Removals to Canada

Canada is one of the most sought-after relocation destinations for British families and professionals, and for good reason. It offers a shared language, a familiar legal system, outstanding natural landscapes, and a quality of life that consistently ranks among the finest in the world. It also demands a level of logistical care and customs knowledge that sets an international move to Canada apart from any domestic relocation.

Williams & Yates has been managing premium international removals to Canada for many years. Whether you are relocating a family home from London to Toronto, moving a fine art collection to Vancouver, or managing a time-pressured executive transfer to Calgary, our dedicated International Move Coordinators oversee every detail of your relocation, from the initial survey through to door-to-door delivery in your new Canadian home.

We hold accreditation from FIDI/FAIM, the British Association of Removers (BAR), and the International Association of Movers (IAM), which represent the highest independently audited standards in international relocation. We are also a trusted partner of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). For families and professionals who expect more than a container and a customs form, those accreditations provide meaningful reassurance.

The customs clearance process in Canada is well-structured and straightforward when prepared for correctly. The most significant planning advantage available to relocating families is Canada’s settler’s effects concession: personal property that was owned and used prior to your arrival in Canada can be imported completely free of duty and tax, provided it is declared accurately on Form BSF186 at your first point of Canadian entry. Items cannot be sold within 12 months of importation. Anything omitted from the initial declaration may be subject to duties when it arrives by sea freight or air freight.

Your Williams & Yates coordinator prepares your customs inventory and guides you through the BSF186 process as a standard part of the service. The documentation requirements for your specific move are discussed at survey stage. The table below provides an overview of the key requirements.

Arrival before your household goods

Canadian customs requires you to be present at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office to clear your goods on arrival. You must enter Canada before your consignment and declare your inventory at the border, at which point the form is stamped and your shipment can be released for delivery. Your coordinator will ensure all documentation is in the correct form before you travel, and our Canadian destination partners manage the package tracking and clearance process when the container arrives at its destination warehouse.

Restricted and dutiable items

Certain consumer goods are subject to Canadian import duty regardless of the settler’s effects concession. These include alcohol (which must be declared with full value, volume, and alcohol content), tobacco products, office equipment, commercial quantities of any product, and radio equipment. Any item valued over $10,000 CAD is separately dutiable. Live plants may be imported but require inspection. Your coordinator will flag any items in your inventory that fall into these categories at the survey stage and advise on the most appropriate approach.

Vehicle relocation

Shipping a vehicle to Canada involves compliance with Transport Canada’s safety and emissions standards, and provincial licensing requirements that vary by destination. Not all vehicles manufactured to UK specification are eligible for Canadian import. Your coordinator will assess your vehicle at the survey stage and advise on eligibility, required documentation, and the most appropriate shipping method. We manage vehicle transport as part of a complete household relocation, typically within the same sole-use container where space permits.

Williams & Yates serves all Canadian provinces and territories. Our established network of destination partners provides customs clearance support, warehousing, and door-to-door delivery across the country. Some of the most frequently requested locations for our UK clients are listed below.

An international relocation is one of the most logistically involved undertakings a family will manage. Working with a single trusted partner, rather than coordinating between multiple providers, makes a material difference to both the outcome and the experience of getting there.

• Dedicated International Move Coordinator. One individual, fully accountable, managing your relocation from first survey to door-to-door delivery in Canada.
• In-house fine art and specialist capability. Custom crating, specialist packing, CITES guidance, and fine art handling managed within our own team, not subcontracted.
• FIDI/FAIM, BAR, and IAM accreditation. Independent verification of the professional standards that govern how we work.
  BIID partnership. Williams & Yates is a trusted partner of the British Institute of Interior Design, reflecting the confidence that the interior design community places in our handling of high-value and bespoke pieces.
• Established Canadian partner network. Destination partners who manage customs clearance, warehousing, package tracking, and delivery to the same standard as our UK-side service.
• Transparent, comprehensive pricing. Your quote covers export packing, sea or air freight, customs documentation, and delivery in Canada. No unexpected additions to your budget at any stage of the move.