Move to Canada from the USA

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If you have planned to move to Canada from the USA, let us start by saying it’s an excellent call. Canada is a beautiful and diverse country located in North America. It is the second-largest country in the world by land area, spanning over 9.98 million square kilometers. The country is known for its stunning landscapes, including vast forests, pristine lakes, and majestic mountains. You will never be bored if you like exploring nature!

Moving to Canada from USA

Added advantage is Canada is an immigrant friendly nation. One of Canada’s biggest attractions is its friendly and multicultural society. With a population of over 37 million people, Canada is home to a diverse mix of cultures, languages, and traditions. Canadians are known for their polite and welcoming nature, making it a popular destination for visitors from around the globe. So, you get a peaceful home in a new country to settle down when you relocate to Canada from the USA.

In addition to its natural beauty and diverse population, Canada offers a high quality of life and excellent healthcare and education systems, making it a paradise for expats to move and settle down.

An international mover – The International Sea & Air Shipping

When you decide to move internationally you need to give a thorough consideration to the steps of the international relocation. Irrespective of whether it is a domestic or an international move, a relocation can be hectic. It may create a lot of confusion also involving the process of actual move that requires packing and moving your household goods, clearing the documentations, house-hunting and a lot of other tasks!

International relocation can be a lot to process. But not so when you engage an international relocation specialist like us. You can look forward to a hassle-free relocation to Canada from the USA with International Sea & Air Shipping to assist you. We understand your requirements and our team of experienced relocation professionals are equipped with knowledge and expertise to guide you at every step.

It will of immense peace of mind to you when you know that we have been operating globally for many years now and we can extend our professional services from packing and relocation of your household goods, the relocation of your car, guidance on what kind of container will suit your purpose, documentation help and all these at a competitive price!

At International Sea & Air Shipping we provide A to Z specialized services for all types of moving from the origin to the destination. So, let our relocation specialists handle your international move to Canada from the USA while you can focus on the post-move settling down processes in the new country.

About Canada

The second largest country in the world after Russia, Canada is bordered by both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, earning it the motto “from sea to sea”. A land of vast and exquisite natural beauty, festivals, adventure, and exotic cuisines, Canada has a little something for everyone. Enjoy various events such as fine art festivals, live music festivals, and stunning hot-air balloon festivals. Outdoor sports more your thing? Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, boating, skiing, and hiking are all popular recreational activities enjoyed in Canada’s beautiful terrain.

Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, with a high per-capital income after the USA, Germany, Brazil, and Spain, and is the world’s largest suppliers of agricultural products. . The largest foreign importers of Canadian goods are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Canada’s leading emigrating countries are China, the Philippines and India followed by France, Ireland, Ukraine, Italy and the Netherlands.

Customs Regulations for Canada

  • Passport
  • Visa (if applicable)
  • Work Permit (if applicable)
  • Inventory (in English or French) giving a detailed list of appliances and electronics with make, model, serial number, etc.
  • Customs Manifest (Form A8A)
  • Previous airport or United States/Canada Border Declaration
  • Importers Declaration for Customs
  • Immigration papers for immigrants
  • Landed Immigrant Application (if applicable)
  • Letter of Undertaking (not always necessary)
  • Returning Canadians will also need to provide the following documents:
    • Proof of Residency outside of Canada
    • Monthly statements, letter from employer, rent receipts, Income Tax, etc.
  • Customer must be present at time of customs clearance
  • Used household goods and personal effects may be duty-free if Customer was a resident of Canada returning after an absence of at least one year or was a former resident who has been a resident of another country for at least one year
  • All shipments are subject to inspection
  • If Customer has been residing outside Canada for at least a year, but less than five years, household goods and personal effects must have been in Customer’s ownership, possession and use for at least six months (Bill of Sale and Registration documents required to prove age
  • Items must not be sold or lent within one year of importation
  • Air shipments must be cleared within 48 hours to avoid storage charges
  • Importation of alcohol requires a detailed list (giving type, size, and quantity) and an Import Permit
    • Provincial and federal duties and taxes will be assessed
    • DO NOT ship wine between October 1 and March 31 to avoid possibility of freezing
  • Tobacco products
  • Foodstuffs in reasonable quantities are permitted
  • Meat
  • Authorization must be granted before import
  • Pornographic materials
  • Commercial quantities of anything pay duties
  • New items (Customer must supply Bill of Sale for any new item which may be questioned by the Customs office)
  • Radio equipment (CB’s and walkie-talkies)
  • Office equipment (even if used)
  • Plants, sand and other related matter require a Phytosanitary Certificate and Import Permit issued in advance by the Department of Agriculture
  • Handguns require a permit (but are very seldom granted)
  • Pistols, revolvers or fully automatic firearms are not permitted for sporting purposes and require a Police Permit
  • Hunting rifles or shotguns for sporting purposes (that are not adapted) are not restricted
  • No restrictions apply on air pistols or air rifles provided the muzzle velocity does not exceed 500 feet per second
  • Any one item valued at $10,000 or over is dutiable
  • Explosives, fireworks and all ammunition
  • Narcotic drugs
  • Animal products on the endangered species list
  • Some fruits and vegetables are prohibited
  • Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety and Emission control regulations apply
  • Vehicles over 15 years old are subject to different regulations and costly modifications may be required
  • Vehicle must bear the “Statement of Compliance” label affixed by the manufacturer
  • Vehicle may be subject to local taxes but are duty-free
  • Form K-22, immediate registration and licensing is required for exemption from duties
  • Documents required:
    • Registration
    • Proof of ownership
  • All pets require an International Health and Inoculation Certificate and Inspection by the Department of Agriculture (The certificate must identify the animal by breed, age, sex, color, and any distinguishing marks)
  • Dogs, birds, livestock, and horses three months old or older from the United States can be imported provided they are accompanied by a certificate signed and dated by a veterinarian, showing that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies within the last year
  • Pets must be vaccinated at least 30 days prior to entry
  • Quarantine will be required for some types of animals (Length depends on the type of animal and country of origin)

