How Much Money Do You Need to Move to Canada? (UK 2026 Cost Guide)

If you’re working out how much money you need to move to Canada, start by separating immigration requirements from the money you’ll actually spend on the move. For some Express Entry routes, one applicant currently needs at least CAD 15,263 in settlement funds, while a family of four needs CAD 28,362. You also need separate cash for application fees, flights, shipping and other costs before you arrive.

This guide breaks those figures down for UK movers, including current proof-of-funds rules, immigration fees, shipping costs, rental deposits and the money you may need during your first few months in Canada. It also shows how the budget changes for a solo move versus relocating with a family.

Key Takeaways

• Settlement funds are not an immigration fee. They are savings that some applicants must prove they have available and can later use to support themselves after arriving in Canada.
• Pre-arrival costs need their own budget. Immigration fees, flights and removals may need to be paid while you still maintain the required settlement-funds balance.
• The amount depends on your immigration route. Not every Canadian visa or permanent residence programme uses the same proof-of-funds rules.
• Moving with a family does not multiply every cost by four. Flights and some immigration fees rise per person, while shipping, rent deposits and household setup are partly shared.
• Shipping is one of the larger costs you can price accurately before moving. A quote based on your actual volume and destination gives you a firmer overall budget.

How Much Should I Have Saved Before Moving to Canada From the UK?

If you are working out how much money you need to move to Canada from the UK, start with the amount your immigration route requires you to keep available, then add the costs you will pay before you arrive. For a solo Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades applicant, that currently means at least CAD 15,263 in settlement funds, plus application fees, flights and shipping.

Your Canada Moving Budget at a Glance

Budget Component	Solo Mover	Family of Four	When You Need It
Express Entry settlement funds, where required	CAD 15,263 (~£8,131)	CAD 28,362 (~£15,109)	Available when you apply and when IRCC issues your permanent resident visa
PR application and biometrics fees	~CAD 1,675 (~£892)	~CAD 3,890 (~£2,072)	Before landing
Shipping	From £1,800 for a smaller shared load	Around £3,000 to £9,500 depending on volume and container type	Before or during the move
Flights	Current market price	Current market price per person	Before landing
Rent deposit and initial setup	Depends on your province and property	Depends on your province and property	After landing

Source: The settlement-fund figures come from IRCC’s current Express Entry proof-of-funds requirements. Application and biometrics charges should be checked against IRCC’s current fee schedule.

The GBP conversions here use the Bank of Canada exchange rate from 21 August 2026, approximately CAD 1.8772 to £1. Shipping figures come from Simpsons’ current removals to Canada pricing.

What does that mean in practice?

A solo Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades applicant using a small groupage shipment would need roughly £10,800 to £12,200 across settlement funds, government fees and shipping before adding flights.

A family of four could be looking at roughly £20,000 to £26,700 across those same categories, depending mainly on shipment size.

Those totals are planning examples, not immigration minimums. Your settlement funds remain your money and are intended to help cover rent, food and other living costs after you arrive in Canada. The important point is that you must still have the required amount available at the stages when IRCC asks you to prove it.

Is There a Minimum Savings Requirement to Move to Canada?

There is no single minimum savings requirement for every Canadian visa or immigration route. Under Express Entry, the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programmes require applicants to show published settlement funds. Canadian Experience Class applicants do not need to show Express Entry settlement funds.

FSW and FST applicants can also be exempt if they are authorised to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. A job offer on its own is not enough. Other immigration routes, including the Atlantic Immigration Program, use different settlement fund requirements, so the amount you need depends on the programme you are applying through.

Even when you are exempt, the Express Entry system may still ask you to upload a proof-of-funds document. CEC applicants can upload a letter explaining that they were invited under the Canadian Experience Class. If you are relying on the job-offer exemption, explain that you have both a valid job offer and authorisation to work in Canada.

Express Entry Settlement Funds by Family Size

Family Size	Settlement Funds Required (CAD)	Approx. GBP Equivalent*
1	$15,263	~£8,131
2	$19,001	~£10,122
3	$23,360	~£12,444
4	$28,362	~£15,109
5	$32,168	~£17,136
6	$36,280	~£19,327
7	$40,392	~£21,517
Each additional person	+$4,112	+~£2,190

*Figures are IRCC’s published settlement fund requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programmes, marked “Updated July 7, 2025” and still current when checked on 24 August 2026.

One detail that matters when calculating proof of funds to move to Canada is that IRCC counts your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children as part of your family size even if they are not moving with you. They can also count if they are already Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

What Counts as Proof of Funds and How Do You Show It?

Proof of funds means an official letter from each of your banks or financial institutions, on letterhead, showing:

• The institution’s address, phone number and email
• Your name
• Your account numbers and the date each account was opened
• Current balances and your average balance over the previous six months
• Any outstanding debts, such as credit cards and loans

The money can’t be borrowed, and property equity doesn’t count. Joint funds held with an accompanying spouse or partner can count towards the total, and funds held solely by a spouse may also be accepted if you can demonstrate access to them.

What Upfront Costs Will I Pay Before Moving to Canada?

