International Shipping to Canada

Whether your load requires full or shared container shipping to Canada depends on the quantity or combined dimensions of your items.

Shared Shipping Containers to Canada (Groupage)

For small moves, we load items into a shared shipping container from the UK to Canada alongside the boxes of other PSS customers, this is also known as our groupage service. Sometimes this can be referred to as part-load container shipping (Or LCL - Less than Container Load)

"Our groupage service is a quick and easy way to send a single box of clothing or personal goods and sports equipment, smaller items of furniture, or household contents from a single room up to a small flat. You only need to pay for the space you use.

Full-Load Container Shipping from the UK to Canada

If you have a larger load to send to Canada, our Full Container Load (FCL) shipping option is advantageous, also known as sole-use container shipping to Canada.

If you are sending a large family home of furniture and personal items, PSS can provide a 20ft or 40ft shipping container intended for your sole use.

The cost of container shipping to Canada from the UK depends on the chosen size of the shipping container. Our 20ft and 40ft shipping containers have plenty of space, and it is up to you how you fill that container.

A standard 20ft shipping container is large enough for the contents of the average three bedroom house.

A 40ft shipping container is usually big enough to fit the contents of a 4 bedroom house and car.

The quoted cost includes a full, professional packing service.

Another advantage of having your own sole use shipping container is that it leave immediately on the next available ship bound for Canada. No waiting around for other customers to fill the container.

Canada is the second largest country on the planet, so as you can imagine shipping costs to Canada do vary depending on which region or city you are moving to.

PSS' shipping estimates to Canada from the UK are based upon the best shipping method for sending goods to Canada.

As we have large numbers of customers shipping belongings to Canada every year, we are able to offer very competitive shipping rates.

Typical Shipping Costs from UK to Canada 2019

Move Type	Container Size	Cost(GBP)
3 – 5 Boxes	Groupage	£255 - £555
Part House	Shared Container	£920 - £3995
3 Bed House	20 ft Container	£4370 - £4990
4 Bed House + Car	40 ft Container	£5866 - £6986

Although the cheapest way to ship to Canada is using part-load container shipping, you should consider that many items are more expensive in Canada. Also when you add up the cost of replacing all your smaller items it is often cheaper to ship a higher volume of goods.

We calculate part-load shipping rates from the UK to Canada using the combined dimensions of your consignment and the area they take up within the container.

For larger moves using sole-use container shipping, your freight costs to Canada are determined by which size shipping container you use - 20ft or 40ft.

We also include the cost of road or rail freight to your home in Canada.

Cost of air freight shipping to Canada

When customers need their items sending to Canada urgently, we can provide air freight services. Air freight is our fastest shipping option and for smaller quantities it can be surprisingly cost effective. We base air freight quotes on the weight and volume of your goods, so for consignments of more than a couple of boxes, our sea freight shipping options may be cheaper.

However, sometimes the cheapest way to ship your belongings to Canada is actually by air freight - especially for inland and remoter regions. This is because sea shipments may need to be off loaded and transported to your final destination by road freight

PSS's trained Move Managers will therefore find you the cheapest, most economical and fastest way to ship your goods.

Cheapest shipping quotes to Canada

We always aim to provide you with the cheapest shipping cost to Canada. We are able to offer cheap shipping due to the volume we ship and the number of customers we help move to Canada.

If you receive a much cheaper quote, check carefully that they include a full door to door service and if any costs are excluded. Beware that some cheap quotes only include the cost of shipping to the nearest container port which can be a long way from your destination!

Also ensure that they are a fully accredited shipping company with FIDI or BAR Overseas in order to get the best price and service.

Get an accurate price for shipping to Canada

The surest way to receive an accurate shipping quote is through a free home survey. Our home surveys are intended to provide customers with a clear-cut and detailed shipping quote from the UK to Canada before they agree to anything.

Shipping times to Canada can vary. Shipping groupage in a shared container takes longer than shipping a full container load as different customers shipments need to be consolidated to fill one container.

