Moving from the U.S. to Canada with Allied Van Lines

Do you want to trade the American dream for the Canadian one? This Great White North Country is known for its beautiful scenery, natural parks, northern lights, maple syrup, and ice hockey — along with its infamously cold winters. But if you’re a winter sports enthusiast or a cold-weather lover looking to change your daily routine, there’s good news: moving from the U.S. to Canada is possible.

Read on for all you need to know about moving from the U.S. to Canada, plus ways to find the best U.S.-to-Canada moving company. 

Why Choose Allied Van Lines for Your Move to Canada?

No matter where you’re at in the planning process when moving from the U.S. to Canada, having the right partner — with the right moving services — is critical. Fortunately, Allied Van Lines’ long-distance movers have the knowledge, expertise, and international moving experience to get you there.

Comprehensive Moving Services Tailored to Your Needs

Depending on the size and complexity of your move, we offer a range of services that have made us the most trusted international movers for a U.S.-to-Canada move, including: 

• Packing and unpacking
• Loading and unloading
• Short- and long-term storage at home or abroad
• Sea and air freight shipping options
• International, cross-country, and long-distance household moving services

How to Move from the U.S. to Canada: Understanding the Process of Moving to Canada

Whether you’re moving from the U.S. to Canada for work or to pursue a long-held dream, the process can take some time. Take a look at the steps. 

1. Verify your eligibility — and start studying for your citizenship exam

Immigration eligibility requirements can vary depending on your immigrant status — for example, whether you’re moving to Canada as a student or as a full-time worker. But in general, human or internal rights violations, criminal records, certain health or financial conditions, and non-compliance with the Immigration Refugee Protection Act are some of the reasons you may not be eligible.

If you determine you’re eligible to move to Canada, you may consider beginning to study for your citizenship exam. You won’t need to take it to visit, but if you hope to become a Canadian citizen, an oral or written questionnaire is administered where you are expected to demonstrate your knowledge of the country.

Finally, make sure you’re fluent in either French or English — both of which are national languages in Canada. You need to be able to hold a conversation, describe yourself, or give directions in either of the two languages.

Check out the Government of Canada’s site for more details and eligibility information. 

2. Apply for a visa

The visa application process can be long and drawn out, so try to start it as soon as possible. Alongside getting a valid passport or renewing your existing one, you’ll need to: 

• Determine which visa suits your situation (visitor visa, student visa, work permit).
• Complete and submit your visa application and pay the visa fee in full. Minors must also have their visa applications completed by a parent or guardian. 
• Have your photo and fingerprints taken.

Then, you’ll need to wait for the Canadian government to process and approve your visa before you can travel to the country. 

3. Consider citizenship options

Like the visa process, becoming a Canadian citizen can take time. Here are a few routes you can take: 

• Be skilledat least in one trade. Canada’s Express Entry program can make it easier for skilled professionals to settle into the country. However, you will be ranked alongside other competing applicants. Those who score the highest for a particular trade are invited to become permanent residents in the country.
• Be an entrepreneur. This shows you can invest in a business that will spur economic growth in Canada. There is a catch, however. You must be worth more than 10 million Canadian dollars.
• Obtain provincial status: This one is rare. A province in Canada may invite you to reside in it.
• Consider spouse- or family-sponsored citizenship: If you have family members who are Canadian citizens, ask them to vouch and sponsor you to migrate. Similarly, if your spouse is a Canadian citizen, they can sponsor your visa.

There are a few alternative methods, too. For instance, parents with children adopted from countries outside of Canada can apply for residency on their child’s behalf. Refugees fleeing political upheaval in certain countries may also be eligible for Canadian citizenship.

4. Decide where to move in Canada

With a low crime rate, high-quality education system, and universal healthcare, Canada has a lot to offer. Here are some of the most popular locations for those moving from the U.S. to Canada. 

Ontario

This is the second-largest province in Canada. Toronto, Ottawa, London, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Kingston, Windsor, and Sudbury are some of the most popular cities in Ontario. Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, and Ontario is the economic hub for Canada. It is endowed with natural diversity, which includes Niagara Falls, four of the five Great Lakes, beautiful provincial parks, and vast forests. 

