Moving to Canada: Calculate Costs and Move Safely Across the Atlantic
An intercontinental overseas move to North America requires precise logistical preparation. In addition to the long transport route across the Atlantic, complex customs formalities, entry requirements, and country-specific logistics at the destination need to be considered early. As your experienced moving company, DACHSER & KOLB supports you throughout every step of your relocation.
Transparent costs in three short steps: Simply use our moving cost calculator to quickly and easily calculate your non-binding initial price for orientation.
Calculate Canada moving costs in just a few minutes – how the moving cost calculator works
The cost of moving to Canada mainly depends on the moving volume, the pickup and destination locations, the type of transport, and the desired packing and additional services. With our moving cost calculator, you receive a non-binding initial price based on the first information you provide.
To give you a fair quote for your move overseas, we need a few key details. In the first step, our digital cost calculator asks for only the three most important pricing factors: your current home size, the number of people in your household, and your exact transport route from Germany to Canada.
For your personal initial price and secure access to your calculation, we then need your contact details. After that, you can flexibly add to and refine your information in your personal dashboard. The initial price shown serves as a guide for your budget planning, while the final detailed coordination takes place with your personal contact.
Your benefits in our personal dashboard at a glance:
- Non-binding initial price:
You receive a transparent first price for your international move within just a few minutes of entering your details.
- Protected dashboard access:
We use your personal data to create your protected profile so your calculations remain securely stored.
- Flexible refinement:
Add your exact furniture list afterward, completely relaxed, with just a few clicks.
- Request additional services:
Flexibly add options such as your preferred packing service or furniture assembly.
- Direct contact:
Use the direct line to your personal moving expert to fine-tune your quote.
Filling it out takes only a few minutes and gives you an initial orientation for your budget planning.
Your moving company for Canada: DACHSER & KOLB services
Whether you are moving for professional or personal reasons to economic centers such as Toronto, Vancouver, or Montréal, planning a fresh start in Calgary or Ottawa, or relocating your life to Edmonton, Winnipeg, or Halifax, a private move to Canada comes with specific requirements due to the long distances and intercontinental logistics involved. For your move to Canada, DACHSER & KOLB offers a modular service portfolio that can be tailored exactly to your needs:
- Flexible & precise survey:
Free assessment of your household goods on site or a simple digital video survey to determine the exact moving volume.
- Overseas packing suitable for transport:
Professional packing of your belongings by trained staff using special overseas packing materials for the weeks-long sea journey.
- Support with customs-related documents:
Comprehensive assistance in compiling and checking all transport-specific freight and customs documents for export and import.
- Sea and air freight:
Flexible transport by ship using FCL or LCL containers for complete household moves, as well as optional air freight for urgently needed goods.
- Individually reviewed vehicle transport:
Review and organization of suitable transport options for cars or motorcycles, provided the vehicle meets Canadian import requirements.
- Global partner network:
Coordinated handling in the destination country through direct access to DACHSER’s global logistics infrastructure.
- Coordinated delivery planning:
Transport and unloading of your moving goods from the Canadian destination port directly to your new address, including regions beyond the major metropolises.
- Optional assembly services:
Professional dismantling of your furniture in Germany as well as additional skilled trade services at the Canadian destination by individual arrangement.
Transport solutions for your Canada move: sea freight and air freight
For household goods transport across the Atlantic, we use standardized overseas containers as well as specialized air freight solutions. Depending on the size of your moving goods, your timeline, and your budget, you can choose between two proven logistics options, which can also be combined:
- Sea freight (FCL and LCL) – the central transport route:
For complete household moves, sea freight is often an economically sensible solution. Larger volumes are transported exclusively in a dedicated container (FCL – Full Container Load). This keeps your moving goods clearly assigned, and the container is not shared with third-party part loads. For smaller quantities, we pack your goods in robust overseas crates known as liftvans and ship them as a part load (LCL – Less than Container Load) in shared container space together with other shipments in order to split costs.
- Air freight – for urgently needed items:
If certain items such as work materials, clothing, or important documents need to be available directly after your arrival in Canada, air transport is a suitable option. Air freight moves urgent items within short time frames and is especially useful as a supplement to sea freight.
| Transport solution |
Suitable for
|
Special feature
|
|---|---|---|
| FCL sea freight | Larger households; vehicles after individual case review | Dedicated container without third-party part loads |
| LCL sea freight | Smaller moving volumes | Shared container space |
| Air freight | Urgently needed items | Short transport time |
| Combination | Household goods plus starter setup | Combine sea and air freight |
Your Canada move process: 6 steps across the Atlantic
To ensure your household goods arrive safely at your new home, every intercontinental international move follows a structured and proven logistics process for overseas shipping:
Calculate Canada moving costs:
You start directly online in our three-step moving cost calculator, enter your key details, and receive your non-binding initial price for first orientation within just a few minutes.
Record moving volume:
In the unlocked dashboard, you can refine your information afterward at your own pace or use our digital volume consultation to determine your household goods precisely.
Select transport solution:
Together with our international moving experts, you choose the right type of transport, such as an exclusive sea container, partial sea freight, or a combination with fast air freight.
Coordinate quote and dates:
You receive your binding fixed-price quote. We then coordinate the planned dates for pickup, shipment, and delivery with you.
Packing, transport, and customs preparation:
Our team packs your moving goods for overseas transport, prepares the shipment for the selected type of transport, and supports you with the required customs-related documents.
Delivery in Canada:
After customs release at the Canadian arrival location, our network coordinates onward transport and unloading at your new address.
Destination port and inland transport in Canada
When moving to Canada, planning does not end when the container arrives at the port. What matters is how far your new address is from the suitable arrival point and what inland transport is then required. A move to Toronto or Ottawa is planned differently from a delivery to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, or a more remote region. Destination, transport route, and delivery conditions should therefore be specified as accurately as possible during the initial calculation.
Important planning factors for your inland transport:
- Distance from the arrival port to the final destination address
- Type of residence on site, such as apartment, house, or condominium
- Availability of elevators and reserved move-in times
- Access options for larger transport vehicles
- Seasonal and climatic conditions at the destination
- Need for additional handling or smaller delivery vehicles
Customs regulations for Canada: What you need to know
Canadian customs authorities have precise requirements for the import of personal relocation goods. A central role is played by the strict separation between the items you bring with you directly when entering Canada and the moving goods that follow later by sea or air freight.
For customs declaration, you need a detailed goods list. This is divided into items carried with you and moving goods arriving later, known as “goods to follow.” For the declaration, form BSF186 “Personal Effects Accounting Document” can already be prepared before entry.
Personal household goods can generally be imported duty-free if the requirements for relocation goods are met. For first-time arrivals, this includes, among other things, that the items were already owned, possessed, and used abroad before entry and are intended to continue being used privately in Canada.
Important note on “goods to follow”:
When entering Canada to establish residence, you must declare both the items you bring with you and the moving goods arriving later at your first Canadian point of entry. Only items that were recorded on the original “goods to follow” list can later be imported under the intended customs relief. Items that were not recorded on the original “goods to follow” list may be subject to regular duties when imported later.
Personal support with customs and import to Canada:
Canadian import regulations depend, among other things, on your residence status, your moving goods, and the items declared as “goods to follow.” DACHSER & KOLB supports you in preparing customs-related documents, such as the inventory list and form BSF186, and coordinates the transport-related customs process within the agreed scope of services. If you have questions about your specific moving goods, your personal contact will be happy to advise you.
Perfectly prepared: Important checklists for moving to Canada
In addition to transporting your household goods, starting fresh overseas requires early organization of official, financial, and family-related matters. Because regulations on labor markets, health insurance, and import requirements may change, our expert guide supports you with the first steps in the destination country:
- Living in Canada:
Initial information on social insurance and helpful everyday tips can be found in the country profile Moving to Canada.
- Moving with pets:
Information on vaccinations, health certificates, and entry requirements for pets can be found directly in the section Moving to Canada with pets.
Calculate your non-binding initial price now
Plan your move to Canada with an initial financial orientation. Use our online calculator to determine your initial price in just a few minutes and unlock your personal dashboard for detailed transport planning.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Your Canada Move
How much does it cost to move from Germany to Canada?
The total cost of an intercontinental overseas move mainly depends on the exact transport volume in cubic meters, the selected transport route, whether sea or air freight, and the distance to the final Canadian destination. After the detailed volume check and service coordination, you receive your binding fixed-price quote.
How long does furniture transport by sea container to Canada take?
The exact transport duration depends heavily on the selected destination port, such as East Coast versus West Coast, the official customs processes, and the subsequent inland transport. Shipping by sea freight requires significantly more lead time than air freight, but for larger household volumes it is often an economically sensible solution. We coordinate the specific time frame for your route with you individually as part of the detailed transport planning.
What does “goods to follow” mean when moving to Canada?
“Goods to follow” refers to moving goods that arrive in Canada by sea or air freight only after your own entry. These items must already be declared on the corresponding goods list when entering Canada to establish residence so that they can later be matched to the original customs declaration.
Which documents are required for customs clearance in Canada?
For proper import, Canadian authorities require a detailed inventory list of your household goods in English. Based on this information, form BSF186 “Personal Effects Accounting Document” is processed. Proof of your residence status and change of residence must also be available. DACHSER & KOLB supports you in preparing these customs-related documents.
Can I take a vehicle or motorcycle to Canada?
Transporting a car or motorcycle to Canada can generally be reviewed. Before commissioning the move, however, it must be clarified whether the specific vehicle can be imported and registered under Canadian regulations. Relevant factors include country of origin, year of manufacture, vehicle type, and technical specification. DACHSER & KOLB first reviews the transport options; import eligibility and registration requirements must be confirmed separately.
Is the calculation in the moving cost calculator free and non-binding?
Yes. Using the moving cost calculator is free and non-binding. It is designed to provide a non-binding initial price for your budget planning in just a few steps, without first having to arrange a personal consultation appointment.
How does the online initial price become a binding fixed-price quote?
Directly after your online entry, you receive access to your personal dashboard. There, you can add to your information, enter your furniture list, and request desired additional services. After the detailed volume check and service coordination, your personal contact prepares your binding fixed-price quote.
Calculate costs for your Canada move online now
Plan your relocation to North America with an initial financial orientation. Use our online calculator to determine your non-binding initial price in just a few steps and unlock your personal dashboard.
Your personal contact for moving to Canada
Do you have questions about the exact process, need support with container planning, or want to request personal advice? Our air and sea freight specialist is here to support you with expertise and practical assistance:
Sabrina Klier
Customer Service & Sales - AIR & SEA
