A guide to shipping your belongings to Canada: Cost and timeline
Moving to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Halifax means planning both your budget and your timeline. This guide covers shipping belongings to Canada from the UK, with a clear breakdown of costs and a week by week timeline. It is written for students, professionals, families, retirees and anyone with a few extra boxes, and covers Canada’s customs rules, the goods to follow list and how to ship things home again.
| from £180 one suitcase by sea |
from £290 three to five boxes by sea |
5 to 9 weeks sea freight door to door |
5 to 10 days air freight door to door |
Checked October 2026. All prices are indicative “from” figures for door to door shipping and are confirmed when you book. Customs and biosecurity rules change, so check the official source before you pack.
Your shipping options at a glance
Six options cover almost every move to Canada. Pick by volume, then by how soon you need your things.
| Option | Typical cost | Transit time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline excess bag | £60 to £120 per extra bag, per leg; a 23kg case at the check-in desk can pass £400 on long haul | Arrives with you | One extra bag you need on day one |
| Excess baggage by sea | From around £180 for one 23kg suitcase | 5 to 9 weeks | A few cases of clothes and personal items |
| Excess baggage by air | From around £320 for one 23kg suitcase | 5 to 10 days | Items you need soon after landing |
| Shipping boxes by sea | From around £290 for three to five boxes (around 0.5 cubic metres) | 5 to 9 weeks | Students and light movers |
| Sea freight Groupage | From around £550 for around 1 cubic metre | 5 to 9 weeks | Small flat contents or a few pieces of furniture |
| FCL (20ft or 40ft container) | Quoted on survey | 5 to 9 weeks | Full home moves |
For suitcases, see baggage shipping to Canada. For boxes, see shipping boxes to Canada. For a full home, see removals to Canada.
Shipping options by persona
The right service depends on who you are and how much you are moving. Here is how each type of mover usually ships to Canada.
Students
Students on a study permit usually ship three to five boxes by sea from around £290. Pack winter clothes in the first boxes you send, as Canadian winters arrive early. Most courses start in September, so book sea freight by July. See student shipping.
Professionals relocating for work
Skilled workers arriving on a work permit or through Express Entry usually ship essentials by air and the rest by Groupage. Make sure your goods to follow list is complete when you land, as it is hard to add to later.
Families moving home
Families usually ship a 20ft or 40ft FCL container. Inland destinations such as Calgary or Edmonton are reached by rail from the port, which adds a little time. A free video survey gives you an accurate volume. See removals to Canada.
Retirees
Retirees joining family often ship a modest Groupage load. Canada uses 120V power, like the USA, so most UK electricals are not worth shipping.
A few extra boxes or excess baggage
For a couple of extra cases, shipping is usually cheaper than long haul airline excess. See excess baggage shipping.
Cost: what it costs to ship your belongings to Canada
Anglo Pacific prices by volume, door to door, and fixes the price when you book. The figures below are starting points from the UK; your quote depends on your exact volume, collection postcode and delivery address.
| Shipment | Approximate volume | Sea freight from | Air freight from |
|---|---|---|---|
| One suitcase | Up to 23kg | around £180 | around £320 |
| Three to five boxes | around 0.5 cubic metres | around £290 | Quoted on inventory |
| Small flat contents (Groupage) | around 1 cubic metre | around £550 | Quoted on inventory |
| One bedroom flat (Groupage or 20ft FCL) | around 10 to 15 cubic metres | Quoted on survey | Rarely cost effective |
| Three to four bedroom house (40ft FCL) | around 50 to 65 cubic metres | Quoted on survey | Not suitable |
Canadian destination charges can include port and terminal fees, customs brokerage and inland rail to cities away from the coast. For a full budget beyond shipping, read our guide to the cost of moving from the UK to Canada.
Timeline: how long shipping to Canada takes
Use this as a planning timeline for a sea freight move.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 10 to 12 weeks before you fly | Book a free video survey and get your quote |
| 6 to 10 weeks before | Confirm your booking and collection date; start sorting and selling |
| 4 to 6 weeks before | Packing and collection; your inventory and goods to follow list are finalised |
| Arrival day | Present your goods to follow list to the CBSA officer at the airport |
| 5 to 9 weeks after collection | Customs clearance and delivery to your new address |
| Service | Door to door transit | Book ahead by |
|---|---|---|
| Excess baggage or boxes by air | 5 to 10 days | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Excess baggage or boxes by sea | 5 to 9 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Sea freight Groupage | 5 to 9 weeks, plus time to consolidate | 4 to 8 weeks |
| FCL container | 5 to 9 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
Halifax and Montreal deliveries tend to be at the shorter end of the range. Vancouver and inland cities take longer.
