Canadian customers order from us mostly for weddings, and pieces from our Ishq Naama collection have been the most popular. Every piece is made to order in Lahore and shipped free by DHL or SkyNet to your Canadian address.
Canada's import rules are among the strictest of any country we ship to, and much of what is said about them online is wrong. This page sets out the facts, with the timeline, payment and sizing around them.
What our Canadian customers say
"I ordered from Canada and their service is probably one of the best customer service experiences I've had from any designer in Pakistan. They always replied promptly no matter the time and made it an effort to explain everything to me with all my concerns. I would highly recommend them! Delivery was good too. I got it within the time frame I wanted for a wedding in June. I'm sure if you needed it on a time crunch they could possibly work within your given time seeing how good their customer service is. Dress was also beautifully made."
— Noor, Canada, reviewed on Google
"I placed my order with Waqas Shah from Canada and from start to finish it was a smooth process and I received my order on time. It was also very easy to communicate with them and any customizations were also easily accommodated. I'm really happy with their service, 10/10."
— Hajra Rasheed, Canada, reviewed on Google
From order to door in Canada
- Making. Ready to Ship pieces leave within 24 to 48 hours. Luxury Pret takes about 4 weeks, Luxury Formals 5 to 6 weeks, and Bridals 10 to 12 weeks with delivery included.
- Shipping. Delivery then takes 4 to 11 days. It is free, and tracked from the day it leaves Lahore.
- Clearance. The parcel clears Canadian customs before delivery, as explained below.
Allow for all three when you plan around a wedding date, and message us first if the date is tight.
Duty and taxes on Canadian orders
Your order is shipped DDU — delivered duty unpaid — so Canadian import charges are payable by you, not by us. Canada's rules are worth reading properly before you order.
The CAD $150 threshold does not apply to us. This is the single biggest misunderstanding. Under CUSMA, courier shipments are duty-free up to CAD $150 and tax-free up to CAD $40 — but only when shipped from the United States or Mexico. For parcels from anywhere else, including Pakistan, the threshold is CAD $20. In practice, that means duty and taxes apply to essentially every order.
Clothing carries some of Canada's highest duty rates. Apparel sits near the top of the Canadian tariff schedule, with rates running as high as 18% depending on the commodity code and fabric composition of the piece.
Then sales tax, which depends on your province. Federal GST is 5%, and your province adds its own on the duty-paid value:
Alberta, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut — 5% GST only
Ontario — 13% HST
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland — 15% HST
British Columbia — 5% GST plus 7% PST
Saskatchewan — 5% GST plus 6% PST
Manitoba — 5% GST plus 7% PST
Quebec — 5% GST plus 9.975% QST
Plus courier fees. The courier charges a brokerage fee for preparing the customs entry, and a disbursement fee for paying the duty on your behalf.
How it works in practice: The courier clears your parcel, then contacts you directly before delivery to collect what is owed. You pay the courier, not us, and the parcel is released once that is settled.
We cannot tell you the exact figure in advance, because it depends on the commodity code for your particular piece, its declared value, and the province you live in. An order to Calgary and the same order to Halifax will not cost the same on arrival. What we can do is declare your order accurately and provide the documentation the courier needs, so clearance is as quick as possible.
How your card is charged
Prices show in Canadian dollars while you browse, as an estimate. The card payment itself is taken in Pakistani rupees, because Shopify Payments is not offered in Pakistan and our gateway settles in rupees.
Most Canadian credit cards add a foreign transaction fee, typically about 2.5%; a few cards have none. Your bank's rate decides the final CAD amount. Ask us on WhatsApp if you want it worked out beforehand.
Canadian sizing
We cut XXS to XL; outside that range we make to measure. Converted:
XXS — 00
XS — 0–2
S — 4–6
M — 8–10
L — 12–14
XL — 16–18
Sending your measurements
Send them in centimetres or inches, whichever your tape uses. Most designs are made to measure at no extra cost.
Lahore is 9 hours ahead of Toronto and 12 hours ahead of Vancouver in summer (one hour more in winter). Evening messages from Canada are usually answered by your morning. WhatsApp +92 310 0001250.
For the full journey, from consultation and sketch approval to dispatch, see The Waqas Shah Experience.
Shop what Canadians order
Ishq Naama
Mehndi Dresses
Bridal Lehenga Choli
Pishwas and Anarkali
For an Indian wedding, the same lehenga choli or gharara works for the mehendi, and so does a pishwas, which many people call an anarkali; we also keep a few sarees.
Guides for our other markets: The USA · The UK · Australia · The UAE · Europe · All guides for brides abroad
Ask us anything
WhatsApp +92 310 0001250 or email waqasshahofficial@gmail.com. Our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy carry the full terms.