Average Shipping Times to Canada from the UK

Port in Canada	Full Container Load (FCL)	Shared Container (Groupage)
Toronto (CA TOR) - Ontario	6-9 weeks	8 -12 weeks
Vancouver (CA VAN) - British Columbia	6-9 weeks	8 -12 weeks
Halifax (CA HAL) - Nova Scotia	6-9 weeks	8 -12 weeks
Montreal (CA MTR) - Quebec	6-9 weeks	8 -12 weeks
Saskatoon (CA SAK) - Saskatchewan	6-9 weeks	8 -16 weeks
Edmonton (CA EDM) - Alberta	6-9 weeks	8-16 weeks
Calgary (CA CAL) - Alberta	6-9 weeks	8-16 weeks

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.

How Long Does Air Freight Shipping to Canada take from the UK?

For sending excess baggage or boxes to Canada by air freight allow approximately 7 - 14 days.

It is highly advisable to take out maritime shipping insurance or shipment protection cover before you ship your personal effects or household goods to Canada.

Although it is doubtful to experience problems when shipping items from the UK to Canada, it is still wise to have shipment protection cover when sending goods overseas, especially for items of significant financial value.

PSS International offers very flexible Shipment Protection Plans. You can cover your whole shipment or choose the individual items you wish to cover.

Your PSS Move Manager can explain the different options available and guide you through completing the Shipment Protection Valuation form.

Canada has some strict rules about what can and cannot be imported. This includes the usual contraband that you might expect, but can also cover consumer goods allowed in some countries but banned in Canada for health and safety reasons.

It is therefore important you check the Canada Border Services Agency website to avoid problems when your goods arrive.

Even for restricted goods inspection fees can apply

Restricted Exports to Canada where regulatory requirement is required:

• Baby gates
• Car seats
• Cribs, cradles and bassinets
• Hockey helmets and face protectors
• Lighters
• Playpens
• Strollers
• Endangered animal fur, skins, tusks, ivory etc. (With CITES certificate)
• Firearms, ammunition and accessories
• Knives and daggers (even for sport)
• Martial art swords or weapons

Prohibited Exports to Canada:

• Baby walkers
• Balloon blowing kits
• Drugs, narcotics and stimulants
• Infant self-feeding devices
• Jequirity beans
• Lawn darts with elongated tips
• Plants
• Relight candles
• Yo-Yo balls with long cords
• Original pine cones or any plant matter used for Christmas decorations or wreaths
• Raw untreated wood or bark
• Endangered animal fur, skins, tusks or ivory (without CITES certificate)

Artwork and Antiques

If the artwork/item is over 100 years old proof of age will be required. The shipping of such items are eligible for duty free entry.

Please note: antiques and artwork imported into Canada for resale are subject to different regulations.

All goods entering Canada are subject to Duty and Tax. however a personal or household effects shipment will qualify for free entry of Duty and Tax if:

• Your goods have been owned and used for 12 months or more by you.
• You are a first time immigrant who is taking up residency for a period of longer than 12 months.
• You are a returning Canadian Citizen who has been living 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

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

When exporting sentimental items or expensive furniture overseas, you need to have full confidence in the international shipping company you choose. There are a few pointers to look for that can help determine the best global shipping companies to Canada.

Accreditations and associations are the best indicators of how trusted a company is within the industry and how safe their services are. PSS' continued efforts and dedication to shipping to Canada from the UK is echoed in our memberships and achievements:

• FAIM Accredited - the only globally recognised independent quality assurance standard for the international moving industry.
• FIDI Global Alliance Members - providing customers with the same superior standards in Canada as in the UK.
• British Association of Removers Members - the leading British quality standard and ensures customers financial protection with the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme.
• Movers Traders Club (MTC) - Members of this organisation join together to negotiate the best service and shipping rates with leading international shipping companies. Members are therefore able to offer lower shipping rates to customers.

We offer a full menu of shipping options to Canada, whether you are sending personal items, furniture, extra boxes, pets or vehicles, our Canada movers have a solution ready and waiting for you:

Shipping Personal Effects to Canada from the UK

Shipping personal effects from the UK to Canada is simple with PSS. We send personal items to Canada for countless customers each year, from clothing and shoes, makeup and toiletries, to sports equipment, tech, musical instruments and more, your shipping options are limitless.

