How to Ship a Car from Canada to Pakistan

The three import schemes (this matters more than freight cost)

Pakistan Customs offers three special schemes for individual importers:

Transfer of Residence (TR)

For Pakistanis returning to Pakistan after a continuous stay abroad of at least 700 days in the prior two years (730 days). The TR scheme allows import of a personally-owned vehicle at substantially reduced duty rates.

• Vehicle age: up to 5 years from year of manufacture
• Duty: depleted scale based on age (newer = higher duty, older = lower)
• Restriction: one vehicle per importer, once every two years
• Documentation: passport stamps proving 700+ days abroad, transfer-of-residence certificate from Pakistani embassy / consulate

Personal Baggage Scheme (PBS)

For Pakistanis returning with continuous stay abroad of at least 180 days. More lenient than TR on residency but stricter on vehicle age.

• Vehicle age: up to 3 years from year of manufacture
• Duty: full standard rate applies (~80-100% combined effective rate)
• Faster processing than TR; no embassy paperwork required

Gift Scheme (GS)

Allows a Pakistani national overseas to send a vehicle as a gift to a family member in Pakistan.

• Vehicle age: up to 3 years from manufacture
• Duty: standard rate applies (no concession)
• Recipient: must be a family member (spouse, parent, sibling, child)
• Documentation: gift declaration, recipient's CNIC, proof of relationship

For non-Pakistanis or commercial imports, none of these schemes apply, and the vehicle must be 3 years old or newer with full standard duty (which can easily reach 100% of CIF on used vehicles).

What you'll pay (freight only)

Freight only. Pakistan-side duty depends entirely on which scheme applies — it can range from ~10-15% (under TR for older vehicles) to 100%+ (standard new-vehicle import).

Customs duty — Pakistan side

Pakistan customs applies a layered tax structure:

• Customs duty: 50-100% of CIF depending on engine displacement
• Federal Excise Duty: additional on vehicles over 1,800cc
• Sales tax (GST): 18% of (CIF + duty)
• Income tax (advance): 6% of CIF
• Port and clearance fees: apply on the Pakistan side

TR scheme can reduce these significantly. Always confirm with a Karachi-side customs broker which scheme applies before shipping — sometimes shipping a different vehicle (older to qualify for TR concessional rate) is more economical than shipping the newer vehicle you originally planned.

Required paperwork

Canada side:

• Vehicle title in your name, lien-release if applicable
• Original bill of sale
• Government photo ID
• CBSA B13A export declaration (we file)
• Pre-departure photos
• House Bill of Lading (we issue)

Pakistan side (consignee handles):

• CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card) of the recipient
• NTN (National Tax Number) registered with FBR
• If TR: passport with entry/exit stamps showing required 700+ days abroad, plus TR certificate from Pakistani consulate (Toronto)
• If PBS: passport showing 180+ days abroad
• If GS: gift declaration + proof of family relationship + family member's CNIC
• Original Bill of Lading (we courier)
• Commercial invoice and certificate of origin
• Pakistani customs clearing agent (mandatory)

Transit timeline

• Day 0 — Pickup at our Oakville warehouse
• Day 1–5 — Inspection, documentation, loading
• Day 5–10 — Drayage to Port of Montreal, sail
• Day 10–25 — Atlantic + Mediterranean transit, Suez canal
• Day 25–40 — Arabian Sea to Karachi (Port Qasim or Karachi Port)
• Day 40–55 — Karachi customs clearance (this is the variable part — TR clearance is slower than standard)

5 mistakes that delay or kill shipments

1. Shipping LHD instead of RHD

The biggest mistake. Pakistan customs will refuse LHD passenger vehicles for personal use. Vehicle returns to origin at importer's cost — return freight plus warehouse fees add up fast.

2. Missing the TR window

TR-eligible Pakistanis must apply within a defined window after returning to Pakistan (currently 60 days from re-entry). Miss it and you forfeit the concessional rate forever — the vehicle pays full standard duty.

3. Not registering for NTN early

Pakistan customs requires the consignee to have an active NTN before clearance. Registration is free but takes 3-7 business days — start it while the cargo is in transit, not after arrival.

4. Choosing the wrong scheme on application

Once you file under PBS, you can't switch to TR for the same vehicle. PBS is faster but standard-duty; TR is slower but concessional. Get the scheme right at intake — work with a Karachi customs broker before booking.

5. Under-declaring value

Pakistan customs has a comprehensive used-vehicle valuation database. Under- declared invoices get re-valued at PRAL reference prices plus a penalty. Declare actual purchase price.

Ready to ship?

We ship RHD-configured vehicles to Karachi (Port Qasim and Karachi Port) for TR, PBS, and Gift Scheme importers regularly. Fill out our quote form with the vehicle VIN and your intended scheme, and we'll confirm eligibility before booking.

Not sure which scheme applies? Reach out with your situation and we'll route you.