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Transport Canada

    Home Transport Canada

    Transport Canada Pre-clearance Program

    Overview of the Pre-clearance Program

    QAI assists foreign manufacturers in registering with Transport Canada under the Pre-clearance Program (Appendix G). This program has been set up so that new Canadian compliant vehicles can be imported into Canada with minimal scrutiny. Imports have to be made directly from foreign manufacturers. QAI offers a convenient and efficient compliance service for foreign vehicle manufacturers who need a Compliance Specialist to meet the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act in Canada. QAI is a Compliance Specialist (CS) for the Transport Canada (TC) Pre-clearance Program.  We take care of the foreign manufacturer’s compliance needs and alleviate the Canadian dealer or wholesaler from this responsibility. The purpose of Transport Canada’s Pre-clearance Program is to facilitate and streamline the importation of vehicles by conveying shipments through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Pre-clearance constitutes an agreement between a foreign manufacturer, the Compliance Specialist and Transport Canada. The Compliance Specialist is a company, which in the opinion of Transport Canada, has the ability to maintain vehicle compliance information and ensure ongoing conformance with the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.  As a Compliance Specialist, QAI will act as your liaison by submitting compliance documentation to Transport Canada and maintaining adequate documentation on an ongoing basis, allowing your shipments to flow into Canada with no interruptions or delays. The Transport Canada Pre-clearance Program easily opens access to the Canadian market. After a foreign manufacturer has signed an agreement with QAI, we will work with them to submit a Pre-clearance application package to Transport Canada.  Once Transport Canada has accepted an application, they will place the manufacturer on the (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List. The CBSA will then use the list as a reference when determining the entrance eligibility of vehicles entering Canada. The Pre-clearance Program is only available for the importation of new Canadian specification vehicles that are sold directly from the foreign manufacturer to a Canadian entity. Vehicles not meeting these criteria are not eligible for Pre-clearance using a Compliance Specialist. However, QAI can guide you through other methods to sell your product in Canada. See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What is the Transport Canada Pre-clearance Program for importing vehicles into Canada?

    QAI acts as a Compliance Specialist working with Transport Canada by mitigating risk for direct imports of vehicles from foreign manufacturers, without RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) inspections and fees. The purpose of the program is to ensure that all vehicles imported into Canada meet Canadian Safety standards. Visit Transport Canada’s website to learn more: https://www.tc.gc.ca/

    2. What role does QAI play in the vehicle importation system?

    The Transport Canada Pre-clearance Program for importing vehicles works with QAI as a Compliance Specialist, to ensure that Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are met. It shifts the burden of ensuring compliance to the Standards from dealers. This makes the process more efficient and the environment more conducive for foreign manufacturers to enter Canadian markets.

    3. What does QAI do as a Compliance Specialist under the Transport Canada program?

    a) QAI ensures that the foreign manufacturer complies with the CMVSS through a special process.

    b) QAI liaisons with import/export brokers and vehicle dealers to ensure that the appropriate documentation is available for each vehicle.  QAI oversees the process but is not directly involved in obtaining correct documents and paying the taxes. The responsibility for correct documentation and custom tariffs continues to reside with brokers and dealers. 

    4. When did the program start?

    QAI has been acting as the Compliance Specialist for foreign manufacturers based outside of Canada since early 2010. 

    5. Who can benefit from the program?

    a) Foreign manufacturers: Receive an opportunity to expand their markets and sell more vehicles in Canada; they have the benefit of dealing with only one company (QAI) to handle vehicle compliance documentation.

    b) Brokers: Experience an Increased volume of business due to the simplified process for exporting vehicles into Canada. A single source for handling compliance documentation means that more foreign products can arrive in Canada.

    c) Dealers: Can now offer more choices to customers, as they no longer have to register each manufacturer on the Transport Canada (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List.

    Dealers can import from any manufacturer for which QAI has proven vehicle compliance.

    Foreign Manufacturers

    6. I am a manufacturer of vehicles who wants to expand sales to Canadian customers. What should I do?

    All foreign vehicle manufacturers must meet the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Choosing QAI as your Compliance Specialist means you have chosen an agency that is willing to collect and review documentation to help ensure that compliance with the CMVSS is maintained.

    7. How does QAI help the foreign manufacturer maintain compliance with Canadian regulations?

    a) QAI carries out an evaluation of the vehicles by documenting materials and method of construction used, and assessing the capacity of the manufacturer to comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) regulated by Transport Canada.

    b) QAI represents the manufacturer, working with Transport Canada, the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) and with Canadian vehicle dealers on issues relating to compliance.  

    c) After successfully completing the compliance process, QAI compiles a compliance package and applies to Transport Canada to act as the Compliance Specialist for the vehicle manufacturer.  When Transport Canada approves this, the manufacturer appears on the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List of manufacturers.

    d) Once the manufacturer is added on the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List, any Canadian dealer is able to import vehicles using QAI as the Compliance Specialist. This helps to expand their client base and their readiness to serve them. 