On average, residents in Ontario earn some of the highest incomes in Canada. The cost of living is high in the cities, especially in the housing sector, but this is offset by the high incomes. Ottawa and Toronto are consistently voted as the most livable cities in the world in terms of standards of living, safety, cleanliness, and availability of social amenities.

Toronto

This is a multicultural city with immigrants from around the globe. It is Canada's largest city and the capital of Ontario. It sits on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario. 

Toronto is the beating heart of Canada in terms of culture, entertainment, and access to financial sectors. It is about 90 minutes away from the U.S. border, and half the population in the United States is within an hour's flight or one day's drive from Toronto. Toronto has the warmest spring and summers in the country. Princess of Wales Theatre, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, The Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Royal Ontario Museum are some of the cultural hotspots in the city.

Quebec

Quebec is the largest province in Canada — and the only French-speaking one. Quebec City is its capital. It is home to the St. Lawrence River. Montreal is in the far south, about an hour from the U.S. border, and is located on an island. Montreal attracts those interested in art, music, and fine dining. It is the most cosmopolitan city in Quebec.

Vancouver

Vancouver is located in the British Columbia province on the western coast of Canada. The bike-friendly city is home to the magnificent Stanley Park and offers opportunities for diving, year-round boating, outdoor recreation, and golfing. Klahowya Village offers an immersive experience of indigenous culture through performances and arts.

5. Find a reliable U.S.-to-Canada moving company 

Finding the right international movers when relocating from the U.S. to Canada can reduce the hassle of an across-the-border move. For instance, an experienced moving team like Allied Van Lines can help ensure you move through customs easily and provide flexible storage solutions based on your needs.

6. Prepare for your move

Ready to get moving? Here are a few last steps to keep in mind.

• Gather all the documents that you need. These will typically include valid passports, a Canadian immigrant visa and confirmation of permanent residence for each person traveling with you, lists of all household items you are carrying, and two copies of catalogs of items to follow you with their monetary value. If that sounds complicated, don’t worry; our team at Allied can help.
• Identify a place to live within your means in your destination city.
• Purchase private health insurance to cover you until you receive government health coverage.
• Find a job if you don't have one already.

After living in Canada for at least three out of the last five years, you may also be eligible to apply for permanent citizenship. 

Benefits of Moving from the U.S. to Canada

Canada has a lot to offer! Here’s a look at some of the top benefits of moving to the U.S. from Canada. 

• Moderate political climate: Canada has a shorter campaign period compared to the U.S., which means its citizens are not constantly bombarded with political messaging. Generally speaking, Canadian politics are less polarizing than those in other countries, too. 

• Low crime rates: Canada is one of the safest places to live on planet Earth. According to data from the United Nations, Canada has 5.1 homicides per 1 million people compared to the U.S., which has a 29.7 rating.

• High-quality educational system: Canada has a unique education system, with each province governing and funding its schools. Despite the decentralized educational system, the country is renowned for its commitment to equity for its students. It pays off, too; according to tests done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), its students appear in the top-10 for mathematics, reading comprehension, and sciences.

• Universal healthcare: Canada's healthcare system is one of the best in the world. It is a single-payer system funded by taxes collected by the government, free at the point-of-use and highly accessible. 

The Cost of Moving from the U.S. to Canada

Generally, the cost of moving to Canada from the U.S. is between $1,625 and $7,000. The cost of an international move from the U.S. to Canada will depend largely on your current location and intended destination, the number of belongings you have, special items, and additional services like packing and unpacking. 

For a better idea of costs, check out our long-distance moving calculator. 

Get Your Free Quote for Moving from the U.S. to Canada from Allied Van Lines

Ready to get moving? Count on our team at Allied. We make the process easy from the start, pairing you with a dedicated team and an experienced relocation coordinator. Your relocation team will act as your main point of contact during your move. They can even handle the customs clearance process for you, ensuring paperwork is filled out completely and sent to a Canadian customs agent, and that your shipment complies with international guidelines. 

To put it simply: We take care of the details so you can enjoy the start of your next chapter in Canada. When you’re ready to move from the U.S. to Canada, request a quote from a local Allied agent today.