Moving to the US from Canada

What You Need to Plan Before You Move

A Canada to US move has several distinct planning tracks running simultaneously. Getting organized early, makes each one manageable. Here is a clear overview of the key areas.

Immigration and Visa Status

You cannot move your household goods to the US until you have the legal right to be there. The most common immigration pathways for Canadians include:

• TN Visa (NAFTA/CUSMA): Available to Canadian citizens in specific professional categories. Processed at the border with an offer letter and proof of qualifications. No cap, no lottery. One of the fastest pathways for qualifying professionals.
• H-1B Visa: For specialty occupations. Subject to an annual cap and lottery process. Must be sponsored by a US employer.
• L-1 Visa: For intracompany transfers. Available if you are being relocated within the same company or a related entity.
• O-1 Visa: For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in their field.
• EB-1/EB-2/EB-3 Green Cards: Permanent residence pathways, typically employer-sponsored. Wait times vary significantly by category and country of birth.
• TN or visa via marriage: Spouses of US citizens or green card holders have separate pathways. Processing times vary.

Tax Obligations: The Departure Tax and US Filing

Tax is the most complex part of a Canada-to-US move and the area where professional advice is most worth the cost.

When you leave Canada and become a non-resident for tax purposes, the CRA treats you as having sold most of your taxable assets at fair market value on the date of your departure. This is the departure tax (formally, the deemed disposition). RRSPs, principal residences, pension plans, and certain other assets are exempt, but non-registered investment portfolios, real estate other than your principal residence, and business interests may all trigger capital gains in the year you leave.

Once you establish US residency, you become subject to US federal income tax on your worldwide income. The Canada-US Tax Treaty reduces the risk of being taxed twice on the same income, but it does not eliminate all complexity.

File a departure return with the CRA for the year you leave. Engage a cross-border tax professional before you move, not after. The tax planning decisions you make in the months before departure can have a significant impact on what you owe.

Healthcare Coverage

Provincial health coverage ends when you leave Canada and establish residency elsewhere. The timing of this varies by province but is typically when you formally notify your provincial health authority of your departure or when you have been absent for a defined period (often six months).

In the US, healthcare is privately provided and employer-linked. If you are moving for employment, your US employer’s health plan typically begins on your first day of work or after a short waiting period. Bridge coverage between your Canadian provincial plan ending and your US coverage beginning is worth arranging if there is any gap.

OHIP, MSP, AHCIP, and other provincial plans do not provide coverage in the US for anything beyond emergency care, and even that coverage is limited. Travel insurance does not substitute for US health coverage for residents. Arrange your US plan before you arrive.

Banking and Credit

Your Canadian bank accounts, credit cards, and credit history do not automatically transfer to the US. You will essentially be starting a financial life from scratch in a new country.

Open a US bank account before or immediately upon arrival. Major Canadian banks with US operations (RBC, TD, BMO) can sometimes offer a smoother onboarding for Canadians arriving in the US. Your Canadian credit score does not transfer to the US credit system, which means you may initially struggle to qualify for US credit cards, car loans, or an apartment without a large deposit. Nova Credit is a service that allows some lenders to consider Canadian credit history in US applications — worth researching if your US landlord or lender requires a credit check.

Keep your Canadian bank accounts open for at least the first year after you move. You will continue to have Canadian income, tax refunds, and financial transactions to manage during the transition period.

Your Canadian Financial Accounts

Several Canadian account types need decisions when you leave the country:

• RRSP: You can keep your RRSP after leaving Canada. You will stop accumulating contribution room, but the account can remain invested. Withdrawals will be subject to Canadian non-resident withholding tax, and must be reported as income on your US return. Do not close your RRSP before you move.
• TFSA: Canada considers the TFSA a tax-free account. The US does not recognize this treatment and taxes TFSA earnings as ordinary income for US residents. Many cross-border advisors recommend closing TFSAs before leaving Canada or ceasing contributions immediately upon establishing US residency.
• Non-registered investments: Subject to the deemed disposition departure tax rules noted above. Review your portfolio with a cross-border advisor before you leave.
• Real estate: If you are keeping your Canadian home as a rental property, you will need to comply with non-resident withholding requirements on Canadian rental income. If you are selling, ensure you have filed the required CRA departure forms.

