Removals to Canada from the UK
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Moving to Canada means a container to Halifax, Montreal or Vancouver — and one form you must get right on the day you land. Here is how settlers’ effects work, what the move costs and what you can't pack.
Last updated: October 2026 · 3 min read
Written and fact-checked by the Removly editorial team · How we research prices
How much do removals to Canada cost?
Published prices differ mainly in what they include. One freight-only price list leaves packing, insurance, customs and delivery to add; a door-to-door one includes them. Compare like with like — here are both, for Toronto.
| Published by | What it covers | 20ft, from | 40ft, from |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShipIt (2026) | Freight only, to Toronto | £4,600 | £6,550 |
| PSS Removals (Oct 2026) | Door to door, Toronto | £5,554 | £8,335 |
Vancouver and the Prairies cost more. Ask every firm for a door-to-door figure.
What are settlers’ effects, and are they duty-free?
If you are moving to Canada to live there for the first time, your household goods are settlers' effects. They enter duty-free when you have owned, possessed and used them before you arrive. Something bought for the move and still in its box does not qualify.
There is a catch later on. Sell or give away an item within 12 months of importing it, and you must tell the Canada Border Services Agency and pay the duty.
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (BSF186 settlers’ effects) (2026)
Why does form BSF186 matter on arrival day?
Form BSF186 is completed at your first arrival in Canada — even if you fly in with a suitcase and nothing else. On it, you list every item that will follow by sea, either on form BSF186A or on your mover's inventory.
Goods you don't report then can lose their duty-free status when the container lands. Ask your removal company for the inventory before you fly, and carry it.
What about food, plants and soil?
Every food, plant and animal product must be declared, and so must soil. Meat has to travel with you rather than in the container, retail-packed and labelled. Clean garden tools, bikes and boots before they're packed — inspection fees can apply to goods that may carry soil.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (2026)
Which ports, and how long does it take?
Containers for Ontario usually arrive through Montreal or Halifax; British Columbia and Alberta come in through Vancouver. Door to door takes from several weeks to over three months, and the west coast is slower than the east.
Plan for the gap with a few weeks of essentials in your luggage, and UK storage for anything that can follow later. Our international removals page covers choosing a mover.
Removals to Canada: FAQs
How much does it cost to move to Canada from the UK?
One published door-to-door price for a 20ft container to Toronto starts at £5,554; freight-only prices are lower but leave packing, insurance and delivery to add. Coast, container size and inland delivery all move the price, so compare surveyed door-to-door quotes.
What are settlers’ effects?
They are the household goods of someone moving to Canada to live there for the first time. Goods qualify for duty-free entry if you owned, possessed and used them before you arrived — owned but never used does not count.
What is form BSF186?
The Personal Effects Accounting Document. You complete it at your first arrival, even if nothing comes with you, and list every item that will follow later. Goods not listed then can lose their duty-free entry.
Can I sell my furniture after moving to Canada?
Not straight away without paying. If you sell or dispose of an item within 12 months of importing it, you must tell the CBSA and pay the duty.
Which Canadian ports do removals use?
Halifax and Montreal for the east, with Ontario served through them, and Vancouver for British Columbia and Alberta. West-coast moves take longer.