Moving to Toronto
Toronto and the surrounding cities – Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville – are the region most people from Poland choose when planning a life in Canada. Moves to Toronto require a combination of ship and train, because the city lies inland, on Lake Ontario. 4RELO does the packing, inventory and loading in Wrocław, and a partner from the FEDEMAC network takes care of the rest of the journey, clearance and carrying your furniture into your new home.
The container's route to Ontario
- Wrocław. Packing and loading the container, or taking your belongings to the warehouse if the container is shared.
- Port in Europe. Hamburg, Bremerhaven or Antwerp, from where ships sail to Canada.
- Montreal or Halifax. The voyage takes about two weeks. The container is transferred to a train.
- Rail terminal in the Toronto area. About two to four days by rail, after which the container or your belongings go to the partner's warehouse.
- Your address. Clearance, agreeing a date with the building, delivery, carrying in and assembly.
From packing in Wrocław to delivery in Toronto usually takes six to ten weeks. With a shared container you need to add time for consolidating the load and separating shipments on arrival.
Toronto condo buildings – moving rules
A large share of new homes in Toronto are high-rise condo buildings run by condominium corporations. They have their own rules, which determine how delivery goes. Before you fix a date, ask the property management for the moving rules. You will usually find:
Lift booking
A freight lift, or a designated regular lift, for a few hours, booked in advance, often with a deposit refunded after checking that nothing has been damaged.
Loading dock
The entrance by the garage has limited height clearance. A large truck will not fit under the building, so our partner chooses a smaller vehicle.
Moving hours
Moves are permitted on certain days and at certain times, often excluding nights and holidays. Delivery is planned around that slot.
Certificate of insurance
Many buildings require a document confirming the moving company's insurance before letting the crew in.
Houses in areas such as Etobicoke and Scarborough, or in the cities of the region, have driveways where the truck can park without any trouble – delivery is simpler there.
Documents for departure
At Pearson Airport, on your first entry as a settler, you declare the goods that will follow on form BSF186. We prepare the list so that it matches the contents of the container box for box. Besides the list, our partner will ask for a copy of your passport, your residence document and your address in Toronto. We describe Canadian customs rules in detail on our moving to Canada page.
What it costs and what it depends on
The price depends on volume, type of shipment, the port in Canada, the rail leg, terminal charges, clearance and conditions at the destination building – a smaller truck and booked time slots lengthen the job. You can work out an approximate volume in the calculator, and we will prepare an exact quote after the survey.
Toronto – questions about your move
Can you deliver to Mississauga or Hamilton?
Yes, our partner covers the whole Toronto area and cities further afield in Ontario. Delivery is calculated from the terminal, so the cost rises for more distant towns.
What if I do not have a flat in Toronto yet?
The container can sail and your belongings can wait in the partner's warehouse. It is cheaper, though, to store them with us in Wrocław and ship them once you sign a lease.
Is delivery possible in winter?
Yes, but snow and frost can push the date back by a few days. Sensitive electronics and potted plants are better taken with you or left behind.
Can you move furniture from a house in Poland to a smaller condo?
We can, but we advise checking the dimensions first. High-rise apartments can be compact, and you pay for the volume shipped whether or not the furniture fits.
A new address in Toronto
We will quote the shipment including rail and delivery to your building – free of charge.
Free quote