Whether you are relocating for tech in Toronto, finance in Vancouver, or family in Nova Scotia, AMC turns moving from Ireland to Canada into a smooth, one-stop journey.
We export-pack your belongings, load them into secure sea containers or priority air pallets, clear Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) paperwork, and deliver safely to homes and apartments across the country, even in the depths of a Canadian winter.
Sea freight: weekly departures, 12–14 days on water to East-coast ports; allow 4–6 weeks door-to-door including customs and rail to Central/Western Canada. Air freight: ideal for unaccompanied luggage; 7–10 days door-to-door to most Canadian airports.
Used household goods owned six months+ enter duty- and tax-free with a completed CBSA Form B4E. AMC prepares the B4E, inventory list and submits them to CBSA. New items and large alcohol shipments may attract 5 % duty + GST/HST. We advise you case-by-case.
Canada is one of the most popular destinations for Irish emigrants right now, and the spread of where people are landing has widened considerably. Toronto and Vancouver still dominate, but Alberta and Atlantic Canada are growing fast.
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto is Canada's largest city and the default landing point for most Irish arrivals. It has the deepest job market in the country, with strong demand across finance, tech, construction, healthcare, and professional services. The Irish community here is well-established, with Irish-Canadian networks, GAA clubs, and cultural organisations active across the GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
Housing is expensive. A one-bedroom apartment in central Toronto runs C$2,200–C$3,200 per month. Suburbs like Mississauga, Brampton, and Markham are more affordable and still within commuting distance. Many Irish families settle in Oakville or Burlington to the west of the city.
Shipping to Toronto means inland delivery from the Port of Montréal or Halifax. Sea freight door-to-door averages 5–7 weeks.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver sits on the west coast between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It's consistently rated one of the most liveable cities in the world. The weather is mild (by Canadian standards), the scenery is striking, and the tech and film industries provide solid employment.
It's also Canada's most expensive city for housing. A one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver proper runs C$2,500–C$3,800 per month. Many people live in Surrey, Burnaby, or the North Shore and commute.
Shipping to Vancouver uses the Port of Vancouver. Containers travel via the Panama Canal or across the Atlantic and Pacific in relay. Transit from Ireland runs 6–8 weeks door-to-door.
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is the energy capital of Canada. Oil, gas, engineering, and construction drive the economy. Salaries in these sectors are among the highest in Canada, and Alberta has no provincial income tax. The cost of living is lower than Toronto or Vancouver. A decent three-bedroom house in a Calgary suburb rents for C$1,800–C$2,800 per month.
Calgary has grown its tech sector in recent years, and the city has attracted Irish arrivals across a wider range of industries than its resource-heavy reputation suggests.
Shipping to Calgary is inland delivery from the Port of Vancouver, adding a few days to transit time.
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa is a city that suits Irish emigrants with backgrounds in government, public service, defence, or tech. It's quieter than Toronto, more affordable, and genuinely bilingual, about 40% of residents speak French. The federal government is the largest employer, and a significant number of Irish arriving on skilled worker visas find work in the public sector or with government contractors.
A one-bedroom apartment in Ottawa central runs C$1,800–C$2,600 per month, roughly 30% cheaper than equivalent Toronto accommodation.
Halifax and Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador) is an increasingly popular destination for Irish emigrants, partly because the provincial governments here have been actively recruiting from Ireland through immigration programmes. Halifax is the main city, a university town with a strong healthcare, ocean technology, and defence sector.
The cost of living is well below the national average. A three-bedroom house in the Halifax suburbs rents for C$1,800–$2,500 per month. Rural Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are cheaper still, and properties are genuinely affordable to buy.
Shipping to Halifax uses the Port of Halifax, one of the closest major Canadian ports to Ireland. Transit from Dublin is among the shortest of any Canadian route, at 3–4 weeks door-to-door in many cases.
Sea freight is the right choice for most household moves. Air freight is available for small, urgent shipments. The cost depends on how much you're bringing and where in Canada you are going.
Here's a rough guide to sea freight costs from Ireland to Canadian east coast ports (Halifax, Montréal):
1-bed flat, basics only (5–10 CBM): €2,500–€4,000
2–3 bed house, no bulky furniture (15–20 CBM): €4,800–€7,500
Full 3–4 bed house (25–35 CBM): €7,500–€12,500
Full 20ft container (33 CBM): €9,500–€14,500
Vancouver and west coast destinations add approximately €1,000–€2,000 to the above due to the longer journey and inland rail or road delivery across Canada.
Air freight runs €9–€16 per kilogram. A 100kg personal effects shipment costs roughly €900–€1,800 door-to-door. Practical for urgent essentials. Not cost-effective for a full household.
Book a free pre-move survey with AMC to get a fixed quote based on your actual volume.
Canada is one of the most accessible countries in the world for Irish emigrants from an immigration perspective. The points-based Express Entry system rewards youth, education, language skills, and work experience, and Irish applicants tend to score well across all four.
