International Removals UK to Canada

International removals costs to Canada on shared container services are based on the size of your shipment, and are calculated at a price per cubic metre, or sometimes per cubic feet, not the weight of your personal effects or furniture. The more belongings you have, the larger your shipment, and the higher the cost.

1 cubic metre is the equivalent of 35 cubic feet.

If you are moving your personal effects and household goods on a dedicated, or full, container service, your moving costs are based on the sole use of the 20ft or 40ft container rather than how much space you utilise in it.

When moving your household goods and belongings using 1st Move’s palletised International Removals service, your volume is easily and accurately calculated as the final packed pallet can be measured exactly before it is loaded into the shipping container. No guesswork or estimation here!

Palletising also enables us to use space inside, underneath, or around items, thus reducing the cost and lowering the final volume.

Here are the main factors which will affect the cost of moving to Canada from the UK:

• Size of move: Shared container costs are charged on the final packed volume of your move and the space you take up in the shared container. The bigger volume you ship will increase your moving costs. A 40ft container will be more expensive than a 20ft container.
• Destination and distance travelled: The further your destination is from the main arrival port will mean additional transport costs. The main arrival ports in Canada are Vancouver on the West Coast, Montreal and Halifax on the East coast. We also have strategically position inland depots which will reduce overall transportations costs in Canada. These are in:
  • Montreal
  • Toronto
  • Vancouver
  • Quebec
  • Ottawa
  • Calgary, AB
  • Charlottetown
  • Edmonton
  • Halifax
  • Regina
  • Saint John
  • Saskatoon
• Moving day: Moving on weekends or bank holidays can mean additional costs for your mover which they will have to pass on to you. (Fridays can also be more expensive as this is the most popular moving day)
• Insurance: The higher value of goods moved will increase your moving insurance costs. Budget around 4% (or £40.00 for every £1000.00 shipped) of the total value of your personal effects and household goods.
• Transportation method: Airfreight is more expensive than sea freight so you should only airfreight essentials.
• Packing: Packing costs are charged on time and materials so the more the mover must pack the more expensive your move. You can reduce these costs by packing nonfragile items yourself.
• Moving furniture: Furniture and white goods can be expensive to ship as they may require disassembly and additional packing. Consider a declutter and buying new in your home country.
• Storage costs: You may need to pay for storage if your accommodation is not ready for delivery. You can store goods in the UK and ship once you have your accommodation arranged. Alternatively, you can ship your goods immediately and arrange storage in Canada, then have goods transported to your door once you have somewhere to live.

We offer weekly scheduled services to Canada from the UK port of Liverpool. The average transit time from the UK to Canada is between 10 and 30 days depending on the arrival port in Canada. Here are the current port to port transit times from the UK to Canada;

Please visit our Canada sailing schedule page for up-to-date information of our next international removals sailings; Container Shipping Schedules and transit times UK to Canada.

If you are planning to move to Canada then getting a quotation to move your personal effects and household goods couldn’t be simpler. 1st Move International has a simple-to-use quotation form on every page of our website which you can use to give details of your shipment to our dedicated and knowledgeable sales team.

You can also complete the contact form, call on +44 117 982 8123 / 0800 389 0784 or e-mail on sales@shipit.co.uk

Comparing international removals quotes to Canada can be difficult, as they may be structured differently, include/exclude different costs or even use different units of volume (cubic metres or cubic feet).

To compare quotations effectively for moving personal effects to Canada, you can follow these steps;

1. Research and Shortlist Companies: You should start by looking into the companies that you are contacting, ensure that they are reputable and are affiliated to trade memberships such as the British Association of Removers (BAR) which indicates that they are professional and reliable.
2. Request Detailed Quotes: Provide comprehensive details of the items that you are moving to Canada, giving each company the same information. Include any special handling requirements and details of any access or parking restrictions.
3. Evaluate the Quotes: Compare the quotes carefully, checking that they are based on the same specifications, including size and collection and delivery addresses as well as which costs are included or excluded in the total. Remember to check on the size that the companies have calculated your shipment to be.
4. Check Timelines: How often do the international removals companies ship to Canada? Can they give you a sailing date and an estimated arrival date? Some companies can give you a port-to-port transit time only, but this not does give an indication as to when your personal effects are likely to depart from the UK port, only how long it takes once the vessel has left.
5. Understand your Insurance Options: Although not usually included as part of your international removals quote to Canada, a company should still give details of the marine insurance options that they can offer. Check that this gives suitable cover to protect your household goods when in transit to Canada.
6. Read Reviews: International Removals companies will have a selection of reviews on their website, or on the quotes themselves, but also check on external review sites such as TrustPilot or Google, who are independent. Check good and bad reviews, and how the company has responded, looking beyond the star rating and into the detail.