Moving Your Household Goods from Canada to the US

Great Canadian Van Lines has been handling cross-border household goods moves since 1992. We manage the logistics, coordinate customs documentation, and ensure your belongings arrive safely on both sides of the border. Here is how a Canada to US move works.

How cross-border moves are priced

Canada to US moves are priced by shipment weight and distance, consistent with how long-distance moves work domestically. Your shipment is weighed before and after loading and the weight-based rate is applied. Get an in-home estimate rather than a phone estimate for a cross-border move. Cost ranges vary significantly by distance and shipment size, from approximately $3,500 for a small apartment moving to a nearby US state to $15,000 or more for a large household moving across the continent.

Customs documentation

All household goods crossing from Canada into the United States require customs clearance. You do not need to be physically present at the border for this, but your paperwork must be complete and correct. Incomplete or incorrect documentation is the most common cause of delays and additional costs in cross-border moves.

The specific documents required depend on your immigration status. The four most common situations are summarized below.

What can and cannot be shipped

Most household goods cross the border without issue. Items that commonly require additional consideration or cannot be shipped include:

• Firearms and ammunition: Subject to both Canadian export requirements and US import regulations. Requires advance paperwork and specific carrier handling. Discuss with your moving coordinator well in advance.
• Plants and soil: US Customs may inspect or reject plants, soil, and organic material. Leave behind or dispose of plants rather than risk a delayed shipment.
• Alcohol: Personal amounts can typically cross with the household shipment but may be subject to duty. Large quantities are treated differently.
• Vehicles: Not part of the household goods shipment and require separate customs processing. See vehicle import section below.
• Food: Sealed packaged goods generally clear. Fresh produce, meats, and dairy are typically prohibited.

Importing your vehicle

Vehicles are handled separately from household goods and have their own import process through the US DOT (Department of Transportation) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Canadian vehicles that meet Canadian safety standards often also meet US standards, but this needs to be confirmed per vehicle. The import process requires an EPA form (3520-1), a DOT form (HS-7), and payment of any applicable duty if the vehicle was not manufactured in North America.

Most Canadian-market vehicles qualify for duty-free entry under CUSMA (formerly NAFTA). Specialty vehicles, motorcycles, and older vehicles may have different requirements. Great Canadian Van Lines can coordinate vehicle shipping alongside your household goods move — ask about this when you request your estimate.

Storage options

If your US home is not ready when your goods arrive, short-term storage in the destination area is available through our network. Alternatively, we can hold your shipment in our Canadian facility before crossing the border. Let us know your timeline when you book so we can plan accordingly.

Why Canadians Choose Great Canadian Van Lines for US Moves

Cross-border moves require a mover with experience on both sides of the customs process. Great Canadian Van Lines has handled thousands of Canada to US household moves since 1992. We are a registered member of the Canadian Association of Movers, hold an A+ BBB rating, and maintain a 4.9 Google rating based on thousands of customer reviews.

Our cross-border team guides you through the customs documentation process, coordinates directly with US Customs brokers where required, and ensures your shipment arrives without preventable delays. We handle moves from every Canadian province to every US state.

Get started with a free estimate: request a quote online, call us at 1-800-665-0055, or email info@greatcanadianvanlines.com.

If you do not fall into one of the above categories, please ask your moving consultant for the requirements for your specific situation or contact:

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection website
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website

When moving cross-border, please note the following items are prohibited from being shipped:

• Protected wildlife
• Explosives
• Ammunition
• Fireworks
• Goods made from endangered species

Important Note for Owner-packed Cartons: Be aware that, if you will be packing your own cartons for cross-border shipping, you must identify on the carton the items inside the carton. For example, if the carton has books, write books on the top of the carton. Note that improper labelling of your cartons will result in delays at the border and may prevent your shipment from crossing.

For additional information on moving to the U.S. please check the following links:

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection website
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website