Cross-Border Moving FAQs: Canada to the United States

Used household goods and personal belongings may qualify for duty-free entry into the United States, but eligibility depends on your circumstances and the type of items being imported. Household items used abroad for at least one year are generally eligible for duty-free treatment when they are being imported for personal use rather than for sale.

New purchases, vehicles, alcohol, food, commercial goods and certain regulated items may be subject to different requirements, duties or taxes. All items must be accurately declared.

Because customs regulations and individual circumstances can change, Highland recommends confirming current requirements directly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before your move. Our cross-border moving coordinator will help you prepare the moving documents required for your shipment, but cannot determine whether duties or taxes will apply.

The documents required for a cross-border move depend on your citizenship, immigration status and reason for entering the United States. Most unaccompanied household-goods shipments require a completed CBP Form 3299, Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles, together with a detailed inventory or packing list.

Depending on your circumstances, your moving coordinator may also request copies of documents such as:

• A valid passport
• Your U.S. visa or other immigration documents
• Your I-94 arrival record, when applicable
• Proof of employment, study or U.S. residence
• Proof of property ownership or a lease
• Proof of your Canadian residence
• A marriage certificate when spouses use different surnames

Your Highland moving coordinator will provide a document checklist based on the information available for your move. Final document and admission requirements are determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other applicable government agencies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has the authority to inspect any shipment entering the United States. Although not every cross-border moving shipment is physically examined, Customs may request additional documentation, open part of the shipment or require the goods to be unloaded for inspection.

Highland reviews the available paperwork before the shipment leaves Canada to help reduce avoidable delays. However, the decision to inspect a shipment belongs entirely to U.S. Customs.

If an inspection is ordered, additional costs may apply for unloading, reloading, examination services, storage or driver waiting time. These government- or inspection-related charges are not normally included in the original moving estimate.

Customers generally do not need to be physically present at the border when Highland’s moving truck crosses into the United States. The carrier normally presents the shipment and supporting documents to Customs.

Before your household goods can be cleared, you must have completed the immigration process required for your entry into the United States. Customers entering with a work or study visa may need to provide proof of admission, such as their I-94 arrival record.

If documentation is missing or Customs cannot release the shipment at the border, the goods may be moved in bond to an authorized Customs location. In that situation, you may be required to appear in person or provide additional documentation before the shipment can be released.

A vehicle being permanently imported into the United States must satisfy applicable U.S. safety, emissions and customs requirements. Canadian vehicles do not automatically qualify simply because they were legally registered in Canada.

Depending on the vehicle, you may need:

• Confirmation from the original manufacturer regarding compliance with U.S. safety standards
• NHTSA Form HS-7
• EPA Form 3520-1
• Ownership and registration documents
• Customs documentation
• Assistance from a Registered Importer if the vehicle does not meet applicable U.S. standards

Different provisions may apply to older vehicles, returning U.S.-registered vehicles and vehicles imported temporarily by non-residents. A nonconforming vehicle admitted temporarily generally must be exported within the authorized period and cannot be sold in the United States.

Before arranging transportation, confirm the vehicle’s eligibility directly with the appropriate U.S. authorities. Highland can coordinate the transportation but cannot approve a vehicle for importation.

Yes, but a trusted adult must normally be present on your behalf at both the loading and delivery addresses.

At origin, this person must be authorized to provide access, answer questions, sign the required paperwork and complete a final walkthrough after loading. The walkthrough helps confirm that everything intended for the move has been collected.

At destination, someone must be available to direct the placement of furniture and boxes, confirm that the shipment has been delivered and sign the delivery documents.

Let your Highland moving consultant know in advance who will represent you so the necessary arrangements and authorizations can be completed before moving day.

Yes. Highland can coordinate a cross-border move from a Canadian second home even when the owner cannot attend in person.

A trusted representative will generally need to be present at the residence to provide access, oversee the loading, complete the final walkthrough and sign the moving documents on your behalf. Someone must also be available at the U.S. destination for delivery.

Additional documentation may be needed to establish ownership of the belongings, your Canadian and U.S. residences and the authority of the person acting for you. Your moving consultant will explain the logistical requirements and provide a document checklist for your situation.

