you arrive in Canada.
How Do I Create a Items to Observe Listing for Canada?
Once I ready mine, I saved it easy however detailed. The aim is to make it simple for the officer to know what’s with you now and what is going to arrive later. If you’re nonetheless determining the logistics of shifting your life throughout borders, see our full information on Tips on how to Switch Cash and Ship Items When Shifting to Canada.
1. Make two separate lists
Put together:
- One listing for items accompanying you
- One listing for items to comply with
Protecting them separate makes the method simpler and avoids confusion on the border.
2. Describe every merchandise clearly

For every merchandise, embody:
- What the merchandise is
- Amount
- Worth in Canadian {dollars}
- Make and mannequin for costly gadgets
- Serial quantity, if there may be one
💡What to Placed on Your Items to Observe Listing
For every merchandise, embody a transparent description, amount, and worth in Canadian {dollars}. For costly gadgets, add the make, mannequin, and serial quantity if doable. The clearer your listing is, the simpler it is going to be later in case your cargo is checked towards it.
Pattern Items to Observe Listing for Canada
Right here is a straightforward instance of what your listing can appear like to make use of as a information:
| Merchandise | Description | Amount | Worth (CAD) | Serial Quantity: |
| Clothes | Males’s and girls’s clothes | 4 packing containers | 1,200 | N/A |
| Laptop computer | Dell XPS 13 | 1 | 900 | ABC12345 |
| Kitchen gadgets | Pots, pans, utensils, plates | 3 packing containers | 450 | N/A |
| Books | Private books and examine supplies | 2 packing containers | 300 | N/A |
| Jewelry | Gold necklace and ring set | 1 set | 1,800 | Photographs hooked up |
| Bicycle | Trek hybrid bicycle | 1 | 600 | TRK77821 |
3. Group on a regular basis home goods collectively
You don’t want to listing each spoon, shirt, or towel individually. You’ll be able to group easy gadgets reminiscent of garments, books, kitchen gadgets, linens, and toys (see desk above). This retains your listing sensible and readable.
4. Listing high-value gadgets individually
This stuff usually tend to increase questions if described too usually. Listing the next gadgets individually:
- Laptops
- Cameras
- Watches
- Bicycles
- Musical devices
- Instruments
- Collectibles
- Jewelry
Once I ready my very own listing, I took images of my jewelry and made certain it was listed intimately. That further effort helped, and I nonetheless keep in mind the border officer telling me my listing was very detailed and nicely carried out.
For jewelry, it’s good to incorporate:
- A transparent description
- Kind of merchandise
- Steel or stones, if related
- Estimated worth
- Photographs
💡For higher-value gadgets, an appraisal can even assist. Even should you should not have value determinations for every thing, clear images and a cautious listing could make a giant distinction.
5. Use the present worth in Canadian {dollars}
Don’t deal with the unique value you paid years in the past. Convert the worth of your items to present Canadian {dollars} earlier than filling out the shape to fulfill IRCC and CBSA necessities. The worth doesn’t have to be good all the way down to the final greenback. Simply be sensible and constant.
6. Deliver two copies
Deliver two copies of your lists so one will be stamped and returned to you.
Maintain that stamped copy in a secure place.
What Can You Placed on the Listing?
You’ll be able to normally embody private and home goods reminiscent of:
- Clothes
- Books
- Electronics
- Furnishings
- Kitchen gadgets
- Youngsters’s gadgets
- Jewelry
- Bicycles
💡Tip: Try the CBSA web site for different specs that apply to jewelry, marriage ceremony items, and worth limitations. For instance, for private and home goods which can be price greater than CAN$10,000, it’s essential to pay obligation and taxes on the quantity over CAN$10,000.
Can Items Arrive in Extra Than One Cargo?

Sure. That is frequent for newcomers. For instance, you might:
- Arrive with baggage first
- Ship a number of packing containers later
- Ship bigger furnishings upon getting housing
- Ask household to ship extra private belongings later
The vital factor is that the gadgets had been listed in your unique stamped items to comply with listing.
Can I Add Gadgets Later?
Normally, you need to assume no.
That’s the reason it’s so vital to organize your listing as rigorously as you’ll be able to earlier than you land. Many newcomers suppose they’ll add one thing later in the event that they neglect it, however that isn’t one thing you need to depend on.
If there may be any merchandise you might ship later, it’s higher to incorporate it now.
Attempt to embody every thing you might ship later.
