How to Fill Out the BSF186 and BSF186A (B4 and B4A) Personal Effects Accounting Forms for Moving to Canada

Moving to Canada involves a lot of preparation and formalities. One of the important tasks to do prior to entry to the country is organizing and listing out the goods you will be bringing with you upon arrival, the goods that will be arriving later to Canada, and/or if you have any belongings that will be shipped. These forms are known as the Personal Effects Accounting Document, BSF186 (B4) and BSF186A (B4A) forms respectively, and they are essential for anyone moving or returning to Canada.

As it can take some time to understand the forms and accurately fill in the required information, you should leave sufficient time to fill out all the BSF186 and BSF186A (also known as B4 and B4A) forms prior to arrival.  You will need to present the forms which you have filled out, along with your passport / visa, and the original physical copies of your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at your first port of entry in Canada. The CBSA officer will also ask you to provide a Canadian residential address for the purpose of mailing your PR card.

What are the BSF186 (B4) and BSF186A (B4A) forms?

Please note that you will need to prepare two copies of all the completed forms listing the goods you intend to bring into Canada as part of your personal effects.

BSF186 (B4) form (main form): The BSF186 form is used by the CBSA to document the goods you are bringing into Canada for household and personal use. To import goods duty-free and tax-free, those entering Canada with the intention of establishing for the first time a residence of one year or more, must have and declare their owned, possessed, and used goods abroad prior to arriving in Canada.

BSF186A (B4A) forms: When you have sorted out what goods you would like to be bringing into Canada, divide them into 2 lists: goods that you will be carrying with you at the time of entry, and your goods to follow that will be arriving later.

1. Accompanying Goods – List out all goods you will be carrying with you upon first arrival to Canada, and the present value of each good in Canadian dollars. You should provide as much detail about the goods as possible, such as serial numbers / models, brand of the item, colour, shape etc… You should also list all your jewellery items, watches, laptops, mobile phones etc… which you plan to bring with you on the accompanying goods list, describing each jewellery item in as much detail as possible.
• A Note About Jewellery: You might consider including photographs of all jewellery items as it makes it easier for a CBSA border services officer to cross-reference your goods. It will also help a CBSA officer to identify the jewellery item later when you return from abroad with that jewellery item. For expensive jewellery items, you may consider getting a jeweller’s appraisal that includes photographs that have been signed and dated by a jeweller or gemmologist. This will be useful to show that you have already declared these items upon first landing, which will help to minimize the risk of being charged any taxes or duty when you do bring them in and out of Canada.
2. Goods to Follow – This is a goods to follow list that lists out all the goods that will be arriving in Canada after your arrival in Canada. You will also need to list the present value of each good in Canadian dollars. Such items may include boxes of clothing, shoes, furniture items, children’s toys, kitchenware, toiletries etc… Remember to tick the “goods to follow” box on the upper right corner of the BSF186A (B4A) form and number your pages.

How to Fill Out the BSF186 (B4) Form (Main Form)

Step 1: Fill in Your Personal Information

• Your full name as on your passport
• Your Canadian residential address
• Country of origin (e.g. HKSAR - China)
• Country of export (e.g. HKSAR - China)

Step 2: Fill in Descriptions of Your Goods

• For the accompanying goods, add the total value of all the goods you are bringing to Canada with you at the time on entry, and outline their total value in Canadian dollars on a single row.
• For the list of goods to follow, add the total value of all the goods on the goods to follow list, and outline their total value in Canadian dollars on a single row

Step 3: Include Details About Vehicles Being Imported

• If you are importing your vehicle such as your car to Canada, you will need to complete this section. If you do not have any vehicles to import, leave this section blank or write N/A.

Step 4: Indicating Additional Lists of Goods

• Check the appropriate boxes depending on what you will be bringing to Canada.
• If you have a list of accompanying goods, check the box for the BSF186A (B4A) form
• If you have goods to follow, check yes for the goods to follow box
• If you have Mover’s inventory, check the box for Mover’s inventory

Step 5: Select the Appropriate Classification

• Choose among one of 4 options (former resident, beneficiary, seasonal resident, or settler)
• If you will be settling in Canada, check the box for “Settler”
• If you are returning to Canada / PR, check the box for “Former Resident”

Step 6: Sign and Date to Complete the Form

Lastly, write your full name as on your passport, the date and location you land in Canada, and sign off with the same signature as that on your passport

How to Fill Out the BSF186A (B4A) Forms (Accompanying Goods / Goods to Follow)

Step 1: Fill in Your Personal Information and Label Page Numbers

• Your full name as on your passport
• If you have multiple pages, indicate the page numbers on the top right corner
• If this is the accompanying goods list, leave the “List of goods to follow” box unchecked.
• If this is the goods to follow list, check the box for “List of goods to follow”

Step 2: List out Your Goods and Their Present Value

• Outline your goods in each row with as much detail as possible and list the current value of the good in Canadian dollars. Be sure to include model numbers, serial numbers, color / pattern descriptions, brand of the goods etc…

Step 3: Sign and Date to Complete the Form

Write your full name as on your passport, the date and location you land in Canada, and sign off with the same signature as that on your passport. If you have multiple pages, sign, and date each page.

Preparing personal effects accounting forms BSF186 (B4) and BSF186A (B4A) forms can be time-consuming and confusing to many applicants. At Rothe International Canada, we provide our clients with guidance and comprehensive support for a seamless and hassle-free immigration experience.

Our professional team is dedicated to assisting clients on a personalized basis based on their individual needs and qualifications with suitable immigration programs towards attaining immigration to Canada. We have represented many candidates in the past and would be delighted to assist you.

For further enquiries, please contact us at 2868 3780 or email inquiry@rothe.com.hk

Disclaimer

The information provided above is for general private reference purposes only and is not intended to be a comprehensive explanation of Canadian immigration laws or a substitute for professional legal advice. Rothe International Canada is not responsible for any losses caused by the use of the above information.

If you have any specific questions, you are welcome to contact Rothe International Canada directly at (852) 2868 3780 or fill in our online enquiry form.