Before you move, the main upfront costs are immigration fees, biometrics, any application-specific checks, flights and shipping. The government fees are fixed, while medical exams, police certificates, language testing, credential assessments and travel costs vary by applicant.

From 30 April 2026, IRCC’s economic immigration fees are CAD 1,590 for the principal applicant, made up of a CAD 990 processing fee and a CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee. An accompanying spouse or partner also pays CAD 1,590, while each dependent child costs CAD 270. Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person, capped at CAD 170 for a qualifying family.

That brings the government total to about CAD 1,675 (around £892) for one applicant, or CAD 3,890 (around £2,072) for a family of four with two adults and two dependent children. You can check the full breakdown in the current IRCC immigration fees.

You may also need to pay separately for a medical examination, police certificates, language testing or an educational credential assessment, depending on your immigration route. These are not included in the figures above. Flights and removals should also sit in your pre-arrival budget, since both are paid before or during the move.

What Will I Need to Pay After I Arrive?

Once you land in Canada, your biggest costs are usually housing, healthcare where temporary cover is needed, and setting up your day-to-day life. The exact amount varies by province, especially for rental deposits and public healthcare eligibility.

Rent Deposits Vary by Province

Canada does not have one national rule for rental deposits. What a landlord can ask for depends on the province, so do not assume “first and last month’s rent” applies everywhere.

Province	What Can Be Required
Ontario	Up to one month’s rent as a deposit for the final rental period, plus your first rent payment
British Columbia	A security deposit of no more than half a month’s rent, plus your first rent payment
Quebec	No compulsory security deposit, and no more than one month’s rent can be demanded in advance

Before working out your move-in cash, check the rules for your destination through Ontario’s settling-in guidance, British Columbia’s tenancy deposit rules, or Quebec’s rent payment rules.

Healthcare Costs Depend on Where You Move

Public healthcare rules are also set provincially. Ontario currently has no OHIP waiting period for eligible residents, while British Columbia can make new residents wait for the balance of their arrival month plus two more months before MSP coverage starts.

If there is a gap before provincial cover begins, temporary private insurance belongs in your arrival budget.

International Experience Canada has its own rule. IEC participants must arrive with health insurance covering their full authorised stay, including medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation. Provincial healthcare alone does not meet that requirement.

Everyday Setup Costs

Then there are the practical costs of getting established. You may need to furnish an unfurnished rental, set up phone and internet services, buy household basics and arrange local transport.

If you plan to drive, allow extra room for a car, registration and insurance. Newcomers without a Canadian insurance history can face higher premiums, so this is worth pricing before you arrive rather than treating it as a small incidental cost.

How Much More Does It Cost to Move a Family to Canada?

Moving to Canada with a family costs more, but not in direct proportion to the number of people. Flights and immigration fees rise with each applicant, while housing deposits, shipping and household setup are shared costs.

For example, the current Express Entry settlement funds requirement is CAD 15,263 for one person and CAD 28,362 for a family of four. So a family of four needs less than twice the settlement funds of a solo applicant, not four times as much.

The same pattern applies to the move itself. A family will usually ship a larger volume and spend more on flights, food and transport, but you are still paying for one home, one rental deposit and one combined household shipment.

How Much Should I Budget for My First Three Months in Canada?

For your first three months in Canada, a sensible planning range is roughly CAD 8,400 to 14,400 for one person, CAD 13,500 to 21,000 for a couple, and CAD 19,500 to 30,000 or more for a family of four. That covers core living costs such as rent, utilities, groceries and transport.

Those totals are based on current monthly planning ranges of:

• Single person: CAD 2,800 to 4,800+
• Couple: CAD 4,500 to 7,000+
• Family of four: CAD 6,500 to 10,000+

Your actual budget will depend heavily on where you settle. Toronto and Vancouver can push the housing portion much higher, while smaller cities and towns can bring the total down.

For a fuller city-by-city breakdown, see our cost of living in Canada guide.

Shipping Belongings From the UK to Canada

Shipping costs from the UK to Canada are driven mainly by how much you take and whether you use groupage or a dedicated container. For a smaller move, expect to pay from around £1,800, while a larger household using a dedicated container can reach £9,500 or more before any inland haulage.

Shipping Costs to Canada from the UK

Shipment Type	Typical Cost (GBP)
1 to 2 bed, shared or groupage	£1,800 to £3,200
3 bed, shared or groupage	£3,000 to £4,500
3 bed, dedicated 20ft container	£4,500 to £6,500
4+ bed, dedicated 20ft container	£5,500 to £7,000
4+ bed, dedicated 40ft container	£7,000 to £9,500

If you’re moving to western Canada, destinations such as British Columbia and Alberta may add around £400 to £800 in inland haulage from the arrival port. The most useful step is to get a free, no-obligation removals quote based on your actual shipment volume and destination.

Declare Your “Goods to Follow” When You Arrive

If your belongings are arriving after you, declare them to CBSA when you first enter Canada. Prepare a list showing what is travelling with you and what will arrive later.

