Shipping from China to Amazon FBA UK & Canada

In this guide

Amazon FBA UK vs Canada at a Glance
Shipping from China to Amazon FBA UK
Shipping from China to Amazon FBA Canada
Sea, Rail, Air or Express: Which to Choose?
Common Mistakes with FBA UK and Canada Shipments
How JIEYI Ships to Amazon FBA UK and Canada
Amazon FBA UK and Canada: FAQ

Shipping from China to Amazon FBA in the UK or Canada is not the same as shipping to Amazon in the USA. In both countries you, the seller, are the importer: Amazon will not clear customs or pay duties for you, and a shipment that arrives at the fulfilment centre with charges still due can be refused. This guide explains what you need to register, how to get goods from China to Amazon UK and Amazon.ca, the carton and label rules to check, and the mistakes that delay FBA shipments.

Key points
• Amazon does not act as importer of record. In the UK and Canada, the seller (or a company named as importer for the seller) is responsible for customs, duties and import taxes.
• UK: you need a GB EORI number, and sellers who store stock in the UK usually need to register for UK VAT.
• Canada: a non-resident seller needs a Canadian Business Number with an import-export (RM) account and a CARM Client Portal account; check your GST/HST position with a Canadian tax adviser.
• Ship duties paid (DDP) or have your own customs broker pay everything before delivery. Amazon does not pay duties, taxes or freight on arrival.
• Standard FBA boxes in both marketplaces should be no more than 63.5 cm on any side and 23 kg. Check the current limits in Seller Central before you pack.

Amazon FBA UK vs Canada at a Glance

	Amazon FBA UK	Amazon FBA Canada
Importer of record	The seller (Amazon does not act as importer)	The seller, usually as a non-resident importer
Customs number	GB EORI number	Business Number with an RM import-export account
Customs account	Not needed beyond the EORI; your broker files the declaration	CARM Client Portal account (mandatory for commercial importers)
Import tax	Import VAT (standard rate 20%) plus duty	GST (5%) plus duty
Main sea ports	Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway	Vancouver and Prince Rupert; rail to Toronto and Montreal
Typical transit from South China	Sea 40–55 days, rail 30–40, air 5–10	Sea 25–35 days to BC, 35–45 to Ontario; air 6–9
Standard box limit	63.5 cm on any side and 23 kg (check Seller Central for oversize and heavy items)
Best way to arrive	Duties and taxes already paid, with a delivery appointment booked

Shipping from China to Amazon FBA UK

Importer of record and EORI

To import goods into Great Britain you need an EORI number that starts with GB. It is free and issued by HM Revenue & Customs. The customs declaration is made in the name of the importer, which for FBA is normally your own company. Amazon UK will not be named as importer and will not pay duty or VAT on arrival.

UK VAT

Import VAT is charged on goods entering the UK on top of any duty. Non-UK sellers who keep stock in UK fulfilment centres are usually required to register for UK VAT, often from the first sale, because the normal registration threshold does not apply to businesses established outside the UK. Once VAT-registered, you can use postponed VAT accounting to declare import VAT on your VAT return instead of paying it at the border. Ask a UK VAT adviser to confirm your position before your first shipment. Our guide to importing from China to the UK explains how import duty and VAT are calculated.

Routes: sea, rail, air or express

Most FBA stock goes by sea to Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway, then by truck to the Amazon fulfilment centre named in your shipment plan. China–Europe rail is a faster option for goods that cannot wait for the ship, and air or express suits launches and restocks. See our guides to shipping time from China to the UK and shipping cost from China to the UK.

Amazon UK inbound rules to check

Box size and weight: standard boxes up to 63.5 cm on any side and 23 kg. A box with a single oversize item can be larger and heavier within Amazon’s limits.
Heavy boxes: boxes of 15 kg or more need “Heavy package” or “Team lift” labels on the top and sides.
Labels: every unit needs its FNSKU barcode unless you use manufacturer barcodes, and every box needs its FBA box label.
Delivery booking: pallet and truck deliveries need an appointment with the fulfilment centre.

FBA carton rules at a glance (UK and Canada, standard-size items)

FBA box label on each carton, on a flat side and not over a seam, so it can be scanned.
FNSKU label on every unit inside (unless you use manufacturer barcodes), matching your shipment plan.
15 kg or more: “Heavy package” or “Team lift” labels on the top and the sides (UK rule; check Amazon.ca for Canada).
Size and weight: no side longer than 63.5 cm and no more than 23 kg per box. Only boxes with a single oversize item may go beyond this.

Amazon changes its inbound rules from time to time. Check the current shipping and routing requirements in Seller Central before you pack.

