How Much Does It Cost to Move to Canada?
Published by Chris Townsend
How Much Does It Cost to Move to Canada?
How Much Does It Cost to Move to Canada?
Cost of Moving to Canada
Whether you’re relocating for work, looking for a fresh start, or dreaming of a new home surrounded by stunning scenery, Canada may be the move for you. Canada is rated very highly in terms of quality of life, healthcare, and public education. It’s known for its breathtaking scenery, northern lights, countless natural parks, ice hockey, and maple syrup. Not to mention, in 2021, U.S. News ranked Canada the best country in the world. So, it’s no wonder that you may be considering relocating to the Great White North.
Canadian Dollars
If you find yourself wondering how much it costs to move internationally to Canada, you’re not alone. For starters, most people budget for between $1,600 and $7,000 when moving to Canada from the USA. Though, the actual costs can be higher or lower depending on your starting location, specific destination, how much belongings you have to move, specialty items, packing, unpacking, and more.
Canada Shipping
The shipping and customs process in Canada is something that can be difficult without the right information. It’s important to consider everything from duties and taxes, to express entry and customs clearance. Luckily, crossing international borders for Canadian citizens is relatively straightforward because you’re considered a permanent resident by default.
You probably won’t be required to submit paperwork for anything except your car, but it’s important that you know what you can and cannot bring into the country. Do not enter Canada with goods that are prohibited, otherwise, they will be confiscated by Canadian government by the customs officials.
With these tips in mind, you should be ready to start shipping packages to Canada. It is quite easy to find the right shipping service, but many people make the mistake of choosing an unsuitable option. US citizens often try to ship items by post because it’s free, but there are actually faster options available unless your package is extremely light.
Depending on how much you need to ship, you can choose either a private courier or freight forwarder. The former will take your items within a short period of time, but it’s a pricey option that only works for larger shipments. A freight forwarder is a much more cost-effective solution because you can send anything from small packages to bigger items like machinery and cars - up to 500 kg each in fact!
Moving to Canada
As a Canadian citizen you have an endless number of opportunities in Canada. You can live, work and invest in any Canadian provinces or territory of your choice. This gives you the right to subsidized schooling, tax free shopping and even express entry to some jobs in Canadian federal public service.
Moving to Canada as a skilled worker with your family for permanent residence is expensive and stressful as you need to deal with the customs clearance, immigration process and even need to arrange for provincial nominee programs.
In order to become a Canadian citizen there are several prerequisites which includes having been a permanent resident of Canada for at least three years from the date of your application. This means that before applying for Canadian citizenship you should have already lived in Canada for a minimum of 1,460 days. The other prerequisites include being physically present in Canada for at least 183 days every year would ensure that you're really living in Canada and not just visiting. You should have been 14 years or older when you became a permanent resident and should have been physically present in the country long enough to meet the physical presence requirements.
Cost of Shipping to Canada
While you may be overwhelmed with the thought of how much it’s going to cost to have your things moved to Canada, it doesn’t have to be as costly as you might assume. We’ve gathered the average international shipping rates, including the duration of travel, for some of the major US/Canada routes – including those on both the west and east costs of the United States.
The figures outlined below are based on port-to-port transportation in a 20-foot container full of furniture that’s worth approximately $53,600 – the average value of the contents of a three-bedroom home.
| Route | Average Cost | Trip Duration |
| Los Angeles to Halifax | $2,650 to $2,930 | 17 days |
| Los Angeles to Vancouver | $510 to $570 | 3 days |
| Los Angeles to Montreal | $2,490 to $2750 | 19 days |
| New York to Halifax | $450 to $500 | 1 to 2 days |
| New York to Vancouver | $2,575 to $2,850 | 19 days |
| New York to Montreal | $425 to $470 | 4 days |
Note: Keep in mind that these container shipping costs to do include add-on services like professional packing and unpacking, insurance coverage, and door-to-door delivery. These estimates should only be used as indication.
Cost of Air Freight to Canada
As I’m sure you’re already aware, the United States isn’t incredibly far from Canada. With that said, you may be considering transporting your belongings via air freight shipping, rather than traditional shipping methods. It’s important to note that air freight can cost up to seven times more than container shipping. Though, if you’re limited on time, this may be your only option, as it is a significantly faster service. Here are some rough estimates for air freight prices from the US to Canada:
| Route | Average Cost | Trip Duration |
| New York to Halifax | $2,300 to $2,600 | 2 hours |
| New York to Vancouver | $2,300 to $2,600 | 7 hours |
| New York to Montreal | $2,300 to $2,600 | 1 hour |
Unfortunately, there are not cargo flights available from Los Angeles. So, if you live on the West Coast, you’ll want to opt for container shipping.
Container Shipping vs. Air Freight
When it comes to deciding between container shipping and air freight for your move to Canada, make sure you consider what is the best option for your particular situation. If you’re on a time crunch, consider air freight. Whereas, if you’re not in any rush, you can save money and reduce your carbon footprint by choosing container shipping.
The Cost of Moving to Move to Canada
In most cases, people budget between $1,600 and $7,000 for a move to Canada. Though, the cost to move to Canada can be considerably more or considerably less than those numbers depending on a variety of factors. Therefore, the most fool-proof and accurate method for determining how much it costs to move to Canada is to get a quote from a professional moving company.
When you’re ready to get started, fill out our convenient online form or give our office a call at (888) 202-0036 to receive your free, no-obligation moving estimate. Contact us today to find out how you could save up to 20% when you choose Three Movers for your Canada relocation.
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