CBSA uses form BSF186, the Personal Effects Accounting Document, to record these goods. Keep your completed copy, as you’ll need it when the shipment arrives so eligible goods listed as “goods to follow” can qualify for duty- and tax-free importation.

See CBSA’s guidance for moving to Canada and the BSF186 form for the current process.

Carrying Settlement Funds Into Canada

If you physically bring CAD 10,000 or more, or the equivalent in another currency, into Canada in cash, bank drafts, travellers’ cheques or other reportable monetary instruments, you must declare it to CBSA.

There is no penalty for carrying more than CAD 10,000. The problem is failing to declare it. This rule applies to money and monetary instruments you physically bring across the border, not money that remains in your UK bank account.

For the move itself, our removals to Canada and container shipping to Canada pages cover the main options. If you’re still comparing destinations, see our wider guide to international removals from the UK.

Moving to Canada Budget Checklist

Before you leave the UK, make sure the main financial pieces are already clear. That means knowing what your immigration route requires, what you need to pay before departure, and what you will need once you arrive.

• Confirm your immigration route. Check whether your programme requires settlement funds and what amount applies to your family size.
• Prepare the right proof of funds. IRCC may require official bank letters showing your balances, account history and outstanding debts, not just recent statements.
• Keep required settlement funds available. Pay application fees, biometrics and other pre-departure costs without dropping below the minimum balance your route requires.
• Price your shipment properly. Get a quote based on your actual volume and destination instead of using a broad shipping estimate.
• Check provincial rules before renting. Deposit limits and healthcare waiting periods vary across Canada, so budget for the province you are actually moving to.
• Prepare your goods-to-follow list. If your shipment is arriving later, have the information ready for CBSA when you first enter Canada.
• Arrange IEC insurance before flying. International Experience Canada participants need health insurance covering their full authorised stay.
• Leave some breathing room in the budget. Keep a separate buffer for costs that are hard to predict, such as temporary accommodation, transport, furnishing and delays.

Expert Viewpoint: Budgeting Your Move to Canada with Confidence

A useful Canada moving budget separates money you need to show, money you need to spend before you leave, and money you will use after you arrive.

If your immigration route requires settlement funds, that money remains yours, but you still need to show the required balance when you apply and when IRCC issues your permanent resident visa. Government fees, flights and other pre-departure costs need to be covered separately. Once you arrive, those settlement funds can then help pay for rent, food and other day-to-day costs.

Shipping is one of the larger variable costs you can pin down before the move. A quote based on your actual volume and destination gives you a firm figure instead of another estimate.

When you’re ready to plan the move itself, speak to a Canada relocation specialist and get a shipping quote based on your household and what you plan to take.

Planning Your Move

Once you know how much you need for settlement funds and pre-departure costs, you can start organising the practical side of the move alongside your immigration application.

Our moving to Canada from the UK guide covers the wider relocation process. If your move-out date in the UK does not line up with your Canadian housing, short-term storage can give you more flexibility without forcing you to rush either end of the move.

Before leaving the UK, also check GOV.UK’s Living in Canada guidance and GOV.UK’s guidance on tax if you leave the UK to live abroad for the financial and administrative steps that sit outside the move itself.

When you are ready to price the physical relocation, get a free removals quote based on your household size, destination and the volume you plan to ship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as proof of funds for Express Entry? 

Proof of funds means an official letter from your bank or financial institution, on letterhead, showing your name, account numbers, current balances and your average balance over the previous six months, along with any outstanding debts. The money must be genuinely accessible; it can’t be borrowed, and property equity doesn’t count.

How much does it cost to live in Canada per month? 

As a planning starting point, budget roughly CAD 2,800 to 4,800 a month for a single person and CAD 6,500 to 10,000 for a family of four, covering rent, utilities, groceries and transport. Your actual city changes this substantially; see our dedicated cost of living in Canada guide for city-by-city detail.

Do you need proof of funds for a Canadian work permit? 

There is no single fixed proof-of-funds amount for every Canadian work permit. IRCC requires applicants to show enough money to support themselves and any accompanying family during their stay and to return home, with the exact amount depending on family size, destination and permit type. International Experience Canada participants must currently show CAD 2,500 for their first three months.

Can I use my Express Entry settlement funds after I arrive in Canada? 

Yes. Once you’ve met the settlement funds requirement during the immigration process, that money is intended to help support you and your family after you land, covering rent, food and everyday costs. It isn’t a separate pot you must keep untouched forever; it’s there to fund your first months in Canada.

Do I need to declare my settlement funds when I arrive in Canada? 

Only if you’re physically carrying CAD 10,000 or more in cash, bank drafts, travellers’ cheques or similar monetary instruments; that must be declared to CBSA on arrival. There’s no penalty for carrying more than CAD 10,000, only for failing to declare it. Money simply sitting in your UK bank account doesn’t need declaring.

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Settlement funds, immigration fee and shipping figures in this guide are based on IRCC, CBSA and Simpsons’ current published figures as cited, and change over time, particularly the settlement funds figures and exchange rate. Confirm current figures directly with IRCC, CBSA and the Bank of Canada before budgeting. Last updated 24 August 2026.