Yes, we offer free storage, up to your UK departure date, before sailing for Canada.

We normally estimate around 7 to 12 days from the time of collection from your home to the scheduled sailing date.

In the event that you would prefer us to store your goods in the UK a little longer and catch a later vessel, then we offer competitive storage costs to suit your requirements. Storage costs will be based on the size of your move and the length of time that you require your international removals shipment to be stored in our UK warehouse. Please tell your Move Manager your plans and we can advise you of the expected storage costs.

Yes, we offer a 10% early booking discount for every move to Canada. Booking your move early allows us to better plan our collection services and streamline our packing teams for maximum efficiency. Booking your move early means we can make savings on transport and packing schedules and pass these savings to you, our customers.

Moving overseas can be a stressful experience and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to take that first step on your journey to the USA.

So why not book your moving day now, it’s easy, no deposit, no obligation, no cancellation fees and our 10% early booking discount is our thank you for getting organised early.

You can book your move up to 12 months in advance and this offer is available to all our customers who book their move to Canada within 10 days of receiving their quote.

Let’s get that big ball rolling and Book your move in less than 60 seconds here.

It is strongly recommended that you have sufficient cover in place when moving your personal effects and household goods to Canada, even though 1st Move International’s palletised international removals service is the most safe and secure option available.

Our cover protects against potential loss or damage of your goods during the shipping process, and without the added protection this offers you may not be covered for the cost of any items that do get damaged or are missing.

Through specialist moving insurance brokers Basil Fry & Co, 1st Move International are able to offer 3 levels of cover, this means that we have options for all requirements and budgets. For more information on the levels of cover available take a look at our cover options.

Yes, you will need to have a valid Visa or permit before you are able to move furniture and personal effects to Canada. Below is an outline of some of the visas and permits that are available when moving to Canada.

• Work Permit: If you have been hired for a job in Canada, you can apply for a work permit which allows you to move personal effects and furniture when you are relocating.
• Study Permit: International students who are approved for a study permit to attend a Canadian educational institution can also move their personal effects and furniture to Canada.
• Permanent Resident Visa: Anyone moving to Canada with a permanent resident visa is able to move their personal effects and furniture duty free.

The Government of Canada website provides full details on the Visa/Permit application process and requirements for duty-free personal effects importation.

Yes, when moving to Canada you are allowed to move your used household goods, including household and electrical appliances, on a duty-free basis, as long as they meet the CBSA criteria for personal effects and meet Canadian Electrical Safety Standards and Requirements.

For larger items, such as refrigerators or washing machines, we advise that you check that they are compatible with Canada’s electrical system of 110-120 volts and 60 HZ cycle. Smaller 120V items may work with just a plug adaptor, but other larger 220-240V appliances may need a voltage transformer.

All appliances and electronics must be thoroughly cleaned before you ship them to Canada, as The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) may inspect them before they release them from Customs.

When you are planning your move from the UK to Canada, it’s important to understand what household goods and personal items may be restricted or prohibited to ship, as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) enforces strict regulations to protect the country’s environmental, and public, safety.

Items that are prohibited for International Removals to Canada include;

• Fruits, vegetables, plants and seeds
• Firearms, weapons, ammunition
• Counterfeit Goods

Items that are restricted, and may require further permits and/or declarations resulting in increased costs and delays, include;

• Tobacco Products
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Certain Medication and Pharmaceuticals
• New Items

Please discuss any items that you are unsure of with your Move Manager at 1st Move International when you are making your booking, and include everything on your packing inventory so that checks can be made of any item that may cause an issue with your international removals shipment to Canada.

Take a look at our Customs Guide for Personal Effects Imports to Canada for more details and links to specific CBSA web pages.

Yes, you are able to ship your car or motorbike when you move to Canada, but you need to be aware of certain import requirements, the most crucial factor being whether your vehicle meets the criteria set by Transport Canada in regards to their safety standards.

For cars, motorbikes and other vehicles that are 15 years old or newer, they must be manufactured for sale in either Canada or the USA to be eligible for import. This is overseen in Canada by the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program. Cars, motorbikes and other vehicles that are over 15 years old are exempt from RIV requirements, but you must be able to prove the age of your vehicle using the registration documents.