Yes. Highland can help transport inherited household belongings from Canada to the United States, provided the required estate and customs documentation is available.

Documents may include:

• The portion of the will or estate documentation showing that you inherited the belongings
• A copy of your passport
• A copy of the deceased person’s passport, when available
• A copy of the death certificate
• A detailed inventory of the inherited items
• Any additional documents requested by U.S. Customs

Inherited household and personal belongings may qualify for duty-free treatment in certain circumstances, but U.S. Customs makes the final determination. Contact Highland early so our cross-border moving team can review the logistical requirements before the shipment is scheduled.

Yes. Highland can arrange vehicle transportation through an experienced third-party automobile carrier.

Using a specialized car carrier is generally more practical and cost-effective than transporting a vehicle inside a household-goods moving van. Depending on your destination and budget, we can arrange convenient door-to-door service or a more economical terminal-to-terminal option.

Both options provide professional packing, loading and transportation, but they're designed for different types of moves.

With Highland's World Class Container (WCC) service, your belongings are professionally loaded into one or more exclusive-use wooden containers at your home. The containers are securely sealed and remain dedicated to your shipment throughout the move, reducing handling and providing added protection. Because WCC shipments travel directly to their destination rather than waiting to be consolidated with other shipments, they also typically offer faster transit times for smaller long-distance and cross-border moves.

A WCC container is often an excellent choice for:

• Cross-border moves between Canada and the United States
• Long-distance moves across Canada
• Condos, apartments and smaller household moves
• Customers who prefer faster delivery times
• Shipments that may require secure storage before final delivery
• Customers who want the added security of an exclusive-use container

For larger household moves, a traditional long-distance moving van may be the more practical and cost-effective option. Our experienced moving consultants will recommend the moving solution that best fits the size of your shipment, destination, schedule and budget.

Plants are highly regulated when entering the United States, and eligibility depends on the plant species, country of origin, condition of the plant, growing material and destination state. All plants and other agricultural items must be declared.

Some plants are prohibited, while others may require permits, inspections, phytosanitary certificates or removal of soil and growing media. State-level restrictions may also apply. A plant that does not meet the applicable requirements may be refused entry, returned or destroyed.

Having said this, the stress and heat of being inside a commercial moving vehicle can be detrimental to plants. Therefore, while we can transport plants locally, this is done at your own risk. We do not recommend moving plants on long-distance moves. They often do not survive the heat or cold weather. If you are moving a relatively shorter distance, like from Vancouver to Seattle, and depending on the circumstances, you may decide to let us ship your plants.

Getting back to the customs regulations, plant-import rules are specific and can change, do not place plants in your household shipment unless their admissibility has been confirmed in advance. Check the current requirements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection before moving day.

Pet-entry requirements depend on the type of animal, its age, health and travel history. Owners should confirm the current requirements before travelling because Highland does not transport pets in its household-goods moving vans.

For dogs entering from Canada, current federal requirements generally include:

• A completed CDC Dog Import Form receipt
• A microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner
• A minimum age of six months
• The dog appearing healthy upon arrival

Additional requirements apply if the dog has been in a country considered high-risk for dog rabies during the previous six months. Airlines, destination states and local authorities may also have separate vaccination, health-certificate or entry requirements.

Rules for cats and other animals differ from the rules for dogs. Confirm the requirements with the appropriate federal agencies, your veterinarian, your transportation provider and the authorities at your U.S. destination.

Yes. Some items are prohibited, restricted, unsafe to transport or require special handling when moving from Canada to the United States. Examples include hazardous materials, perishable food, plants, alcohol, firearms, ammunition, explosives, fuel, chemicals, certain medications, and other items regulated by government agencies.

If you're unsure whether an item can be shipped, speak with your Highland moving consultant before packing it. We'll identify items that cannot travel in your household-goods shipment and let you know if special arrangements may be required. You can also review our, Dangerous Goods, Non-Admissible Items for Moving , and Do Not Ship lists for additional guidance.

Customers are responsible for accurately declaring the contents of their shipment and ensuring that any restricted items comply with applicable U.S. import regulations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other government agencies make the final decision regarding whether an item is permitted to enter the United States.