First landing in Canada - question about list of 'accompanying goods'

[Marile]

A friendly hello to all of you,

I just booked the ticket for my first landing in Canada to formally complete the process of becoming a PR (… very exciting!).
I’ll only stay for one week to take care of things like SIN, bank account, tax number, etc., and to say hello to the family. The big move will happen in a couple of months with an overseas container.
The "Goods to Follow" list is already done, and I’ll bring it with me for the first landing to get it stamped.

I’m planning to travel with just a carry-on suitcase with some essentials for 6 days. Do I need to fill out a form listing the items in my suitcase as accompanying goods, even though I’ll bring them back? It’s really just a few clothes, toiletries, and my laptop.

Thanks in advance!

 

[armoured]

A friendly hello to all of you,

I just booked the ticket for my first landing in Canada to formally complete the process of becoming a PR (… very exciting!).
I’ll only stay for one week to take care of things like SIN, bank account, tax number, etc., and to say hello to the family. The big move will happen in a couple of months with an overseas container.
The "Goods to Follow" list is already done, and I’ll bring it with me for the first landing to get it stamped.

I’m planning to travel with just a carry-on suitcase with some essentials for 6 days. Do I need to fill out a form listing the items in my suitcase as accompanying goods, even though I’ll bring them back? It’s really just a few clothes, toiletries, and my laptop.

Thanks in advance!

No, only for things that will remain. If asked, just say this is stuff you're keeping with you while you travel.

You can actually file the goods to follow information when you actually arrive to reside in Canada, not just the so-called short landing. (Becoming a PR - administrative 'landing' - does not mean you arrived for first time as a resident for tax or customs purchases; this is well established and absoltuely something customs and IRCC understand, 'soft landing' is not the same as establishing/arriving for full time residence).

My recommendation: don't file the goods-to-follow paperwork unless you've already handed everything over to a shipping company. Things might change and that could make things more complicated.

 

[Marile]

Ok, thank you guys!
Everything’s done, and it went smoothly. Finalizing the Goods to Follow list took a while, but it was worth it.
The officer spent about thirty minutes verifying everything (we have a few artworks on the list), and the rest of the landing process was very quick. The border officer asked three standard questions, welcomed me to Canada, and I was out within minutes—no line, no stress.

 

[Harperree]

No, only for things that will remain. If asked, just say this is stuff you're keeping with you while you travel.

You can actually file the goods to follow information when you actually arrive to reside in Canada, not just the so-called short landing. (Becoming a PR - administrative 'landing' - does not mean you arrived for first time as a resident for tax or customs purchases; this is well established and absoltuely something customs and IRCC understand, 'soft landing' is not the same as establishing/arriving for full time residence).

My recommendation: don't file the goods-to-follow paperwork unless you've already handed everything over to a shipping company of store hang tags for apparel. Things might change and that could make things more complicated.

Yes i see

 

[Marile]

I just wanted to give you a quick update on where things stand. I prepared the Goods to Follow list quite generously and had it officially stamped during my landing in Canada. All the administrative steps (SIN, bank account, etc.) have also been taken care of.
In the meantime, all the boxes have been packed and labeled, and the packing list for the shipping company is ready. I still need to pack a few pieces of furniture, and overall I’m actually taking a bit less than what I listed on the Goods to Follow list, which isn’t a problem. I’m really glad I started early.
The next step will be picking up the container from customs. The shipping company will assist with that, and I’m feeling confident about it.

Thanks so much for all your tips and contributions.

 

[armoured]

I just wanted to give you a quick update on where things stand. I prepared the Goods to Follow list quite generously and had it officially stamped during my landing in Canada. All the administrative steps (SIN, bank account, etc.) have also been taken care of.
In the meantime, all the boxes have been packed and labeled, and the packing list for the shipping company is ready. I still need to pack a few pieces of furniture, and overall I’m actually taking a bit less than what I listed on the Goods to Follow list, which isn’t a problem. I’m really glad I started early.
The next step will be picking up the container from customs. The shipping company will assist with that, and I’m feeling confident about it.

Thanks so much for all your tips and contributions.

A warning that instructions from the shipping company people abroad about who does what in Canada can be a bit vague and/or wrong. They all have partner companies in Canada or local affiliates that actually do the paperwork. Not that it's that difficult, but your contacts/handlers in Canada are the ones who will actually know.

In our case we had to go to the airport customs (even though the shipment arrived by sea/land) - separate terminal from the passenger terminal - and have something stamped after the shipment arrived. It wasn't difficult - but taht's when we needed the goods to follow stuff stamped. Could be it's a bit different by location.

Next to us was a couple who had returned physically before their shipment but /hadn't/ done the goods to follow stuff - they had some story about why they couldn't, something about arriving with a service where the passport stamping had happened separately [I think it was a private flight or something like that actually] and customs had never 'asked them' (which is, frankly, a stupid point, still their responsibility). Anyway, sounded like they were completely screwed - although I suspect in the end that customs didn't actually make them pay duty on everything - but we were more or less in and out in half an hour or so and they were just getting started.