International Moving · North America
Moving to Canada
Canada is a frequent destination for international relocations, particularly for skilled-worker immigration and corporate transfers. Moves typically travel by sea freight, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requires a detailed goods list, most commonly using the standard B4 form, for household effects entering the country.
- Region
- North America
- Typical transport
- Sea freight or container shipping
- Customs
- Required — CBSA B4 goods list for settlers' effects
International moving to Canada
Settlers arriving under most immigration categories can generally import used personal and household goods without paying duty, provided the paperwork is filed correctly — something we help prepare.
Canada's size means the arrival port and the final destination are often quite far apart — a shipment landing on the West Coast for a move to Calgary, for example, still has a substantial domestic leg after the sea crossing. We plan for this as part of the overall timeline rather than treating port arrival as the end of the journey.
How the moving process works
Every international move we plan follows the same core stages, adapted to your route and volume. See our full explanation of how it works for detail on each stage — assessment, planning, packing, collection, international transport, and delivery.
Moving options
Depending on volume, your shipment can travel in a shared or dedicated container. We advise based on your estimated volume and how soon you need your goods to arrive. Skilled-worker immigration moves with a firm arrival date tend to favour a dedicated container for the same predictability reasons as other overseas routes.
Read more about the difference between groupage / shared load and dedicated transport.
Packing services
We use export-grade packing suited to a longer sea transit, with extra protection for furniture and fragile items. We also prepare the goods list needed for the CBSA B4 form as part of the packing process, so the inventory is accurate and ready when the declaration is filed.
See our full packing service for what is included.
Storage
If your Canadian address is not ready when your shipment arrives, storage can be arranged rather than delaying the shipment. This is common for immigration-driven moves where a landing date is confirmed before permanent housing is settled.
Read more about our storage service.
Transit considerations
Transit time depends on the departure and arrival ports; we set realistic expectations for your specific route before you commit to a date. The onward domestic leg from a Canadian port to inland cities such as Calgary can add meaningfully to overall transit time, which we factor into your schedule.
Customs & documentation
The CBSA requires a detailed list of goods being imported, typically filed on form B4, distinguishing between items you are bringing immediately and goods to follow later. Settlers under most immigration categories can generally import used personal and household effects free of duty, provided the list is accurate and complete. We help prepare this documentation, and confirm your immigration category and timeline early, since the B4 process is closely tied to how and when you are entering Canada.
Cost factors
Container type, volume, port pair and customs handling are the main cost factors for a move to Canada — detailed on our costs page. The onward domestic leg to inland cities such as Calgary adds a cost beyond the sea freight itself, which we include in your overall quote rather than as a separate surprise later.
See our full guide to international moving costs.
Popular destinations
Where we move people in Canada
Toronto
Canada's largest city and the most common destination for international relocations.
Vancouver
A major West Coast destination, often served by different routes than eastern Canadian cities.
Montreal
A significant destination for relocations from French-speaking Europe.
Calgary
A common destination for corporate relocations in Western Canada, with an onward domestic delivery leg from the nearest port.
Ottawa
Canada's capital, with a steady flow of government and institutional relocations.
FAQ
Moving to Canada — frequently asked questions
What is a CBSA B4 form?
The B4 is the standard Canada Border Services Agency form used to list goods being imported as part of a household move, including items arriving now and goods to follow later. We help you prepare it.
Do I need to pay duty on household goods moving to Canada?
Most people settling in Canada under standard immigration categories can import used personal and household goods duty-free, provided the CBSA goods list is accurate and complete.
Does it matter that Calgary is not a port city?
It means an onward domestic delivery leg after your shipment clears the arrival port, which we factor into the overall timeline and cost from the start rather than treating port arrival as the finish line.
Ready to move to Canada?
Tell us about your move and we will get back to you with a personalised quote.