Moving from the USA to Canada is simpler than most international moves. What catches people off guard is everything around the move. Your immigration status decides whether you can live and work in Canada. Customs paperwork must be ready before your goods cross. And as a US citizen, you will probably file tax returns in both countries.
This guide is for Americans, permanent residents and other newcomers moving to Canada in 2026 or 2027. It gives you current government fees and real rent figures from CMHC. It also includes a timeline that runs from your first quote to your first month in Canada.
Step 1: Confirm your right to live in Canada
Your right to move depends on your citizenship and status. US citizens need no visitor visa or eTA to visit Canada, but a visit gives no right to live or work here. Canadian citizens, including dual nationals, can return without a permit. Settle this step before you book movers or sign a lease.
Step 2: Build your upfront budget
There is no single reliable price. Cost depends on household size, distance, how much you bring, your housing plans, your immigration route and how much support you need. A New York–Toronto apartment move can cost far less than moving a family home from California to Ontario or British Columbia.
Immigration fees are charged in Canadian dollars, while mover quotes are often in US dollars. Pick one currency for your budget and add a buffer for exchange-rate movement.
Your upfront budget at a glance
Step 3: Ship your belongings and clear customs
Most household goods bound for Canada do not need an ocean container, so a cross-border truck is the practical option. Short routes such as New York–Toronto or Seattle–Vancouver may take only several days once moving. Cross-continent routes can take one to several weeks depending on consolidation, customs and scheduling. Always ask for a route-specific delivery window.
Shared or dedicated truck?
Ship or replace your furniture?
Good furniture moving from a border state to a nearby Canadian city often makes sense because the move is by truck. Cheap furniture from Florida or California to Alberta or Ontario usually does not. Get two quotes: one for everything, and one without bulky, replaceable items. Most appliances work as they are, since the USA and Canada share household voltage and plug types.
Customs: declaring household goods
Genuine settlers may import qualifying personal and household belongings without duties under tariff item 9807.00.00, if the goods were owned, possessed and used abroad before arrival. There is no overall dollar limit, but new items may not qualify, and restricted goods such as firearms have their own rules. To keep the process smooth:
Make a detailed inventory of everything you are bringing, including estimated values for high-value items.
Split it in two: goods that travel with you, and goods to follow on the moving truck.
Prepare Form BSF186 (Personal Effects Accounting Document) and Form BSF186A for the goods-to-follow list. You can complete them before you travel.
Present them to a CBSA officer at your first port of entry and keep the stamped copy. Your mover will need it when the shipment arrives.
Vehicles follow separate rules. A personal vehicle may qualify for the exemption but must also meet Transport Canada’s import requirements, including the Registrar of Imported Vehicles process. Check eligibility before adding a car to your inventory or paying to ship it.
Step 4: Find a home
CMHC’s 2025 Rental Market Report gives the average rent paid by new tenants for a two-bedroom purpose-built apartment. These turnover rents are the most useful figure for newcomers, because long-term tenants often pay less.
The market eased in 2025. The national vacancy rate for purpose-built rentals rose to 3.1% from 2.2% in 2024, and average two-bedroom turnover rents fell in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Halifax. That does not make Toronto or Vancouver cheap for newcomers. Rental condominiums, which compete with purpose-built buildings in those cities, averaged C$2,305 for a two-bedroom nationally, with a vacancy rate of only 1.3%.
Deposits depend on the province
There is no nationwide rental law. Deposits, notice periods and tenant rights differ by province, so check the rules where you will live before paying anything.
What landlords ask for
Proof of income or employment, such as an offer letter or recent pay stubs
Identification, plus immigration or residency documents
References, including from previous US landlords
Credit information, Canadian or international
The common newcomer problem is proving reliability without a Canadian credit history. A reference letter from a US landlord, a US credit report and several months of bank statements all help. If you cannot view a unit in person, book a short-term stay first, and never send a deposit for a place you have not seen or verified.
Step 5: Plan your taxes
US citizens moving to Canada end up inside two tax systems. Canada taxes by residency, the USA by citizenship, and the main task is making sure you are credited for tax paid in one country against tax owed in the other.
Some Canadian accounts, including TFSAs and RESPs, are treated differently under US rules and can trigger extra US reporting. Speak to a cross-border tax professional before opening them. This section is general information, not tax advice.
Step 6: Arrange health coverage
Health insurance in Canada is run by each province. Newcomers may face a waiting period before public coverage starts. These rules differ by province and have changed in recent years, so confirm the current position with your provincial health ministry before you arrive. Register as soon as you establish residency, because the card itself can take weeks to arrive.
If there is a gap, buy private or newcomer health insurance to cover it, and keep your US coverage until the new plan is active.
Step 7: Move with your pets
Dogs and cats aged three months or older need a valid rabies vaccination certificate. It must be in English or French. A licensed veterinarian must issue and sign it, and it must identify the animal. Younger animals are exempt but may need proof of age.
If you travel with an assistance animal
An assistance dog is a dog trained to provide a distinct service to its handler. When it travels with the person it is assigned to, Canada treats it as a personal import. It is exempt from the rabies vaccination requirement.
Emotional support, therapy and comfort animals are different. Canada does not count them as assistance dogs. They follow the same rules as any other pet.
Rules for assistance animals can change. Confirm the current requirements with the CFIA and CBSA before you travel. Carry any documents that show your dog’s training and your role as its handler.
If you plan to cross back into the USA
US rules are stricter than Canadian ones. Entry rules for dogs tightened in 2024, including a microchip and a minimum age. They apply to all dogs, including service dogs. Check the CDC requirements well before any return trip.
Other tips
Other species have separate rules. Check the CFIA requirements for your exact pet before you travel. For many moves, driving with your pet is simpler and cheaper than air cargo. Very long routes may justify a professional pet mover.
Relocation checklist
Timings are suggestions. Start earlier if your immigration route involves an application or invitation.
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