It’ll cost between £7,000 and £20,000 to move to Canada from the UK in 2026. Your total costs will vary depending on your requirements and circumstances such as visa types and flight costs.
It’s essential to understand the costs that come with moving to Canada so you can create a budget. Setting a budget and using our handy guide will help you avoid any hidden fees or surprise costs during your move.
Breakdown of the Costs of Moving to Canada
Visa and Document Costs
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) – If you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Worker stream, you’ll need an Educational Credential Assessment to confirm your UK qualifications are equivalent to Canadian ones. WES, the most commonly used provider, charges around CAD $220 (about £120).
- Language Test – You’ll need to prove your language ability in English or French. Most UK applicants take the IELTS General Training test, which costs around £200 to £240 in the UK. French is not required: the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) is only for those immigrating through a French-language stream or claiming extra points for French, and costs around CAD $400.
- Document Authentication – Express Entry rarely requires you to authenticate documents, since you submit police certificates, language results and your credential assessment directly. If a document does need authenticating for use in Canada, UK-issued documents are apostilled by the FCDO at £45 each (Canada joined the Apostille Convention in January 2024). The CAD $20 Global Affairs Canada fee applies to Canadian-issued documents, not UK ones.
- Mandatory Medical Check – You’ll need to pass a medical exam to ensure you’re don’t post a health risk to people living in Canada. Medical exam costs typically cost between CAD $100 (£53) and CAD $300 (£160). Costs vary depending on requirements.
- Police Clearance Certificate – If you’re moving to Canada from the UK, you’ll need a UK police certificate from ACRO to prove you don’t have a criminal record. It costs £65 for the standard service or £115 for the premium two-day service.
- Visa Application Fee – For Express Entry permanent residence, the fees (as of 30 April 2026) are a CAD $990 processing fee plus a CAD $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, so CAD $1,590 (around £850) for the main applicant, and the same CAD $1,590 for a spouse or partner. Each dependent child is CAD $270 (around £145); children are exempt from the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Biometrics add CAD $85 per person (CAD $170 per family).
- Visa Assistance – It’s not mandatory, but hiring a solicitor to help with the visa process can help. They take care of document preparation and submission of your visa application. Costs vary depending on the complexity and type of visa but can cost between CAD $2,500 (£1,334) to CAD $5,500 (£2,935).
Travel and Relocation Costs
- Flights from the UK to Canada: A one-way flight to Canada flying economy starts from around £250-£500. Premium economy ranges from £600 to £900 and business class can cost upwards of £2,500.
- Shipping Your Belongings: Cost of removals to Canada from the UK typically cost from £4,020 to £5,630 for a 3-bedroom house move in a 20ft container. Budget more for insurance and any further services. Costs vary depending on destination, size and requirements.
- Rental Deposits & Advance Rent: Deposit and advance costs vary by province, but you’ll typically be expected to pay half a month’s rent as a deposit plus the first and last month’s rent in advance. The average rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in Canada is around CAD $2,600 (about £1,390), though in Toronto or Vancouver a 3-bedroom runs closer to CAD $3,000 to CAD $4,000. Budget around CAD $6,500 (about £3,470) for moving-in costs, more in the big cities.
- Health Insurance: Some provinces (including British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec) make new residents wait up to 3 months before public healthcare begins, so you’ll need private cover for that period, typically around CAD $100 to CAD $200 (about £55 to £105) per month. Other provinces, such as Alberta and Manitoba, cover newcomers from arrival, so no waiting-period insurance is needed.
- Shipping Your Car: Shipping your car to Canada starts from around CAD $2,336 (£1,247) to ship a standard saloon car to Halifax.
- Shipping your Pet: It costs between CAD $1,720 to CAD $6,880 (£917 to £3671) to ship your pet to Canada. This is the cost for a large dog and costs will vary depending on the type and size of pet, location and requirements.
Average Salaries in Canada
The average salary in Canada for 2025 is $60,000 to $65,000 (£34,800 – £37,700) per annum. This is just an average, and salaries vary by province and territory and by expertise. Here’s a breakdown of average annual salaries for skilled workers in different regions using data from Statistics Canada:
- Vancouver: CAD $70,000 – $75,000 (£40,600 – £43,500)
- Toronto: CAD $75,000 – $80,000 (£43,500 – £46,400)
- Montreal: CAD $55,000 – $60,000 (£31,900 – £34,800)
- Calgary: CAD $65,000 – $70,000 (£34,700 – £37,300)
- Edmonton: CAD $60,000 – $65,000 (£34,800 – £37,700)
Final Thoughts
It may seem expensive to move to Canada, but once you’ve paid the upfront costs and settled in, you can begin your new adventure abroad. Canada offers an excellent quality of life, healthcare, education and career opportunities, which is why many Brits move there each year.
Use this cost guide to know what to expect throughout the immigration process, from the visa fees to relocation expenses. You can also get a free tailored quote for your removals to Canada with 1st Move International. This will give you an accurate price to add to your budget. Simply complete our form and our team of experts will be in touch.
Moving to Canada – We Can Help
Get in touch if you need 1st Move International to help with your move to Canada from the UK. We are specialists in international removals with over 25 years in the industry and provide a full moving experience. We’ll handle the packing, shipping, insurance and customs to get you moved safely to Canada. Find out more about shipping furniture to Canada.