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International sea & air shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 315-4170

Moving to Canada from the USA; Explore the possibilities

Moving to Canada from the USA can be an exciting and life-changing decision. However, it is essential to be well-informed and prepared for the move. Canada and the USA have different immigration policies and processes, so it is crucial to research and understand the requirements for moving to Canada.

Firstly, you will need to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration. This can be done by assessing your qualifications, such as education, work experience, and language proficiency. The Express Entry system is one popular pathway to immigrate to Canada, but there are also other programs you can explore. Once you have determined your eligibility, you will need to gather the necessary documents, and follow the rest of the processes to move and live in Canada.

In the next few paragraphs let us highlight some of the processes you can follow for moving to Canada from the USA.

Visa processes for moving to Canada from the USA

Canada has different visa processes to move in this country from the USA. Some of these are –

  • Express Entry
  • Provincial Nominee Programs
  • Work visa
  • Family visa
  • Startup Visa

Let us discuss in short about these programs that can help you determine your eligibility and apply for the proper visa to move to Canada from the USA.

Express Entry

This is the most popular immigration program in Canada. The Express Entry process is a point-based electronic immigration system. Under this program people from different countries who want to move to Canada can join and have their own profile recorded in the system. These profiles will include skills, education, and employment history.

The Express Entry system is used for processing the majority of the immigration applications which are submitted to three of Canada’s economic immigration programs. These three programs are –

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs)

Another popular immigration process for moving to Canada from the USA is the provincial nominee programs (PNPs). This offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residency. Note that, each province in Canada, apart from Quebec and Nunavut, operates several PNP streams.

These streams are meticulously designed by the provinces in Canada and help in their unique immigration goals. However, the eligibility criteria and application procedures will be different from one province to that of the other. But PNPs are very popular options as these can be relatively easier ways to obtain Canadian permanent residence.

Work Visa

If you want to move to Canada from the USA for work purposes you need to be aware of the following requirements –

  • Secure a job offer first from a Canadian employer
  • The Canadian employer must have a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
  • Proof of sufficient fund to provide for yourself and also for your family if they are also relocating with you
  • You must be clean off any criminal records.

Once you obtain a work visa, you can work in Canada for as long as the duration of the work is valid. Generally, work permits are issued for 4 years and can be extended.

Family Visa

Like many other countries, moving to Canada from the USA to reunite with family members is another option. In this case you have to apply for a family visa. Note the following to know who can sponsor you for a family visa to move to Canada –

  • Your spouse
  • Or a common-law partner
  • Or a conjugal partner living in Canada as a citizen or permanent resident

Whoever is sponsoring this family visa also has to fulfill a few eligibility criteria like, no criminal records against them, financially stable to support you and more. You can check the Canadian immigration site for the full list of eligibility criteria.

Startup Visa

This is another great option to move to Canada from the USA – the Startup visa. The government in Canada offers this visa to foreign entrepreneurs who can prove that they have an innovative business idea.

The startup visa program offers good facilities for the US citizens who are trying to immigrate and start a new venture. There are a set of requirements and eligibility criteria and you will get the details in the government website.

Canada is a country of great opportunities, high quality of life and offers a peaceful life for the immigrants without discrimination.