Just like any big relocation, moving to Canada from the UK involves careful planning, paperwork, and research. While the two share many cultural similarities, they also have their fair share of difference, big and small.

Around 5,000-10,000 British expats move to Canada every year, and each of them need to consider things like immigration options, setting up a new home, moving their belongings across the Atlantic, and so much more.

In this article, we’ll cover all of this and more to help you make the process of moving to Canada as smooth as possible.

“💡 This article covers the most important things to consider when planning your move to Canada, what you should do first, and all the resources you’ll need along the way.

If you need additional support, we highly recommend contacting our relocation specialists for professional assistance!”

Understanding Your Immigration Options

UK residents need a valid visa, work permit, or permanent residency to live or work in Canada. While Canada’s immigration landscape has changed in 2025, there are still a number of options for UK citizens, such as:

Express Entry: This is the most popular route to residency for skilled workers in Canada. It uses a points system, and candidates are assessed on a variety of criteria, including their education and work experience.
Family Sponsorship: This is considered the easiest route to Canadian residency. If you have a close family member who is a Canadian citizen, they can sponsor you to gain permanent residency.
Employer-Specific Work Permit: If you are relocating with an existing employer, they can help you obtain an Employer-Specific Work Permit. To do so, they will have to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) proving there is no Canadian who can do the same job.
International Experience Canada (IEC): If you’re aged between 18-30 then you can take a working holiday in Canada under this visa. It acts as an open work permit for up to 2 years, giving you plenty of time to explore what the country has to offer.

Finding a New Home in Canada

One of the biggest challenges for any international relocation is finding a new home. From finding a trusted real estate agent to touring properties remotely, you may struggle to confidently choose a new place to call home.

Choosing Between Renting and Buying

The first step is to decide whether renting or buying is the best option for your situation. You can consider a few key factors when making this decision:

Are you moving to Canada for a limited period of time, or permanently?
What is the real estate landscape in the specific city/area of Canada that you are moving to?
If you’re relocating for work, does your employer offer any opportunities for corporate housing?

However, the majority of this decision should be based on your financial and personal preferences. We recommend working with your financial planner or accountant to discuss the pros and cons of renting vs. buying in Canada.

Tips for Renters

If you’re renting, you can start by using search engines like Zumper or Rentals.ca to easily filter properties, explore your options, and apply.

Depending on where you’re moving and your timeline, you may want to maximize applications to ensure you are able to rent a suitable property. In some cities, rentals are becoming more difficult and competitive, so you may need to focus on your non-negotiables and move quickly.

Even if you don’t work directly with a real estate agent, it’s helpful to have someone on the ground who can help you make decisions and advise on the area’s nuances. Relocation specialists can also help you with this.

Tips for Buyers

If you are looking to buy a new home, one of the best steps you can take is finding a trusted real estate agent. In Canada, you can use Realtor.ca to find licensed, vetted agents who are a part of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).

A good real estate agent can make every aspect of buying property easier, as they can guide you through the process and know the area firsthand.

If you’re planning to apply for a mortgage, you’ll need to consider that you don’t have a Canadian credit history. Luckily, many Canadian banks, like CIBC, provide mortgage programs for newcomers that are based on income instead of credit history.

How to Move Your Furniture from the UK to Canada

The distance between London and Toronto is a whopping 5,700 kilometres (3,540 miles), and that’s just the Eastern coast of Canada!

Regardless of where you’re moving in Canada, it’s generally long and expensive to move belongings, especially large items like furniture. Working out the logistics can be a daunting task, and there are 3 main options to consider.

Option 1: Sea Freight

If you want to transport all of your furniture and belongings then a sea freight container is likely the best option. You can fill a container with all your items, and have it shipped by sea from the UK to Canada. While this is the most cost-effective option, it’s also time-consuming. You’ll typically wait around 6 weeks for your container to arrive.

If you’re moving a number of valuable items (not just furniture), paying for a sea freight container might be more useful, since you can fill it with a variety of different items.

You can start by getting a quote from reputable sea freight providers like:

Option 2: Air Freight

Air freight is another way of shipping your belongings, and while faster than sea freight, it’s also much more expensive. This method of shipping is better suited to smaller and more valuable items such as electronics or important personal documents.

It’s worth noting that you’ll need to declare any electronics and high-value items that you bring into the country, and that personal items that are less than 12 months old may be taxed.

You can start by getting a quote from reputable air freight providers like:

Option 3: Buying New Furniture

Air freight and sea freight both have their pros and cons. For this reason, many people moving from the UK to Canada find that it’s simply more affordable to sell or donate their UK belongings and buy new furniture when they arrive in Canada.

Furniture delivery is often included or low-cost when you buy new items within Canada, and can even be delivered within a matter of days. This is generally simpler than waiting 6+ weeks for your sea freight, or paying the hefty price tag for air freight.

Affordable furniture stores in Canada include Ikea Canada, Structube, Canadian Tire and Wayfair.

Setting Up a Canadian Bank Account

Next up on your list of priorities will be opening your Canadian bank account.

Luckily, the process is relatively straightforward. Most banks offer simple, online applications so you can get your chequing, saving, and credit accounts set up without the hassle of going to a bank branch in person. You may also benefit from newcomer packages, often including tailored financial advice, low or no monthly fees, free international money transfers, and more.

We recommend taking the time to compare your options in terms of monthly fees, benefits, and amenities offered by different financial institutions.

Here are a few top newcomer offers from reputable Canadian banks that you can check out:

To apply for a Canadian bank account as an immigrant or expat, you’ll typically need to have your proof of legal residency in Canada or your work permit, in addition to a piece of government ID.

Getting Healthcare in Canada

All Canadian residents can access the Canadian public healthcare system (Medicare). This provides access to essential medical services.

To get access to this, you’ll need a health card. Health cards are regulated by each province and territory, so you’ll need to apply based on which province you’re moving to:

The coverage varies slightly from province to province, but each region is required to adhere to the overall federal requirements outlined in the Canada Health Act.

You may choose to add supplemental private health insurance to cover prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, or faster access to non-emergency health services. Some employers may also offer access to private health benefits like these as part of their benefits packages.

Tips for Moving to Canada From the UK with your Family

Moving to Canada from the UK with your family can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.

Additional family members means more belongings, more needs to consider, and more administrative tasks to complete. If you have children, you’ll also need to consider things like school enrollment, extracurricular activities, and helping your children settle into their new home.

How To Enroll Children In School In Canada

The good news is that enrolling your child in public school in Canada is relatively straightforward.

You’ll start by using your new Canadian address to find your designated catchment school on your local school board’s website. This varies based on your location, but you can typically find school locator tools like this online.

Each district may have a few different school boards to choose from, such as Catholic schools, public schools, and French schools.

Whether your registration will take place online or in person varies from school to school. Expect at least one in-person meeting to finalize your child’s enrollment. For registration, you’ll typically need to provide the following:

Passport or birth certificate for each child
Proof of their immigration status
Your child’s immunization record
Proof of their address in Canada (this could be a utility bill or a rental agreement)
The ID of their parent or guardian
Although not required, most schools will find their previous school records and reports helpful.

Conclusion

Moving from the UK to Canada may not be a huge culture shock–you’ll find similar levels of politeness, multiculturalism, and even respect for orderly queues in both nations!

However, international moves can be challenging and stressful, which is why we offer professional relocation services to guide you before, during, and after the process. Contact us at New Roots Relocation to find out more about our services and tell us about your move!