Removals to Canada from the UK

Sea freight times from the UK to Canada are around 6-9 weeks for a full container load (FCL) or approximately 8-16 weeks for a shared container/groupage service (Sometimes called less than container load – LCL). In addition, you will also need to allow added time for customs clearance and final delivery.

Usually, it will take our professional packers 2-4 days to pack and load a container.

Average international removal time to Canada from the UK in 2025

NB: These are approximate sea freight shipping times to ports in Canada only. You will need to allow additional time for customs clearance and final delivery to your destination.

Usually our groupage transits for Canada are via Toronto. From there they will be forwarded on to your final destination and delivered to your address in Canada.

Your dedicated Move Manager will advise you on the required documents and help you with their completion. Example documents required are:

• Fully completed Canadian B4 customs form (goods to follow list)
• Removal inventory (PSS will prepare this if PSS are packing)
• Valuation form for shipment Protection cover
• Copy of your Passport and Visa
• Purchase receipts (only applicable if you are importing any newly purchased goods)
• Letter undertaking (not always needed)
• Bank statements, income tax or rent receipts as proof that you have resided outside Canada for a minimum of 12 months (only applicable for returning Canadians)

To help you, we recommend you download and carefully read our FIDI Customs Guide

• We will contact you before your container arrives at the port in Canada to ensure that we have in our possession all the relevant paperwork to assist us with the customs clearance process. If you are not ready to take delivery we can arrange storage rates for an extremely preferential charge. When you arrive in Canada for the first time after you have received your visa, you will be required to declare a list of goods to follow (B4 form). You must produce two lists detailing those items that you will be importing with their approximate second hand values, as well as your immigration papers (passport, visa etc). This will need to be produced upon your first point of entry into Canada.
• Following on from the above all goods entering Canada will be subject to customs clearance; we will assist you with this process and arrange for your personal effects or household effects to be cleared before delivery. In order to clear your goods through customs you will be required to attend your local customer office to present your immigration documents. You will be required to produce two copies of your goods to follow list as well as immigration papers such as visa, passport etc. This process applies to all shipments regardless of whether you are shipping a part load container or a Full container load.
• All containers are subject to an inspection by CFIA (Canadian food inspection service) All outside items are liable for inspection and it is important that these are thoroughly cleaned prior to shipment.
• All goods entering Canada are subject to Duty and Tax, however you may qualify for free entry for your personal or household effects shipment if:
  1. You have owned and used the items for 12 months or more by you.
  2. You are a first time immigrant who is taking up residency for a period of longer than 12 months.
  3. You are a returning Canadian Citizen who has lived outside of Canada for 12 months or more.
     Individual items with a value of $10,000 or higher will be subject to duty and tax

We do removals from anywhere in the UK (including London, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) to all destinations in Canada including:

Removals to Ontario and Central Canada

 Toronto and Ontario, Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga, Kitchener & London

Removals to Quebec

Quebec City and Montreal & Gatineau.

Removals to Alberta

Alberta, Edmonton & Calgary

Removals to British Columbia and the West Coast of Canada

British Columbia and Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna & Surrey

Removals to The Prairie Provinces

Manitoba and Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon & Regina

Removals to the Atlantic Region and East Coast of Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (including Halifax, & Cape Breton Island)

Removals to the North of Canada

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut

PSS International provide a full door to door international removal service which includes delivery of items to your new home.

We will contact you before your container arrives in Canada to ensure that we have all your relevant paperwork to enable us to start the customs clearance process as well as making sure that we have your correct requirements in place for delivery.

Once the customs clearance of your goods has taken place we can then arrange your delivery and the unpacking of your goods. Our crew will arrive at your new property and place your items in the rooms of your choice and unwrap and remove the packing material. If you are not ready to take delivery then we can offer competitive storage rates for your goods at one of our local Canadian depots.

• Delivery to all locations in Canada
• Dedicated FIDI regulated international movers in Canada
• Dedicated import clerk in Canada
• Customs clearance
• Up to date information on delivery & customs clearance process
• Trained import delivery removalist team (by professional Canadian movers and packers)
• Unpacking of all furniture & removal of any packaging materials on the day of delivery

This is not a problem as all we will require is a contact address and contact details. The delivery address can be advised at a later date or when you arrive.

If required, we can also arrange storage of your household goods and personal effects in Canada whilst you arrange your new home. Once you’re ready our local movers will be able to deliver your belongings.