Canada to USA Moving Checklist
Planning an international move requires careful preparation and organization. From gathering important documents to scheduling utilities and packing household items, having a complete checklist can simplify the entire process. Our Canada to USA moving checklist is designed to help you stay on track every step of the way.
Your Complete Canada to USA Moving Checklist
Moving from Canada to the United States involves dozens of tasks across visa applications, CBSA export customs, US CBP import clearance, home packing, vehicle import, pet health certificates, and settling into your new state. Miss one item and it can delay your shipment, cost unexpected fees, or cause legal complications at the border. This checklist organises every task by phase — from 12 weeks before your move to your first week in the USA — so nothing falls through the cracks.
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Canada to USA Moving Checklist — By Phase
Work through each phase in order. Tasks marked with timing are time-sensitive — completing them early prevents delays to your shipment and US entry.
Phase 1. 12 Weeks Before Your Move Date
- Confirm your US visa or immigration status — work visa, green card, or citizenship
- Research your destination US state — cost of living, state income tax, healthcare
- Obtain quotes from Enveo for full door-to-door Canada–USA moving service
- Decide on shipping mode — ocean FCL, LCL, cross-border ground, or air freight
- Book your Enveo Canada–USA move and confirm packing and loading date
- Begin decluttering — sell, donate, or dispose of items not worth shipping
- Notify your Canadian employer of your last working day
- Research US health insurance options — Canadian provincial coverage ends at the border
Phase 2. 8 Weeks Before Your Move Date
- Begin gathering important documents — passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates
- Obtain certified copies of medical and dental records for all family members
- Collect vaccination records and vet documentation for all pets
- Research US pet import requirements for your destination state
- Contact your Canadian bank — confirm whether accounts can remain open from the USA
- Open a US bank account online if possible before your departure date
- Notify IRCC if you are a Canadian citizen — no deregistration required but useful for tax
- Cancel or transfer subscriptions, memberships, and recurring Canadian services
Phase 3. 4 Weeks Before Your Move Date
- Complete a full room-by-room home inventory for customs and insurance purposes
- Photograph all high-value items — furniture, electronics, artwork, jewellery
- Confirm CBSA export documentation with your Enveo move coordinator
- Arrange vehicle shipping if taking your car — confirm EPA/DOT compliance
- File a Change of Address with Canada Post — forward mail to US address
- Notify CRA of your departure date and change of residency status
- Cancel or transfer Canadian utilities — electricity, gas, internet, cable
- Confirm US accommodation — your container may take 4–8 weeks by ocean freight
Phase 4. 2 Weeks Before Your Move Date
- Confirm packing day and loading schedule with your Enveo crew
- Set aside essential items not to be packed — passports, medications, laptop, valuables
- Pack a personal carry bag with 1–2 weeks of essentials for your US arrival
- Confirm your Enveo coordinator has all CBP Form 3299 information for duty-free entry
- Notify your Canadian doctor, dentist, and specialists of your move date
- Arrange final cleanout of your Canadian home before handover
- Return leased vehicles, cancel car insurance, or arrange vehicle shipping
- Confirm your pet health certificate appointment — must be issued within 10 days of travel
Move Week and Arrival — Step by Step
What happens during packing week, at the Canadian border, and in your first days in the USA.
01
Packing Day in Canada
Enveo crew arrives at your Canadian home. Every room is professionally packed, inventoried, and loaded. Your CBSA export documentation is filed. Container is sealed and dispatched to the port or border crossing.
02
CBSA Export Clearance
Your shipment clears Canadian customs through the CBSA export system. Your Enveo coordinator manages all B13A export declarations and coordinates with the carrier for release. No action required from you.
03
Cross the Border
You travel to the USA on your visa or as a Canadian citizen. Declare your household goods at the US port of entry. Present your CBP Form 3299 for duty-free entry. Your Enveo broker has pre-filed your US CBP import entry.
04
Delivery in the USA
Your goods arrive at the destination port or cross the border, clear US CBP import customs, and are delivered to your new US address. Enveo places furniture room by room and reassembles as required.
Documents to Carry with You at the US Border
Keep these documents in your personal carry bag — not in your shipping container. You will need them at the US port of entry on your travel day.
- Valid Canadian passport for all family members
- US visa, green card, or entry documentation for each person
- CBP Form 3299 — Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles
- Detailed household goods packing list and inventory prepared by Enveo
- Bill of lading or shipping reference number for your container
- Vehicle title and registration if driving a car into the USA
- Pet health certificate issued by a licensed Canadian veterinarian
- USDA APHIS endorsement on pet health certificate if required by your destination state
- Proof of US address — lease agreement, property purchase documents, or letter from employer
- Marriage and birth certificates (certified copies) for the whole family
- Medical and vaccination records for all family members
- List of serial numbers for electronics and high-value items in the shipment
Canada to USA Customs — What the Checklist Does Not Tell You
Most Canada to USA moving checklists list “clear customs” as a single checkbox. In reality, cross-border customs involves two separate clearances — CBSA export in Canada and US CBP import in the USA — each with its own documentation requirements, timing rules, and potential complications. Here is what you need to know before your move date.
Canadian CBSA Export — What Enveo Files for You
Most household goods do not require an export permit to leave Canada, but a CBSA export declaration (B13A) is required for shipments with a value over CAD $2,000. Your Enveo coordinator files this electronically through the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) before your goods are loaded — you do not need to attend the CBSA office or file any paperwork yourself. Controlled goods, certain food products, firearms, and currency over CAD $10,000 have additional requirements that your Enveo team will identify and advise on before packing day.
