A part load to Canada takes 8 to 12 weeks door to door. A sole-use container is faster. That single figure shapes every other decision in a move to Canada, because it sets what you ship, what you sell and what you carry in a suitcase. People consistently underestimate it and then find themselves without a bed for a month.
Britannia Cestrian has been shipping households to Canada from the Deeside depot for over 40 years, running a regular consolidation service to all areas of the country alongside sole-use containers.
A typical job of this kind
| Move type | International shipping, UK to Canada |
| Load options | Groupage part load, or a sole-use 20ft or 40ft container |
| Groupage transit | Typically 8 to 12 weeks door to door |
| Customs clearance | Usually 5 to 10 days on arrival |
| Services used | Pre-move survey, export packing, documentation, shipping, destination delivery |
| Also available | Vehicle shipping, air freight, storage before departure |
Groupage or a container of your own
Groupage means your goods share a container with other consignments heading for the same part of Canada. It suits smaller loads, it costs considerably less, and it typically runs 8 to 12 weeks door to door. That figure moves depending on volume and on how customs handles the container.
A sole-use container, either 20ft or 40ft, suits a larger household. It is packed outside your house, sealed there, and taken directly to the docks. Nothing is transferred in between and the timings are more predictable.
The survey decides which one you need. It is worth having that conversation early, because the answer changes what is worth shipping at all.
Export packing and the inventory
Everything is export packed using specialist materials, then barcoded, and a complete inventory is produced for your records. Part loads go into our consolidation warehouse and are stored securely until the container is ready to depart.
The inventory does double duty here. It is your record and it is the basis of the customs declaration.
Canadian customs
The customs form for importing household goods has to be completed before the goods leave the UK, not after they arrive. We provide the correct form and check the paperwork before the cargo sails, which is the single biggest thing that prevents a delay at the other end.
Most containers arriving in Canada are examined by Canadian customs. That is routine rather than a sign of a problem. Once cleared, and clearance usually takes around 5 to 10 days, the shipment moves on to delivery.
There are restrictions on what can be brought into Canada, and some of them catch people out. Ask before you pack rather than after.
Delivery in Canada
Britannia’s Canadian partner team handles the arrival end, clearing the shipment and delivering to the new address. It is a door to door service, so the job finishes at your house rather than at a port.
Pets, vehicles and things that travel separately
Vehicles can be shipped alongside the household goods. Air freight is available for anything needed sooner, which is worth considering for a small case of things that would otherwise be sitting in a container for three months. Pets travel under their own arrangements and paperwork.
Storage before you go
Selling a UK house before the Canadian one is ready is common. Household storage at the depot bridges it, with goods held in sealed containers until the shipping date.
Accreditations
- BAR Overseas Group member, covering European and international moves
- Member of the British Association of Removers
- Certified to BS EN 12522
- Which? Trusted Trader
- Established 1972, with access to Britannia’s network of overseas destination agents
Book a free survey
Tell us where in Canada you are heading and roughly what is moving, and we will tell you whether groupage or a container suits you. Call 01244 521 950, email sales@britanniacestrian.co.uk, or use the quote form. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.
Related pages
Moving to Canada | International Shipping | International Moves | Household Storage
