Cross-Border Moving · 10 min read
Moving Between Toronto & the U.S.: A Cross-Border Moving Guide
Moving between Toronto and the United States requires more planning than a typical local or domestic long-distance move. Whether you're relocating from Toronto to the U.S. or from the U.S. to Toronto, your household goods will cross an international border and must meet applicable customs and documentation requirements. Keep Moving provides cross-border moving services in both directions on selected routes, helping customers coordinate the transportation side of their relocation between Ontario and the United States.
Canada to U.S. and U.S. to Canada moving
Cross-border moves can be arranged in either direction depending on the route and scheduling availability. Popular routes may include Toronto ↔ Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago. Other U.S. and Ontario destinations may also be available depending on the move.
How is a cross-border move different?
Unlike moving between two Canadian cities, a Canada–U.S. relocation involves an international border. Household goods entering either country may be subject to customs requirements. Documentation requirements can differ depending on the direction of the move, the customer's status, the goods being transported and other circumstances. For this reason, border preparation should begin well before moving day.
What documents will I need?
Required documents vary depending on whether you're entering Canada or the United States and your individual circumstances. Customers may need identification, immigration or residency documents, and information or inventories relating to the household goods being imported. Because customs and immigration requirements can change, customers should verify current requirements directly with the appropriate Canadian or U.S. government authorities before their move.
Prepare a household goods inventory
An accurate inventory is particularly important for international moving. Before packing, go through each room and determine exactly what will be transported. This also gives you an opportunity to sell, donate or dispose of belongings you no longer need before paying to transport them internationally.
What items cannot cross the border?
Canada and the United States both regulate certain goods entering their countries. Restrictions or additional requirements may apply to items such as certain foods, plants, alcohol, firearms, medications and other regulated products. Customers should verify current government requirements for their specific direction of travel. Keep passports, immigration paperwork and other essential personal documents with you rather than inside the moving truck.
How much does a Toronto–U.S. cross-border move cost?
There is no standard price because the requirements of each relocation are different. Pricing may be affected by the distance between pickup and delivery, size and volume of the shipment, crew requirements, packing services, property access, heavy or specialty items, parking and loading conditions, transportation requirements and additional services requested. A Toronto–Buffalo move, for example, has very different transportation requirements from a Toronto–Chicago move.
How long does a cross-border move take?
The schedule depends on the route, shipment size, loading and unloading requirements, border processing, traffic, weather and other operational considerations. Cross-border customers should allow additional flexibility compared with a local move because border processing can sometimes affect transportation schedules. Your expected pickup and delivery arrangements should be discussed when booking the move.
Moving from Toronto to the United States
If you're leaving Toronto or another Ontario community, confirm access at both your Canadian pickup property and your U.S. destination. For condominiums, check elevator reservations, permitted moving hours, loading areas, parking arrangements and any insurance documentation requested by building management. You should also have the necessary border documentation prepared before the shipment leaves Canada.
Moving from the United States to Toronto
Customers relocating to Toronto should also prepare for their Canadian delivery before the truck arrives. If you're moving into a Toronto condominium or apartment building, contact management ahead of time to arrange elevator access and determine the building's move-in requirements. Customers entering Canada should confirm the applicable Canadian requirements for importing their household and personal effects.
Packing for a cross-border move
Because belongings may travel a significant distance, proper packing and furniture protection are especially important. Keep Moving can provide full or partial packing services depending on the requirements of the move. Additional protection may be appropriate for televisions, electronics, mirrors, artwork, glass furniture, dishes and other fragile belongings.
Cross-border moving services
Keep Moving provides cross-border moving services between Toronto, the GTA and Ontario and selected destinations throughout the United States, subject to route and scheduling availability. Services may include residential moving, commercial moving, packing services, furniture protection, loading and unloading, and long-distance transportation.
Planning a Canada–U.S. move?
Whether you're moving from Toronto to the United States or from the United States to Toronto, start by providing your pickup location, destination, preferred moving date and approximate move size. Our team can review the transportation requirements and prepare an estimate for your specific relocation.