Shipping from China to Amazon FBA Canada

Non-resident importer, Business Number and CARM

A seller based outside Canada can import as a non-resident importer. You need a Business Number from the Canada Revenue Agency with an RM import-export account, and an account in the CBSA’s CARM Client Portal, which is mandatory for commercial importers. In the portal you can authorise your customs broker. Since May 2025, importers who want goods released before paying duty and taxes must post their own financial security in CARM; otherwise payment is needed before release.

GST/HST and duty

Imported goods pay GST (5%) plus any duty at the border. Selling through FBA stock in Canada can also create GST/HST registration and filing obligations for the seller, even though Amazon collects sales tax from customers. Check your position with a Canadian tax adviser. Our guide to importing from China to Canada explains how duty and GST are calculated.

Routes: Vancouver first, then rail to the east

Sea freight to Vancouver or Prince Rupert is the main route. Amazon fulfilment centres are spread across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, so cargo for Ontario or Quebec usually continues by rail from the port. Air freight to Vancouver or Toronto suits urgent stock. Our guide to shipping time from China to Canada breaks down each route.

Amazon.ca inbound rules to check

Box size and weight: standard boxes up to 63.5 cm on any side and 23 kg, with larger limits only for single oversize items.
Labels: FNSKU on each unit and an FBA box label on each carton, matching the shipment plan.
Appointments: freight deliveries to Amazon.ca fulfilment centres need a booked appointment.

Sea, Rail, Air or Express: Which to Choose?

Choose by volume and how soon the stock must be live:

Sea (LCL or FCL): the lowest cost per unit for regular replenishment. Plan around the longest lead time.
China–Europe rail (UK only): faster than sea for stock that would otherwise go by air.
Air freight: for launches, seasonal peaks and stock-outs; often combined with a sea shipment of the same order.
Express: for samples and small cartons; check the carrier’s customs process for FBA deliveries.

Many sellers split one order: a small part by air to start selling, the rest by sea. Our guide to the cheapest way to ship from China compares the options by size and weight.

Common Mistakes with FBA UK and Canada Shipments

Shipping DAP to Amazon. If duty, tax or freight charges are still due on delivery, Amazon will not pay them and the shipment can be refused.
No importer registration. Goods wait at the port while an EORI, Business Number or CARM account is set up.
Oversized or overweight cartons. Boxes over the limits are refused or repacked at extra cost.
Labels that do not match the shipment plan. Wrong FNSKU or box labels delay receiving.
Undervalued invoices. A declared value below the real price can lead to holds, back duty and penalties.
Not planning for delivery appointments. In peak season, appointments can be booked days ahead.

How JIEYI Ships to Amazon FBA UK and Canada

We are a freight forwarder in Dongguan and ship FBA stock from South China to Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK and Canada.

Collection and consolidation: we collect from your suppliers and combine goods into one shipment.
FBA preparation: we check cartons against Amazon’s size and weight limits and apply FNSKU and FBA box labels you send us. See packing and labeling.
Duties paid delivery: with DDP shipping we arrange customs clearance and pay duties and import taxes for you, so the shipment arrives at Amazon with nothing to pay. Who is named as importer is agreed with you for each shipment when you send your inquiry.
Delivery booking: we deliver to the fulfilment centre in your shipment plan and handle the appointment.

Shipping to the USA as well? Read how to ship from China to Amazon FBA or see our Amazon FBA shipping service.

Amazon FBA UK and Canada: FAQ

Does Amazon act as importer of record in the UK or Canada?

No. Amazon does not act as importer of record for FBA stock. The seller, or a company named as importer for the seller, is responsible for customs clearance, duties and import taxes.

Can I ship DAP to an Amazon fulfilment centre?

It is risky. Amazon does not pay duties, taxes or freight charges on arrival, so anything still due must be paid before delivery. DDP, or your own broker paying everything in advance, avoids refused deliveries.

What do I need before my first shipment to Amazon UK?

A GB EORI number, a decision on UK VAT registration (usually required when you store stock in the UK), FNSKU and box labels from your shipment plan, and cartons within Amazon’s size and weight limits.

What do I need before my first shipment to Amazon.ca?

A Canadian Business Number with an RM import-export account, a CARM Client Portal account with your customs broker authorised, a plan for GST/HST, and labels and cartons that meet Amazon.ca’s requirements.

How long does shipping from China to Amazon FBA take?

From South China, sea freight takes about 40–55 days to the UK and 25–45 days to Canada depending on the province, plus time for the Amazon delivery appointment. Air freight takes about 5–10 days to either country.

Checked on October 24, 2026. Amazon’s inbound requirements and tax rules change; confirm the current rules in Seller Central and with a tax adviser in each country. Send us your shipment plan and we will quote FBA delivery to the UK or Canada.