There are also duties and taxes to pay, with most car imports subject to a 6.1% duty rate and 5% Goods and Services and Tax (GST) on the value of the vehicle. We would suggest that you check the eligibility of any vehicle that you are thinking of shipping when you are moving to Canada with a specialist car shipping company, such as Autoshippers, who are our sister company, and they have all of the information you need shipping a car to Canada.

We have international removals services to the main Canadian arrival ports of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. From these main ports we have international removals delivery services throughout Canada, including Edmonton, Halifax, Calgary, Winnipeg and all towns in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and all other territories in Canada.

• Toronto: The provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture, known for its vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.
• Montreal: The second-largest city in Canada, and the largest city in Quebec. It is an island city on the St Lawrence River with a rich French heritage, celebrated for its culture, cuisine and festivals.
• Vancouver: The largest city in British Columbia located on the west coast of Canada. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada, known for its natural beauty, mild climate (for Canada) and economic opportunities.
• Halifax: The capital of Nova Scotia and a major economic centre in Atlantic Canada with one of the world’s greatest natural harbours. It blends urban amenities with maritime heritage.

When your belongings arrive in Canada, our trusted agent will be in contact with you to assist with Customs clearance and to book your delivery once your shipment is released by Customs. Once your international removals shipment has departed from the UK, 1st Move International sends all relevant documentation to them, along with your contact details.

These documents are also sent to you, along with confirmation of the departure and arrival dates, and contact details of the agent in Canada.

You should have already declared to Customs that you have goods to follow when you arrived in Canada (for more details of this process see here) so should be able to easily arrange Customs clearance with assistance from the Customs agent.

Once your shipment has been cleared by Customs, and released, it can either be collected by you, or delivery arranged with the local agent in Canada. All through the process, both 1st Move International in the UK and the agent in Canada are available for any assistance that is needed.

Customs clearance in Canada is best handled by enlisting the help of a Customs broker, or a clearance agent, to carry out Customs formalities, although you will still need to visit your closest CBSA office to complete the final clearance form and process in person.

1st Move International can assist with all export Customs formalities before you move your personal effects to Canada, but you aren’t able to complete some of the paperwork until you arrive. Once arriving in Canada, you will need to check-in using the computer terminals at the airport, and make sure that you check the “Goods to Follow” declaration on the screen.

Then, once your international removals shipment arrives, you will need to visit your nearest Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office, where the BSF186 Customs form is completed, your paperwork stamped and you, or your moving company, are then free to collect your personal effects and furniture.

We have further information on our Canada Customs Guide, and our trusted local agent in Canada, M Consolidation Lines, are also on hand to assist.

We also provide a detailed guide on prohibited & restricted items for Canada, including information on duties and how to declare good on arrival in Canada.

Yes, you will need to be present at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office to clear your personal effects shipment through Customs when it arrives in Canada.

When you arrive into the country, you will have submitted a Goods to Follow declaration at the airport, and this advises Customs that you have an unaccompanied shipment of personal effects and household goods moving separately.

To clear your goods through Customs, you will complete the BSF186 form whist at the CBSA office and they will stamp the paperwork to release your personal effects either for you to collect or for the local agent to arrange delivery to your chosen address.

You do not need to pay duty on personal effects when you move to Canada, as long as you meet the criteria set out by the Canda Border Services Agency, which is;

• You must have owned and used the goods for 6 months or more before your move to Canada
• The goods are for your personal use, and not for commercial purposes
• You ship the goods within a year of your own arrival date

There are some exceptions however, including alcohol and tobacco products above certain personal exemption limits, motor vehicles (more detail on this here) and new or unused items, which could attract further cost of duties and taxes when moving to Canada.

If you are moving your personal effects and household goods on our door-to-door service to Canada, then we will put you in contact with our trusted local agent, M Consolidation Lines. We have been working together for many years and they have Customs clearance, bonded warehousing and trucking services in Canada to meet your requirements.

They will contact you before arrival, to help arrange the Customs formalities, and to book your delivery, and have decades of experience in moving personal effects into Canada. They have offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and can cover deliveries throughout Canada.

Contact details are;

Toronto

• Address: 2 – 6275 Northham Drive, Unit 2, Missisauga, ON L4V 1Y8
• Phone: 001-905-362-0249

Montreal

• Address: 1085 rue Saint-Alexandre, Suite 110, Montreal, QC H2Z 1P4
• Phone: 001-514-282-1270

Vancouver

• Address: 4360 Agar Drive, Richmond, BC V7B 1A3
• Phone: 001-604-248-0997