    8. How can I show compliance of recreational vehicles to Canadian electrical and gas regulations?

    QAI is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a certification body for recreational vehicles.

    QAI evaluates and inspects recreational vehicles for compliance with the Canadian recognized standard CSA Z240 RV Series, which includes requirements for safety features, plumbing, gas and electrical systems.

    Certification and listing are required by vehicle manufacturers to show compliance with provincial gas and electrical regulations. Listing in the QAI directory means that the manufacturer is compliant with the relevant certification/inspection compliance standards.

    There are certain other requirements for initiating and maintaining list/certification and if you are interested in this, please contact QAI directly.

    9. How is certification and/or listing with QAI different from the Transport Canada program?

    Certification means that the QAI label is placed on the side of a vehicle, indicating compliance with the CSA Z240 RV standard. Certified clients are listed in a special directory on the QAI website.  

    10. How does QAI assist the foreign manufacturer in preparing documentation to show compliance with Canadian regulations?

    QAI has templates and instructions set up to make it easy for manufacturers to submit the required information in an organized manner.  Please contact QAI for more information.

    11. What is the Transport Canada (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List?

    When Transport Canada approves the QAI application on behalf of the foreign manufacturer, they will appear on the Transport Canada (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List.

    12. How long does it take for the manufacturer to be added to the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List?

    A full compliance package must be prepared for all foreign manufacturers that are not currently registered.  This time frame is dependent on the ability of the manufacturer to provide the required documentation.  Transport Canada can take 4 – 6 weeks depending on the complexity of the application and their current workload to add the manufacturer to the Pre-clearance List.

    13. What documents are required for a manufacturer to be added to the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List?

    At minimum the following documents are required at the start of the relationship:

    a) Transport Canada Pre-clearance application documents

    b) Standard agreement letter between QAI and the manufacturer (TC01, TC03)

    c) Vehicle information showing compliance to the CMVSA and its regulations.

    QAI continues to work with the manufacturer to prepare the compliance documentation within a specified timeframe.

    14. Who can apply to use QAI as a Compliance Specialist?

    Only foreign vehicle manufacturers can be added to the Transport Canada Pre-clearance List. The list implies that implies that the manufacturer is capable of meeting safety and quality standards. QAI needs to have a direct contract with the manufacturer in order to collect confidential compliance information.

    15. What is a compliance package?

    QAI refers to the documents required to demonstrate compliance.  It is a set of documents that demonstrate compliance of all vehicles imported into Canada with the CMVSS requirements.

    16. What is inside a compliance package?

    A compliance package contains detailed documentation that can be sent to Transport Canada upon request, to demonstrate compliance of vehicles to the CMVSS. The compliance package must be representative of all vehicles that the manufacturer sells to Canada where QAI is used as the Compliance Specialist. Package size can range from a dozen pages to hundreds of pages depending on vehicle complexity.

    17. What documentation should the manufacturer provide to facilitate vehicle importation into Canada?

    For every vehicle exported to Canada, the foreign manufacturer creates a Canada Customs Invoice naming the Canadian dealer as the consignee and the purchaser. The broker will charge the vehicle dealer for brokerage fees and taxes. The foreign manufacturer must also complete an NVIS (New Vehicle Information Statement) for each vehicle they export into Canada. Once per year, the vehicle manufacturer should also provide QAI with a completed copy of their NAFTA B232 ‘Certificate of Origin’ document. This document allows Canadian dealers to import vehicles produced by foreign manufacturers without paying duties, (however, taxes must be paid).

    Customs Brokers

    18. I am an import/export customs broker for vehicles manufactured in the USA. How can QAI help me?

    The main benefit to brokers is that QAI does not force the dealer to use only one designated broker, which means that multiple brokers can work with us.  The brokers share information and documents with us about the import of the vehicles. This is kept confidential.

    19. What documents do I need to send QAI?

    As the Compliance Specialist, QAI keeps the following records on file for the importer and foreign manufacturer:

    a) Transport Canada Form 1

    b) Canada Customs Invoice 

    Canadian Dealers

    20. As a dealer, I want a certain manufacturer to be on the Transport Canada (Appendix G) Pre-clearance List. What do I need to do?

    You can pass the foreign manufacturer’s contact information along to QAI and we will be happy to have a member of our sales team contact them to explain the benefits of our program.  You may also contact the manufacturer directly and explain the benefits of our program.  A QAI representative will then assist the manufacturer in demonstrating compliance with Canadian regulations, and act as their Compliance Specialist.

    21. How can I get more information about the Transport Canada Pre-clearance Program?

    Please visit:

    Transport Canada

    http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-importation-Pre-clearance-index-447.htm

    CBSA

    http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5048-eng.html 

    Dealer Association:

    http://www.rvda.ca/intro.htm

    22. Who should I contact at QAI?

    For general inquiries please contact QAI at 604-527-8378 or tcadmin@qai.org

    Technical and vehicle compliance inquiries can be addressed to Kevin Tsumura. ktsumura@qai.org

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