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Looking to make your dream of moving to Canada a reality? For all the little details on how to move to Canada from the US, we’ve developed this handy guide. From international moving costs, visa applications to expected living costs, learn all you’ll need to know before strapping on your winter coat and making the big move to Canada.
Generally speaking, there are multiple factors associated with international moving costs. However, the transport of your belongings tends to be the biggest expense, which is largely influenced by the size of your move.
We compiled the average costs of moving to Canada for a three-bedroom household from the East Coast to Canada below.
| Destination | Sea-freight | Road Transport |
| Toronto, Ontario | $5,400 – $7,300 | $2,400 – $3,300 |
| Montreal, Québec | $5,300 – $7,200 | $2,000 – $2,800 |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | $6,700 – $9,100 | $9,800 – $13,200 |
| Calgary, Alberta | $8,600 – $11,400 | $7,900 – $10,800 |
Disclaimer: Please are that the above rates are based on estimates and prices will vary depending on your point of departure.
Below you can find a list of the average moving costs for a three-bedroom household from the Pacific side:
| Destination | Sea-freight road | Road Transport |
| Ottawa, Ontario | $7,200 – $9,700 | $9,100 – $12,200 |
| Montreal, Québec | $6,800 – $9,200 | $9,300 – $12,600 |
| Victoria, British Columbia | $5,500 – $7,500 | $4,500 – $6,200 |
| Edmonton, Alberta | $7,400 – $10,100 | $6,000 – $8,200 |
Disclaimer: Please are that the above rates are based on estimates and prices will vary depending on your point of departure.
Are you searching for movers to Canada? You’re in the right place. Take a look at the 3 best international removal companies from America to Canada:
By now you’ll have noticed that the price ranges for moving to Canada are not quite exact. This makes it all the more important to find the best price from the right moving company for your particular move. Compare reliable and professional international movers to get the best prices possible!
If you decide to move to Canada for more than 180 days, you will have to apply for either a work visa or a permanent residency, depending on the reason of your move.
How hard is it to find a job in Canada? In many cases, it’s no easier or harder than back home. As we mentioned before, you’ll need a work permit in order to legally work in Canada.
When looking for a job in Canada, many online job boards will be familiar to many of you already:
In Canada, work visas come in two ways:
With an open work permit, you’d be allowed to work for any employer in Canada. An employer-specific permit, on the other hand, only allows you to work for a particular employer.
In Canada, work visas are issued to different types of workers :
You must keep in mind that there are specific requirements for each type of worker. As well, eligibility requirements differ depending on whether you apply from inside or outside of Canada.
Planning on making the Great White North your forever home? Then you’ll need to apply for full permanent residency. There’s three main ways you can obtain a permanent residency:
If you’re a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident then you’re entitled to public health insurance.
In every province, most basic medical services are generally covered by this insurance. But it would be too easy if there weren’t extra little details to it, so it’s important that you research local health ministries about your coverage.
Private insurance is also there to boost your coverage for blind spots in the universal healthcare system. This is particularly effective for:
If you’d prefer, you can also take out international health insurance in the United States before or after moving to Canada. With it, you’ll enjoy added coverage for medical emergencies and routine healthcare work.
When moving to Canada it might be smart to open a Canadian bank account. Here’s the set of documents you’ll need to open an account with most banks:
We recommend that you check out the Canadian Government’s website for further information about personal taxes, business taxes, and much more.
For American families considering moving to Canada, much of the Canadian education system will appear familiar. Education levels in Canada span kindergarten through the 12th grade, and typically follow a similar academic calendar as in the US.
However, certain details vary per province, such as the school starting age or if late elementary/early secondary school years are grouped into middle (or junior high) schools.
If you’re planning to move from the US to Canada with a car, keep in mind these three points.
To be imported from the United States to Canada, a vehicle must be included in Transport Canada’s list of authorized models. Make sure to check the list to verify the eligibility of your car model for importation by consulting Transport Canada’s approved list.
Importing your vehicle to Canada from the US will require you to collect a few mandatory documents. Here’s a checklist to stay organized:
Before Leaving the US
At the Canadian Border
After Entry into Canada
Moving internationally requires a good organization and planning. We recommend noting the following points to make sure you’ve got it all covered when moving to Canada.
The cost of living in Canada will vary depending on the city that you live in as well as on the number of people in your household.
Based on mylifeelsewhere.com, the average costs of living in Canada is 14% cheaper than the US. Generally, the most expensive cities to live in include:
Living and finding housing after moving form the US to Canada is going to be 28% cheaper on average. Take a look at these average rent prices per city:
| City | 1-bedroom Apt. | 2-bedroom Apt. | 3-bedroom Apt. |
| Toronto | $2,600 | $3,500 | $4,000 |
| Vancouver | $2,900 | $4.000 | $4,300 |
| Montreal | $1,800 | $2,300 | $2,600 |
| Winnipeg | $1,300 | $1,700 | $2,000 |
Disclaimer: these numbers are estimations gather from rentals.ca.
Canada is sometimes referred to as a European country across the Atlantic. Some go as far as calling it ‘Candinavia’, because living in Canada includes so much public welfare and progressive values.
For many Americans, living in Canada will be much the same as living back home. Canadians are famous for their politeness, and often express deep concern and attention for others even in casual scenarios, which may require an adjustment period.
There’s many reasons why you could be moving to Canada from the US. Before planning your international move check out the pros and cons of moving to Canada.
We hope we’ve managed to give you a better understanding of how to move to Canada. In case you need some extra assistance, at Sirelo we got your back! Check out the articles we have linked below for you –they’ll be of great help!
Our mission is to be your go-to moving platform for you and your loved ones. With our years of expertise and extensive network of movers, we’re here to make your moving process as stress-free as possible.