US CBP Import — Duty-Free Entry for Canadian Movers
Canadians moving to the USA as a primary residence may import household goods duty-free under CBP Form 3299 — Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles. To qualify, goods must have been owned and used by you for at least one year prior to importation, and you must be establishing a new primary US residence. New or unused items purchased specifically for the move do not qualify for duty-free entry and may be assessed duty at the applicable US tariff rate. Enveo’s licensed US customs brokers prepare and file your CBP Form 3299 — it is included in every Canada–USA moving service we provide.
Canada to USA Moving Checklist — After You Arrive
Your move does not end when you cross the border. These tasks need to be completed within your first 30–90 days in the USA to establish your legal residency, access services, and get settled properly.
- Apply for your US Social Security Number (SSN) at a local SSA office
- Apply for a US driver's licence in your new state — most states require this within 30–60 days
- Register your vehicle in your new US state and obtain US licence plates
- Enrol in a US health insurance plan — marketplace, employer, or private cover
- Register children at local schools and submit vaccination and academic records
- Update your address with all Canadian contacts, banks, and government accounts
- File a departure return with CRA for the tax year you left Canada
- Apply for US Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if needed
- Confirm your goods have been delivered and check the inventory against Enveo's packing list
- Report any damaged or missing items to Enveo within the cargo insurance claim window
Frequently Asked Questions — Canada to USA Moving Checklist
How far in advance should I start my Canada to USA moving checklist?
Start at least 12 weeks before your planned move date if you are shipping by ocean freight — container bookings and CBSA export documentation require lead time. If you are moving by cross-border ground freight only, 6–8 weeks is usually sufficient. Visa and immigration matters, vehicle compliance checks, and pet health certificates all have their own lead times that may require more than 12 weeks in some cases.
What happens if I forget to declare goods at the US border?
Failing to declare goods at the US port of entry can result in seizure of undeclared items, fines, and being flagged for enhanced inspection on future border crossings. CBP takes undeclared commercial goods, alcohol, tobacco, currency over USD $10,000, firearms, and certain food and plant products very seriously. Enveo’s customs brokers prepare your CBP Form 3299 with a complete household goods declaration — ensuring everything is properly documented before you cross.
Do I need to tell the CRA I am leaving Canada permanently?
Yes — you should notify the Canada Revenue Agency of your departure date and change of residency status. You will need to file a departure return for the tax year you left Canada, report the deemed disposition of certain assets, and cancel your provincial health coverage. Provincial health coverage ends either on the day you leave or at the end of the month — this varies by province. Enveo recommends consulting a cross-border tax advisor before your move date.
Can I bring my car from Canada to the USA?
Yes — most vehicles manufactured for the Canadian market already meet US EPA and Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards and can enter the USA without modification. You will need to declare the vehicle at the US border, provide the original title, and register it in your new US state within 30–60 days of arrival. Vehicles not meeting US standards require modification or cannot be imported. Enveo can coordinate vehicle shipping and advise on compliance before your move.
What items are prohibited from being shipped to the USA from Canada?
Prohibited and restricted items include certain firearms and ammunition (require ATF import permits), Cuban cigars over the personal exemption, certain fruits, vegetables, and plant products subject to USDA APHIS inspection, counterfeit goods, and items under US trade sanctions. Medications in quantities exceeding personal use may require a DEA import permit. Your Enveo coordinator will review your household goods inventory and flag any restricted items before packing day.
Does Enveo manage all the customs paperwork on this checklist?
Yes — Enveo handles the CBSA export declaration in Canada and the full US CBP import clearance including CBP Form 3299 duty-free entry. You are responsible for your own immigration documents, CRA departure return, provincial health deregistration, and post-arrival US government registrations (SSN, driver’s licence, vehicle registration). Your Enveo coordinator will walk you through exactly which items are covered by our service and which require your own action.
Canada to USA Moving Checklist Support from Enveo
Enveo National & Worldwide Movers Inc. helps Canadian families work through every item on this checklist from start to finish. Our dedicated move coordinators are assigned to every Canada–USA move — handling CBSA export documentation, US CBP customs clearance, professional home packing, cross-border freight, and delivery to your new US address. We serve clients in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Saskatoon, and all major Canadian cities relocating to all 50 US states.
Why Canadian Families Trust Enveo with Their USA Move
Every Canada–USA move is fully managed, fully documented, and fully insured. Our team handles the complex items on your checklist so you can focus on your new life in the USA.
- Dedicated move coordinator managing every checklist item on your behalf
- CBSA export customs filing — B13A declaration included in every move
- US CBP import clearance and CBP Form 3299 duty-free entry — included
- All-risk cargo insurance covering full household goods replacement value
- Professional packing crew at your Canadian address on move day
- Cross-border ground, ocean FCL/LCL, and air freight options
- Last-mile delivery and room placement at your new US address
- Satisfaction guaranteed on every Canada to USA move we manage
Ready to Start Your Canada to USA Move? Get a Free Quote Today
Enveo National & Worldwide Movers Inc. provides fully managed Canada to USA moving services from all major Canadian cities to all 50 US states. Our team handles the hard items on this checklist — CBSA export customs, US CBP import clearance, professional packing, freight, and door-to-door delivery — under one all-inclusive contract with no hidden fees.
Call Enveo at +1 587-358-2992 for trusted Canada to USA moving services from Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, and all major Canadian cities.