Express Entry
Express Entry is the main pathway to Canadian permanent residence for skilled workers. It manages three federal immigration programmes:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): For people with at least one year of skilled work experience. Scored using a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that considers age, education, language ability, and Canadian work experience. Minimum score to be invited has varied between 450 and 560 in recent years. Irish applicants in their 20s and early 30s with a degree and English fluency typically score well.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Requires at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada. Used by people who arrived on a temporary visa and are applying for permanent residence from within Canada.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program: For people qualified in specific skilled trades likeelectricians, plumbers, welders, heavy equipment operators, and others. Trade qualifications must be verifiable.
Express Entry draws happen regularly (sometimes every two weeks). The time from invitation to permanent residence is typically 6 months.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Every province has its own immigration programme that allows it to nominate candidates for permanent residence outside the federal Express Entry pool. For Irish emigrants, the most relevant are:
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):Streams for tech workers, skilled workers, and international students
- British Columbia PNP: Tech pilot stream for tech workers; skills immigration streams for other occupations
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP): Streams for workers in healthcare, construction, and other priority sectors
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Specifically designed to attract and retain immigrants in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland. Employers in these provinces can recruit directly from abroad. The Irish government has promoted this programme, and there are active employer partnerships in healthcare, IT, and aquaculture.
Temporary Foreign Worker routes
Several temporary visa options allow you to live and work in Canada while you build the points or work experience needed for permanent residence:
- International Experience Canada (IEC) Working Holiday: Open to Irish citizens aged 18–35. Allows up to 24 months of work anywhere in Canada on an open work permit. One of the most straightforward ways to arrive and assess your options. Applications open each January.
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): Requires a job offer and a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from your employer.
- Intra-Company Transfer: For employees of multinationals transferring from an Irish office to a Canadian one.
Irish citizens do not need a visa for short visits to Canada (up to 6 months on an eTA, Electronic Travel Authorisation). But to work legally, you need the right permit before you arrive.
Tax and finances
Notify Revenue that you're leaving Ireland. If you've paid PAYE and are emigrating mid-year, you may be due a refund.
Opening a Canadian bank account before you arrive is possible with the major banks: RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, and CIBC all have newcomer programmes that allow account opening from Ireland. You'll typically need your passport, your visa, and a Canadian address. Some banks allow you to book an appointment at a branch for your arrival day.
Healthcare
Each province administers its own public health insurance. Ontario (OHIP), British Columbia (MSP), Alberta (AHCIP), and others all have waiting periods for new residents: typically 3 months. During that period you'll need private travel or visitor health insurance. Budget around C$150–C$300 per month for temporary private cover.
Register for provincial health insurance as soon as you arrive and are officially resident.
Driving licence
An Irish driving licence is valid for driving in Canada for varying periods depending on the province: typically 60–90 days. After that, you'll need to convert to a provincial licence. Ontario, BC, and several other provinces have reciprocal agreements with Ireland that allow direct conversion without a road test. Bring your Irish licence, your passport, and your proof of address to the provincial licensing office.
12+ months before
- Check your Express Entry CRS score at ircc.canada.ca
- If under 25: apply for the IEC Working Holiday: applications open each January
- Identify target province and check PNP streams relevant to your occupation
- Declutter before getting quotes
6 months before
- Book your free pre-move survey with AMC
- Open a Canadian bank account (newcomer programme)
- Confirm destination city and province
- Research provincial health insurance waiting period and arrange interim cover
3 months before
- Confirm shipping date with AMC
- Notify Revenue Ireland you're leaving
- Book flights
- Prepare your CBSA Form B4E documents (AMC will assist)
6–8 weeks before
- AMC delivers packing materials to your door
- Begin packing non-essentials
- Confirm Canadian delivery address
Moving week
- AMC crew packs and loads
- Full inventory and bill of lading issued
- Tracking access through AMC staff.
On arrival
- Register for provincial health insurance immediately
- Convert your driving licence within the permitted window
- Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN): required for employment and benefits
- AMC's Canadian partner crew delivers after CBSA clearance
AMC has been moving Irish families to Canada for over 25 years. We hold FIDI and FAIM accreditation, independently audited standards that fewer than 600 removal companies worldwide carry.
We prepare your CBSA Form B4E Personal Effects Accounting Document in-house. We have partner delivery crews in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montréal, and across Atlantic Canada. Our trucks are winter-ready, which matters when your container arrives in Halifax in February.
One coordinator handles your move from survey to delivery. No handoffs between departments, no chasing for updates.
Book your free pre-move survey to get a fixed quote based on your actual volume.
Shipping a car or motorbike? Our Vehicle Transport team moves cars in-container or RORO, secures RIV clearance, and guides you through federal safety inspection and provincial registration.
Q. How much does it cost to move to Canada?
A. Pricing depends on volume, destination province and service level. Get an exact quote with our free survey.
Q. How long will my shipment take?
A. Sea freight averages 4–6 weeks door-to-door; air freight 7–10 days.
Q. Do I pay duty or tax on personal effects?
A. Used goods owned six months+ are duty- and tax-free with Form B4E. New items may be taxed.
Q. Can I pack myself?
A. You can, but self-packed cartons are subject to CBSA inspection and limited insurance. Professional packing gives full cover and faster clearance.
Q. What items are restricted?
A. Firearms, certain foodstuffs and untreated wood require permits. We’ll guide you.
Q. What if my Canadian address isn’t ready?
A. We’ll store goods securely until you receive keys, then arrange final delivery. See more about storage here.
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