Shipping Your Life from the UK to Canada: Costs, Customs, and What to Know

Shipping your belongings across the Atlantic is a bigger undertaking than a move within the UK. Transit times are measured in weeks, customs clearance adds paperwork, and the costs are significant. But if you plan properly and know what to expect, you can avoid the most common mistakes and get your stuff to Canada without too many headaches.

Your Shipping Options

Full Container (FCL)

A 20-foot container fits the contents of a 1-2 bedroom home. A 40-foot container handles a larger family home. You get the container to yourself, which means faster transit (no waiting for other shipments to fill) and less handling of your belongings.

Shared Container (LCL)

If you don't have enough to fill a container, your belongings share space with other shipments. Cheaper for smaller loads, but takes longer because the container needs to be consolidated and deconsolidated at each end.

Air Freight

Fast (3-7 days) but expensive. Only makes sense for small, high-value, or urgently needed items like documents, electronics, or a few boxes of essentials you need before your sea freight arrives.

Customs and Duties

Personal belongings that you've owned and used for at least six months before your move are generally exempt from Canadian customs duties and taxes. This is called the "settler's effects" exemption and covers furniture, clothing, books, kitchenware, electronics, and other personal items.

You'll need to:

• Complete a CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) declaration form listing everything you're bringing
• Provide a detailed packing list with estimated values
• Declare your goods when you first arrive in Canada (even if the shipment arrives later)

Items that may attract duty include new or unused items, gifts purchased for others, alcohol and tobacco beyond your duty-free allowance, and vehicles.

What You Can't Bring

Canada has restrictions on several categories of items:

• Food and plants - fresh produce, meat, dairy, and most plant materials are prohibited or restricted. Packaged, shelf-stable food items are generally fine.
• Weapons - Canadian firearm laws are stricter than the UK. Any weapons, including antique or replica firearms, require specific import permits.
• Vehicles - cars can be imported but must meet Canadian safety and emissions standards. Right-hand drive vehicles from the UK may not comply. The conversion and compliance process is expensive and complex.
• Certain electronics - your UK appliances run on 230V/50Hz, but Canada uses 120V/60Hz. Most small electronics (laptops, phone chargers) have dual-voltage adapters, but larger appliances won't work without a voltage converter, which is often impractical.

What to Leave Behind

Think carefully about what's worth the shipping cost. Some items are cheaper to sell in the UK and replace in Canada:

• Large appliances - your UK washer, dryer, and fridge won't work on Canadian voltage. Sell them.
• Cheap furniture - anything from IKEA or similar is not worth the shipping cost. Sell it and buy new. Canada has IKEA, Wayfair, and Facebook Marketplace.
• Your car - unless it's a valuable classic or left-hand drive already, the cost and hassle of importing and converting a right-hand drive UK car to meet Canadian standards makes it not worth it.

Bringing Your Pet

Dogs and cats can be imported from the UK to Canada, but there are requirements:

• Dogs need a valid rabies vaccination certificate
• Cats generally don't need a rabies certificate from the UK (a rabies-free country) but check current CFIA requirements
• All pets need to be microchipped
• A health certificate from a UK vet issued within a specified period before travel

Pet transport costs from UK to Canada typically range from GBP 1,500-4,000 depending on the size of your pet, airline, and level of service. Companies like PetAir and Jetpets handle the logistics.

Shipping Companies

Reputable companies that handle UK to Canada moves:

• 1st Move International - UK-based, specialising in international removals
• Anglo Pacific - self-pack and full-service options
• Seven Seas Worldwide - self-pack containers, competitive pricing for smaller shipments
• Crown Relocations - full-service international movers, premium option

Timeline

Plan your shipping well in advance:

• 8-12 weeks before - get quotes and book your shipping company
• 4-6 weeks before - start packing and decluttering, prepare your inventory list
• 1-2 weeks before - collection day, hand over to shipping company
• 4-8 weeks after collection - your shipment arrives in Canada (east coast is faster, west coast takes longer)

Information in this article is based on publicly available data from CBSA, CFIA, and international moving companies as of August 2026. Costs are indicative and vary by volume, service level, and destination city.