Canada is one of the most popular destinations for UK emigrants. Shipping household goods typically takes 3–5 weeks and CBSA customs clearance uses the BSF186 form for duty-free entry of personal effects.
| Property / Volume | Method | East Coast (Toronto/Halifax) | West Coast (Vancouver) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (1–5 cbm) | LCL | £800–£1,600 | £1,000–£2,000 |
| 1-bed flat (10–15 cbm) | LCL | £1,600–£3,000 | £2,200–£3,800 |
| 2-bed house (20–30 cbm) | LCL / 20ft FCL | £2,800–£4,500 | £3,500–£5,500 |
| 3-bed house (30–45 cbm) | 20ft FCL | £2,800–£5,000 | £4,000–£7,000 |
| 4-bed+ house (45+ cbm) | 40ft FCL | £4,500–£8,000 | £6,000–£10,000 |
The key document for importing household goods to Canada duty-free is the BSF186 (Settler's Effects) form. Critical rules:
You must declare your goods-to-follow on your BSF186 form when you first enter Canada — before your container arrives. Missing this step means you lose duty-free status.
Every item in your shipment should be listed on the BSF186. Generic descriptions ("household goods") are acceptable, but high-value items need specific descriptions.
Items must have been owned and used for at least 6 months before your move date. Newly purchased items do not qualify for duty-free entry.
| City | Province | Entry Port | Transit from UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Ontario | Montreal then road | 3–4 weeks |
| Montreal | Quebec | Port of Montreal | 3–4 weeks |
| Vancouver | BC | Port of Vancouver | 4–5 weeks |
| Calgary | Alberta | Vancouver then road | 5 weeks |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | Port of Halifax | 2–3 weeks |
Canada uses 110V/60Hz electricity (same as the USA), compared to the UK's 230V/50Hz. Most UK appliances won't work without a transformer, and some (especially those with motors like washing machines) will run inefficiently. It's usually more practical to replace appliances in Canada rather than ship UK ones.
Yes, but right-hand drive UK cars need to comply with Transport Canada safety standards and will need modifications (headlight aim, speedometer in km/h). Cars less than 15 years old must meet Canadian MVSS (Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). Cars 15+ years old (pre-2011) are generally exempt from modifications. Factor in transport costs of £1,500–£2,500 and potentially significant modification costs.
This is a problem — you must file your BSF186 at the border before goods arrive, not after. If your goods arrive first, they may be held in a bonded warehouse (incurring daily storage charges) until you arrive. Coordinate carefully with your removal company so your transit time is longer than your own travel time to Canada.