What Does Not Belong on the BSF186 Kind?
You don’t want to incorporate the next paperwork in your BSF186 type:
- College transcripts
- Academic certificates
- Resumes
- Reference letters
- Skilled licences
Whereas these settlement paperwork are vital, they don’t seem to be private items for customs functions.
Maintain these paperwork together with your vital journey and immigration papers, however don’t embody them in your customs listing. For that separate settlement prep, learn our information, Paperwork to Carry to Canada for PR.
What Occurs When Your Items Arrive?
When your cargo reaches the border, having a stamped items to comply with listing Canada will make sure you don’t pay pointless duties.
The shifting firm or delivery firm will contact you. You will want to current your stamped copy of the BSF186 to “clear” customs. To make sure your packing containers are packed and labeled accurately for this course of, overview our guidelines, Delivery Family Items and Private Gadgets.
💡Tip: Maintain your stamped copy in a secure place together with your passport and COPR. It is likely one of the most vital paperwork you should have throughout your first yr in Canada!
Widespread Errors to Keep away from
That is the place many newcomers get caught, particularly when they’re already busy with journey plans and touchdown paperwork.
| Mistake | Why it’s a Downside | Tips on how to Keep away from It |
| Ready till the airport | Results in stress, forgotten gadgets, and errors below stress. | Put together each lists no less than one week earlier than you journey. |
| Mixing the 2 lists | Could confuse Border Officers and delay processing. | Maintain Items Accompanying and Items to Observe as separate paperwork. |
| Lacking serial numbers | Makes it tougher to show possession of high-value electronics. | File serial numbers for laptops, cameras, and specialised instruments. |
| Bringing just one copy | The officer must hold one; you gained’t have a stamped receipt. | All the time carry two printed copies of each listing. |
| Excluding “possibly” gadgets | You can not simply add gadgets to the listing after you have got landed. | Listing every thing you would possibly ship later, even when not sure. |
Guidelines Earlier than You Journey
Earlier than you permit for Canada, be sure you have:
- Two printed copies of the Items Accompanying listing.
- Two printed copies of the Items to Observe listing.
- Values in Canadian {dollars}.
- Serial numbers for electronics and images for jewelry.
That is a kind of small steps that may make a giant distinction later. If you’re already managing so much earlier than your transfer, you aren’t alone. Many newcomers discover this complicated at first. However as soon as your items to comply with listing is finished, you’ll really feel rather more ready.
💡 Shifting Tip: Customized types just like the BSF186 defend your belongings, however what about your well being? Most newcomers face a 3-month hole earlier than provincial well being protection kicks in. Learn our information on Journey Medical Well being Insurance coverage for Newcomers to remain protected throughout your transfer.
Ultimate Ideas
A items to comply with listing Canada is a file of non-public or family belongings that may arrive after you land. Newcomers ought to put together one listing for the gadgets they convey with them and one other for the gadgets arriving later. Use the primary type BSF186, and BSF186A should you want extra space. The products needs to be listed at first entry and will have been owned and used earlier than touchdown.
FAQs
Sure, should you anticipate private belongings to reach later. This is likely one of the commonest conditions for newcomers.
It’s at all times higher to organize the listing earlier than your first touchdown, as a result of fixing this later is probably not easy. This can be a annoying scenario for a lot of newcomers.
It needs to be detailed sufficient that somebody can perceive what the merchandise is and match it later if wanted. Group easy family items, however listing valuables extra clearly.
Sure. You’ll be able to group on a regular basis gadgets like garments, books, linens, or kitchen gadgets.
Describe it rigorously, embody the worth, and hold clear images. For higher-value gadgets, an appraisal can even assist.
Sure, this occurs usually. What issues most is that the gadgets had been owned and used earlier than touchdown and had been listed on the unique stamped type.
Sure, B4 is the older identify many individuals nonetheless use. The present type names are BSF186 and BSF186A.
WRITTEN BY
Gitanjali Verma is a Toronto-based group advocate who’s deeply concerned in supporting newcomers to Canada. She serves as Co-Chair of the Toronto Newcomer Council and has been working with refugees for over a decade. Alongside her group work, she brings expertise working with world organizations, together with HSBC. Having lived and travelled throughout various cultures, she brings a world perspective to her work. Gitanjali is captivated with serving to newcomers construct confidence and discover their footing, and shares sensible, people-focused insights to help their journey in Canada.
© Put together for Canada 2026