What you can and cannot ship to Canada
Imports are controlled by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), with food, plant and animal rules set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Food | Meat, dairy, fresh produce and many other foods are restricted. Leave food out of your shipment. |
| Plants and soil | Restricted. Clean soil from garden tools, bikes and outdoor furniture. |
| Alcohol and tobacco | Limited quantities only, with duty and provincial charges above the allowance. |
| Firearms and weapons | Strictly controlled. Many items are prohibited and others need permits. |
| Medicines | Bring prescriptions and keep medicines in original packaging. |
| Vehicles | Cars need to meet Canadian standards and go through a separate import process. |
Check the CBSA and CFIA websites if you are unsure. This is general guidance and not legal advice.
Customs paperwork for Canada
Settlers’ effects, meaning personal and household goods you owned, possessed and used before arriving to live in Canada, can usually enter duty free. The key step is declaring the goods that follow you when you first land. You will normally need:
- Form BSF186 (Personal Effects Accounting Document), listing goods with you and goods to follow, with values
- Your passport and study permit, work permit or confirmation of permanent residence
- A detailed inventory that matches your goods to follow list
Present your list to the CBSA officer at your first point of arrival. Anglo Pacific prepares the paperwork with you and our Canadian agent handles clearance. For visa routes, see Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and our guide to Canadian visa routes for UK citizens. This is general guidance and not legal advice.
Pros and cons of shipping instead of flying with it
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Far cheaper than airline excess fees once you send two or more bags | Sea freight needs several weeks of notice |
| Collection from any UK address, including halls and family homes | Someone must be available to receive the delivery |
| Door to door with customs paperwork prepared for you | Restricted and prohibited items cannot be shipped |
| Scales from one suitcase to a full container | Your inventory must be accurate for customs |
Your goods to follow list is the most important page of your move to Canada. Get it right on arrival day and the rest follows.
Ten packing tips for shipping to Canada
- Use double walled boxes. Supermarket boxes are rarely strong enough for an international move.
- Pack heavy items in small boxes and light, bulky items in large ones. Keep each box to around 30kg.
- Fill every gap with paper or soft items so nothing moves in transit.
- Vacuum pack bedding and winter clothes to cut volume, which cuts cost.
- Number every box and keep a matching inventory. Customs will ask for it.
- Pack winter coats and boots in the first boxes you send, so they arrive before the cold.
- Wrap electricals in their original packaging where you can, and remove batteries from devices that do not need them.
- Label each box with your name, destination address and phone number on two sides.
- Keep passports, visas, medication, laptops and jewellery with you on the plane.
- Take photos of valuable items before packing in case you need to make an insurance claim.
Shipping your belongings back to the UK from Canada
The same services run in reverse through partner agents in Canada, so you can send boxes, excess baggage or a full home back to any UK address. Students, working holiday makers and families returning to the UK all use the reverse service.
- Transfer of Residence relief. If you are moving your normal home to the UK, you may be able to bring personal belongings in free of duty and import VAT by applying for Transfer of Residence relief (form ToR1) on GOV.UK before your goods arrive. In general you must have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months and owned and used the items for at least 6 months.
- Students. If you studied in the UK on a study visa and are returning with used personal belongings, relief may apply. Confirm the position when you get your quote.
- Restricted goods. The UK also controls meat, dairy, plants and some medicines. Check the GOV.UK guidance on bringing goods into the UK before you pack.
- Timing. Allow the same transit time in reverse: 5 to 9 weeks by sea and 5 to 10 days by air.
This is general guidance and not legal advice.
Moving money to Canada
If you are moving savings or a house sale deposit, a specialist currency provider such as Halo Financial can help you fix an exchange rate ahead of your move. This is general information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
1. How much does it cost to ship belongings to Canada from the UK?
Sea freight starts from around £180 for a suitcase, around £290 for three to five boxes and around £550 for about 1 cubic metre. Full homes are quoted on survey.
2. How long does shipping to Canada take?
Sea freight takes around 5 to 9 weeks door to door and air freight around 5 to 10 days.
3. What is a goods to follow list?
It is the list of belongings arriving after you, declared on form BSF186 when you first land. It lets your shipment enter duty free as settlers’ effects.
4. What happens if I forget to declare goods to follow?
Your shipment may face duty and delays. Declare everything on arrival, even if your container has not left the UK yet.
5. Do I pay duty on my belongings in Canada?
Settlers’ effects you owned and used before arriving are usually duty free. Check the CBSA website for the conditions.
6. Can I ship my UK electricals?
Most UK electricals need a transformer, as Canada uses 120V. Many people buy new.
7. When should I book?
Book sea freight 6 to 10 weeks before you want it collected, and air freight 2 to 3 weeks before.
8. Is Groupage or FCL better for Canada?
Groupage suits a flat or a few items. FCL suits a full house.
9. Can I ship my belongings back to the UK from Canada?
Yes, the service runs in reverse through partner agents.
10. How do I get a quote?
Book a free video survey in the Anglo Pacific app or send an inventory for a same day quote.
Ready to ship your belongings to Canada?
Get a fixed quote today, or choose your service: baggage shipping to Canada, shipping boxes to Canada or a full removal to Canada. Read our full guide to moving to Canada from the UK, or call 020 8965 1234.