Shipping Furniture and Household Goods to Canada

Shipping household goods to Canada is a PSS speciality. Using our freight services and industry expertise, PSS can ship furniture of any weight, dimensions and any quantities from the UK to destinations across Canada.

Our team of experienced international packers will ensure your items are carefully export wrapped and packed for their journey.

The best way to get started for our international furniture removals service is to book a free home or video survey so we can give you an accurate quote.

Shipping Excess Baggage & Unaccompanied Luggage from the UK to Canada

Using PSS to ship boxes, luggage, suitcases and excess baggage to Canada cuts out the extortionate charges issued by airline carriers and makes your journey to Canada more manageable by reducing the amount of luggage you have to carry.

We can supply you with a variety of box sizes or you can use your own bags / suitcases.

Whether you have one box, two suitcases or ten loads of excess baggage, our baggage shipping to Canada is an ideal service!

Shipping Boxes to Canada from UK

If you only have small items to ship to Canada, we recommend our box shipping service. Your boxes will be shipped along with those from other customers in a shared container (Groupage) so you only pay for the space you use.

We can supply a variety of box and carton sizes including packing and wrapping materials such as bubble wrap. We also have custom cartons bicycles and can provide custom crates for items such as TVs.

Shipping Cars and Vehicles to Canada

PSS provides a range of shipping options to make car shipping to Canada feasible - regardless of your vehicle. Whether you want to send a car to Canada in a container of its own or alongside personal and household items, our Canada vehicle shipping options make it possible.

In addition to shipping cars we can assist with shipping all kinds of other vehicles to Canada including motorcycles, bikes, caravans, motorhomes and boats.

Shipping Pets, Dogs and Cats to Canada

Pet shipping to Canada can be daunting for any pet owners and pet relocation is a very specialised service. We therefore work with trusted partners for transporting animals from UK to Canada. Whether you want to take your cat or dog to Canada, you can entrust PSS and our partners to relocate them safely.

Shipping Parcels and Small Packages to Canada

For small parcels and packages it is probably best to use Royal Mail, especially for less than 2kg. For larger or multiple boxes you can save by using a personal shipping service like that from PSS.

Shipping Goods and Freight to Canada

At PSS International we specialise in personal shipping services and household removals for people moving or relocating to Canada.

If you wish to ship commercial or non-personal items to Canada then it is best to contact a freight-forwarder.

Express Air Freight and Fast shipping from UK to Canada

If you need to ship items to Canada quickly then we recommend our priority Express Air Freight Service.

This takes about 7 - 14 days and is ideal if you wish to send some boxes or bags of personal belongings to arrive ahead of your household container.

It is also commonly used by tradesmen wishing to ship tools to Canada so they can begin work immediately on arrival.

PSS provides two packing options, the first being a full professional packing service or. if you prefer, you can self-pack with our "You Pack, We Ship" service.

Professional Packing Service

When you opt for our professional overseas packing service, a specialist team will arrive at your home on the day of your move to pack the required items in sturdy packing materials and moving boxes ready for sending to Canada. For furniture we offer a full export wrapping service so that they are well protected.

We can also provide custom made wooden crates and antique wrapping for delicate items.

Our packing teams create an inventory to ensure our customer is aware of every item that we will ship to Canada.

Self-Pack Service

If you are only sending a small number of items in boxes or suitcases, you can opt to self-pack your belongings in the comfort of your own home. This "You Pack, We Ship" is an increasingly popular option.

We understand the importance of the safe handling and delivery of your goods to Canada, so we can still provide all moving boxes, tea cartons and packing materials such as bubble wrap when you self-pack.

Once you are ready, we'll pick up your boxes and deliver them to your new home.

We ship to all cities, provinces and regions in Canada including:

• Ontario - including Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga, Kitchener & London
• Quebec - Including Quebec City, Montreal & Gatineau.
• Saskatchewan - including Saskatoon & Regina
• Alberta - including Edmonton & Calgary
• British Columbia - including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna & Surrey
• Manitoba - including Winnipeg
• Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia (including Halifax, & Cape Breton Island)
• Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut