Moving from Canada to United States
A land move, not an ocean one, which makes it faster and cheaper than most relocations. Here is the honest brief on cross border costs, the customs declaration at the line, the visa routes, and a timeline you can plan around.
A land border keeps it cheap. Status and the vehicle are the work.
Most household moves from Canada to the United States go by road, because the two countries share a land border and trucking is faster and cheaper than any sea shipment. Door to door you should plan for roughly three to fourteen days depending on distance and whether you share a load or take a dedicated truck. That single fact, a land move rather than an ocean one, keeps this among the smoother and more affordable relocations.
The thing that surprises people is that the shipping is the easy part. The work sits in two places. First, your immigration status, because the United States needs you to have the right to live and work there, whether through a visa such as the TN under the trade agreement, an employer petition, or permanent residence. Second, the vehicle, because importing a car into the United States means meeting federal safety and emissions standards, and not every model qualifies without modification.
Prices below are in United States dollars and indicative for 2026. Crossing from the Canadian dollar to the United States dollar, budget for currency on both sides, from your deposit and rent to the cost of replacing anything you choose not to bring.
What it costs in 2026, by home size and method.
Because Canada and the United States share a land border, the choice that drives your bill is a shared load versus a dedicated truck, not which ocean container to book. The figures below are indicative ranges for 2026.
Indicative 2026 ranges in United States dollars, door to door by road. Distance, volume, season, and the border crossing move the figure. Summer is the peak and prices rise with it.
- +Best value for a typical home, you pay for the space you use
- +Plenty of operators run the cross border lane
- −Schedules are fixed around other shipments
- +Faster and direct, your goods only
- +Worth it for larger homes and tight timing
- −More than you need for a small load
- +Fastest option for essentials
- +Useful when you fly ahead of your goods
- −Rarely sensible for a full household
Get moving quotes for Canada to United States.
Tell us your size and timing. We pass your request to vetted movers who run the cross border route from Canada to the United States, and you compare them on your own terms.
A realistic schedule for this route.
Working back from your border crossing, here is a realistic schedule for a cross border move from Canada to the United States.
Confirm your immigration status
Lock down your visa, employer petition, or permanent residence before you book anything, because your status governs your right to live in the United States and your duty free entry of used effects at the border.
Get surveys and quotes
Have movers do a video or in home survey for an accurate volume and a binding price. Compare a shared load against a dedicated truck for your size and timing.
Build your inventory and CBP forms
Prepare your inventory and the United States Customs and Border Protection declaration, form CBP 3299 for unaccompanied articles, with values and serial numbers for high value items.
Pack and load
The crew packs and loads your goods for the road. Confirm your delivery window and keep your customs paperwork and passport with you rather than in the truck.
Cross and clear
Present your effects list to United States Customs and Border Protection, settle any charge on items that do not qualify, then take delivery and apply for your Social Security Number and state licence.
Clearing your goods into the United States.
The United States generally allows people moving there to import used household and personal effects free of duty, provided you owned and used the items and they are not for sale. New immigrants and returning residents declare their goods to United States Customs and Border Protection, commonly on form CBP 3299, the Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles, alongside the arrival declaration form CBP 6059B. Keep a detailed inventory, because items that are new, unused, or clearly for resale can attract duty.
Because this is a land border, clearance happens at the crossing rather than at a seaport, which is part of why the move is quicker than an overseas relocation. Some categories are controlled, including certain foods, plants, alcohol and tobacco beyond personal allowances, and firearms, which have their own federal rules. Declare honestly and keep your paperwork accessible at the line.
Vehicles are the common complication. A car imported into the United States must comply with federal safety standards from the Department of Transportation and emissions standards from the Environmental Protection Agency, declared on the required federal import forms. Many Canadian market vehicles qualify, but some need modification, so check your specific model before you assume you can bring it.
The routes in for this corridor.
Many people moving from Canada to the United States arrive on a work visa such as the TN under the trade agreement, an employer petition, or through family and permanent residence, and there is no automatic right of entry.
The Canada United States Mexico Agreement lets qualifying Canadian professionals work in the United States in listed occupations with a job offer. A fast and common route for eligible professionals.
The H1B specialty occupation visa and the L1 intra company transfer let United States employers bring in skilled workers and transferees, subject to petitions and, for the H1B, annual limits.
Spouses and immediate relatives of United States citizens and permanent residents can qualify for immigrant visas and permanent residence, subject to the sponsor meeting the conditions.
Employment based and family based immigrant categories lead to a green card and the right to live in the United States permanently. Timelines vary widely by category and country.
How to pick a mover for this route, without the guesswork.
We do not rank or recommend individual companies. We teach you the criteria that separate a safe international move from an expensive mistake, then put your request in front of vetted movers who run this lane.
Check the trade affiliation. Membership of FIDI or IAM is the clearest signal a mover is financially screened and bound to industry standards for international household goods. For this route, ask whether the mover runs cross border Canada to United States shipments regularly and handles the United States Customs and Border Protection clearance and the CBP 3299, because a broker who knows the border keeps your move on schedule.
Insist on a binding pre move survey. A real video or in home survey of your volume is the only honest basis for a price. A quote given without one is a guess that tends to grow on moving day.
Compare like for like. Read what each quote includes: packing, materials, customs clearance, destination delivery, stair or long carry charges, and insurance. The cheapest headline number is rarely the cheapest move.
Understand the insurance terms. Ask whether cover is full replacement value or depreciated, what the excess is, and how claims are handled. Read the valuation clause before you sign.
Read recent reviews for this corridor. A mover can be excellent on domestic Canadian moves and weak on a cross border shipment. Look for verified reviews that mention the actual United States route and the customs experience at the line.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Canada to the United States?
For a two to three bedroom household by road, plan on roughly 3,500 to 7,500 United States dollars door to door in 2026, depending on distance, volume, and whether you share a load or take a dedicated truck. These are indicative ranges, not a quote.
How long does a move from Canada to the United States take?
Because it is a land move, transit is usually about three to fourteen days door to door depending on distance and whether your load is shared or dedicated, plus the border crossing. It is far quicker than any overseas relocation.
Do I pay duty on my household goods moving to the United States?
Used household and personal effects you owned and used generally enter free of duty, declared to United States Customs and Border Protection on form CBP 3299. New, unused, or resale items can be charged. Verify the current rules with United States Customs and Border Protection before you move.
Can I bring my car from Canada to the United States?
Often yes, but the vehicle must meet federal Department of Transportation safety and Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards, declared on the required federal import forms. Some models need modification, so check yours first.
Do I need a visa to move from Canada to the United States?
Yes. You need an immigration status such as a TN under the trade agreement, an employer petition, or permanent residence. Confirm your route with official United States immigration sources before you move.
What should I do first when I arrive in the United States?
Apply for a Social Security Number, get a state driver's licence, open a bank account, and register your vehicle if you brought one. Those steps unlock work and daily life.
Last reviewed: 15 May 2026. We refresh this guide as costs, customs, and visa rules change.