By Dianne Alcaraz, Operations Manager, Enveo National & Worldwide Movers Inc. Dianne has 15+ years in logistics and international freight. Last updated October 2026.
Short answer: To move household goods from Canada to the US, you need your passport, proof of your US status (green card, or visa plus I-94), a signed CBP Form 3299, and a detailed inventory in English with every box numbered and valued in US dollars. Used household goods you’ve owned for at least a year generally enter duty-free. Enveo National & Worldwide Movers Inc., a cross-border mover based in Calgary, Alberta, handles your move end to end: we prepare the inventory and shipping documents with you, tell you exactly which forms apply to your situation, and guide you through clearance from booking to delivery.
This guide covers every document, who provides it, when it’s needed, and what changes depending on your status.
At a glance
| Main form | CBP Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles |
| Always needed | Passport, proof of US status, signed 3299, detailed inventory in English |
| Duty | Used household goods owned 1+ year: generally duty-free. Newer items can be dutiable |
| When | Every document ready before pickup. Your shipment can’t cross without them |
| Who signs | You. A customs broker can sign for you with your written authorization |
| Separate entries | Vehicles, firearms, alcohol, and anything you plan to sell |
Why the paperwork matters more than the truck
On a move within Canada, the only document is an inventory list. Cross the border and it changes: your goods have to clear US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before they can be delivered.
If a document is missing, the shipment doesn’t get rejected and sent home. It waits at the border while the paperwork gets fixed, and waiting costs time and sometimes storage fees. Your status matters too: it decides which documents you need, and we only ship household goods for people who have the right to live in the US.
That’s why we gather every document before we dispatch, not at the border.
The core documents (everyone)
| Document | What it is | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Photo page, valid | You |
| Proof of US status | Green card, or your visa plus your I-94 arrival record | You |
| CBP Form 3299 | The declaration that lets your used household goods enter duty-free | You sign it (or a customs broker you authorize) |
| Detailed inventory | In English. Every box numbered, contents listed, used value of each item in US dollars | You, with our help |
| Proof of use abroad | Receipts, a lease, utility bills. Only if CBP asks | You |
The inventory is the most important document you’ll make. Customs officers check it against what’s in the truck. “Box 14: kitchen, plates and glasses, US$60” is useful. “Box 14: misc” is not. We give you a template and help you fill it in.
About the I-94: it’s your electronic arrival record, created when you enter the US. You can look it up and print it on the CBP I-94 website. This is one reason it’s safest to arrive in the US before your shipment does.
What you sign with Enveo
- Moving agreement: the service you’re booking.
- Coverage form: the coverage you choose for your shipment.
- Customs forms and authorizations: your CBP Form 3299, plus a written authorization if a customs broker signs for you.
- Inventory and declared value list: every box, what’s in it, and its value.
What changes by status
US citizens moving back
Things you took with you when you moved to Canada come back duty-free. Things you bought while living in Canada generally enter duty-free too, as long as you’ve owned and used them for at least a year. You’ll still need the 3299 and the inventory.
Green card holders (permanent residents)
Same core documents, with your green card as proof of status. If you’re moving to the US for the first time on a new immigrant visa, your passport with the immigrant visa stamped at entry is your proof of status until the card arrives.
Work visa holders (TN, L-1, H-1B and others)
Your visa plus your I-94. A letter from your US employer confirming your job and start date can help.
Students (F-1 and others)
Your student visa, I-20 and I-94. A letter from your school helps. Students usually ship less, often a pallet or two, which is where a pallet move makes sense.
No US status yet
If you’re moving for good, sort out your status first. We only ship household goods into the US for people who have the right to live there.
The one-year rule, in plain words
US Customs lets used household goods in duty-free when:
- You owned and used them outside the US for at least a year
- They’re for your own household, not for sale
Furniture you’ve had for three years, your kitchen, your books and clothes: duty-free. The TV you bought last month: it can be dutiable. Anything you plan to sell after you arrive: dutiable, and declared separately.
Keep receipts or anything that dates your bigger items. You may never need them, but they settle the question quickly if CBP asks.
Items with their own rules
Vehicles. A car never goes in as household goods. It needs its own US entry with EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7. We ship vehicles too: ask about yours when you quote.
Alcohol. Wine collections and spirits are dutiable and follow the rules of the state you’re moving to. Don’t pack them with your household goods without telling us.
Firearms and ammunition. Separate permits and rules. Tell us before you pack them.
Cash. More than US$10,000 has to be reported when it crosses. Don’t pack cash.
Food, plants, soil and firewood. Leave them behind. Clean outdoor gear (bikes, tools, garden equipment) before packing; dirt can trigger an inspection.
Lithium batteries and anything flammable. Power banks, e-bike and tool batteries, propane, paint and aerosols. Ask us before you pack them.
What you do, what we do
| Step | You | Enveo |
|---|---|---|
| Before booking | Tell us your status and moving date | Send you the checklist for your situation |
| Inventory | List and number your boxes | Give you the template and help you fill it in |
| Forms | Fill in and sign your own customs forms | Tell you which forms apply and check they’re complete |
| Status documents | Send copies of your passport, visa or green card, I-94 | Check them before dispatch |
| Clearance | Be reachable in case CBP has a question | Guide you through clearance until your goods are released |
| Delivery | Be at your new address | Deliver and unload |
We gather all of this before your shipment is dispatched. If something’s missing, we find out in Calgary, not at the border.
Timeline: when each document is needed
When you book: your status and destination, so we can send the right checklist.
Before pickup: passport copy, proof of status, and your inventory. Your inventory needs to match what goes on the truck, so finish it as you pack.
Before the truck crosses: the signed 3299.
At clearance: be reachable by phone and email. Most questions are quick, but they need a quick answer.
Common mistakes that hold up a shipment
- “Misc” on the inventory. Every box needs real contents and a value.
- Shipping before your status is sorted. We need your status before we can ship.
- Packing something for sale. It turns a duty-free shipment into a commercial one.
- A car hidden in the household goods. It needs its own entry, every time.
- Forgetting the I-94. Look it up online once you’ve entered the US and send us a copy.
FAQ
Do I need a customs broker?
Ask us when you quote. We guide you through customs from booking to delivery: you sign your own forms, and we collect your documents and check them before dispatch.
Do I fill in the customs forms myself?
Yes. You fill in and sign your own forms, because the declaration is yours. We tell you which ones apply and check they’re complete before your shipment leaves.
Do I pay duty on my household goods?
Used household goods you’ve owned and used for a year or more generally enter the US duty-free. Newer items and anything for sale can be dutiable.
Do I have to be in the US before my shipment arrives?
Plan on it. Your shipment clears against your US status and your I-94, so it’s safest to arrive first.
I’m moving from the US to Canada. Is it the same?
No. Moving into Canada uses different forms (the B4 goods list, declared the first time you cross). We move both ways and send you the right checklist for your direction.
What if I’m missing a document?
Tell us early. Most gaps can be fixed before pickup. Missing documents found at the border cost time.
Get your checklist
Tell us your status, your pickup city and your US destination. We’ll send you the checklist for your situation and a quote for the move.
WhatsApp or call 587-358-2992, or request a quote at enveomoving.ca/contact.
Enveo National & Worldwide Movers Inc. · 11420 27 St SE Unit 201, Calgary, AB T2Z 3R6, Canada · 587-358-2992 · Long-distance, Canada–US cross-border and international moves.