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Do you want to move to Canada? Check out this guide on removals to Canada from the UK. Read about moving costs, checklist, and more. We want to help make your move to Canada easy as possible, we even have free removal quotes!
Regardless of the cost it will take between 9-12 days for your belongings to arrive. The table below shows estimations of the average cost of moving from London to Toronto, Canada, depending on household size:
| Household Size | Cost |
| 1 bed flat | £2,500-£4,000 |
| 3 bed house | £5,500-£7,000 |
| 5 bed house | £8,000-£10,000 |
Disclaimer. The rates shown above are just estimates. Costs will vary depending on your actual point of departure and service rates of the company.
Of course, distance isn’t the only factor that will decide the cost of removals to Canada. So, for a detailed breakdown that will help you save money, read our international removal costs page!
It’s hard to complete international removals to Canada from the UK without an experienced removal company. If you want to make the process of finding a removal company as easy as possible, just click below and get free removal quotes today to start your move to Canada.
As a UK citizen, securing the right visa is crucial. If you plan to move to work, you must ensure you’re eligible for a work visa. The process is straightforward, and you’ll need:
The Canadian job market is diverse, with opportunities varying by region. Key industries include Agriculture, Technology, Services, Energy, and Manufacturing. To streamline your job search, consider these popular job portals:
To enter Canada, there are three main avenues to do so:
It can be easy to forget how important these documents are, but you’ll need them to apply for your visa, healthcare card, tax, and jobs. We recommend you keep them safe and accessible.
Organise an International Removal Company
If there’s one thing you should definitely do early, it’s find a removal company. With an international removal to Canada, there’s a lot to organise. To make it easy you can check out the top UK international removal companies.
Packing Your Belongings
Read our expert packing guide for special tips to optimize your move. Be selective with what you bring with to Canada as the more you bring the higher the costs will be.
Finding Healthcare Insurance
The Canadian equivalent to the NHS is Medicare, to enjoy the benefits of the Canadian healthcare system, you should apply for a national healthcare card upon arrival. Make sure you are privately insured in the meantime since you may have to wait up to three months to receive it.
Arrange Taxes
You must inform HMRC when you move abroad. After moving to Canada, you need to apply for a social insurance number through the Canadian government as it’s necessary to work and pay taxes. Check out our guide on taxes in Canada to find out more details.
Open a Bank Account
When you arrive, it is advised that you open a Canadian bank account as soon as possible to receive your salary, pay taxes and other expenses. Below are the best banks for newcomers in Canada.
Bringing your Pets
We know how important furry friends are. To make sure you don’t have to leave them behind, take note. When moving to Canada from the UK with a cat or dog you need:
To learn more about the specific criteria for other pets, check out the Canadian Government’s page on import requirements.
Import Your Car To Canada
In general, cars sold in countries other than the United States and Mexico cannot be imported to Canada, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to bring your car. However, there are some exceptions which are listed below:
Driving License
When you arrive in Canada, you can use your UK driver’s license for the first 6 months, but you’ll need to exchange it for a regional license to keep driving. Fortunately, it’s very easy to do when you’re from the UK. It varies by province, but common things you need are:
For more information check out the Canadian government’s page on driving.
Dreaming of living in Canada, but not sure yet where? The country borders America and the capital is Ottawa. Other major cities include Toronto and the french speaking Montreal and Quebec. Although many often refer Canada and America as similar countries they are in fact very different in terms of culture and everyday living. So try not to mix them up.
We know you might be curious about the cost of living in Canada. Like any other country, the cost of living in Canada depends on multiple factors, such as location, and lifestyle.
However, here is the cost of living in Canada vs the UK, so you know what to expect from your new home For the sake of comparison, all prices are written in GBP.
| Metric | Canada | UK |
| Rent for 1 bed apartment in city centre | £771 | £758 |
| Basic monthly utilities for 85m2 apartment | £91.80 | £155.87 |
| 1L of milk | £1.45 | £0.91 |
| Cappuccino | £2.44 | £2.75 |
| 0.5L draught beer | £3.46 | £3.63 |
| 1L of gasoline | £0.66 | £1.27 |
The climate in Canada is very different to that in the UK. It can go from extremes of -25 degrees Celsius to highs of 35 degrees Celsius. These extreme temperatures may take a while to get used to but can be taken advantage of by skiing in the mountains or swimming the the warm lakes.
The eating habits of Canadians tend to be a lot healthier than the average Brit. Instead of hundreds of takeaway and fish and chip shops it is more common to see sushi bars.
Everyone always talks about the fresh mountainous waters and in fact the taste is very different in comparison to the UK and almost tastes as if you are drinking bottled water and it’s free in most cities.
Here are some notable considerations when living in Canada.
| Shopping in Canada | Key points |
| Prices and Taxes | Expect extra taxes around 15% not shown in Canadian prices, leading to a higher total at checkout. |
| Alcohol Regulations | In Canadian cities, Govement ran SAQ stores sell spirits, while wine and beer are at local dépanneurs. |
Are you thinking about moving to Canada with your family? Be cognisant that education in Canada is slightly different to what you may be used to. Firstly academic years vary by province, this includes legal ages to attend school. Secondly in the UK, we call it key stages in Canada they call it grades.
| Level | Description |
| Primary (5 – 12 years old) | Mandatory (Kindergarten can be optional in some regions). Early emphasis on language learning, especially French |
| Secondary Education (13 – 16 years old) | Mandatory. Varied curriculum with mandatory and elective subjects |
| University (From 18 years old) | Non Mandatory. Each province has unique education regulations. |
🧑🎓If you plan to study in Canada, the country boasts 98 universities across provinces, with 26 making their mark in global rankings. The top University cities include Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Quebec.
On-campus accommodation is available, and rent is, on average, 15.97% cheaper than in the UK.
We hope our advice on removals to Canada and how to move to Canada has made you an expert on the whole process. If you’re still curious check out the we have linked for you below. Good Luck with your move to Canada.
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