Moving to Canada from Dubai

Ocean freight runs from Jebel Ali to Canadian ports — Halifax and Montreal for eastern Canada, Vancouver for western Canada; typical sea transit times are on our destinations overview. Add 3–5 days for UAE packing and export, and 2–5 days for CBSA customs clearance and delivery. Air freight is available for urgent shipments. We confirm exact timelines at survey based on the next available vessel departures and your destination province.

The BSF186 — Personal Effects Accounting Document — is the CBSA form that establishes your eligibility to import your household goods duty-free under Tariff Item 9807.00.00. If you are moving to Canada as a new settler or returning after 12+ months abroad, you need a BSF186. Fusion prepares this document as a standard part of every Dubai to Canada move, along with the Goods to Follow list you must declare at your first Canadian port of entry.

When you enter Canada — at the airport or land border — you must declare any household goods that are still in transit (i.e. on a ship or in storage) on a Goods to Follow list as part of your CBSA declaration. This must be done at your very first entry into Canada, before your goods arrive at the Canadian port. If you fail to declare your goods at this point, they will not qualify for duty-free entry when the shipment arrives — regardless of your eligibility under 9807.00.00. Fusion briefs every client on this requirement and prepares the Goods to Follow list before they depart Dubai.

If you qualify under Tariff Item 9807.00.00 and complete your BSF186 and Goods to Follow declaration correctly, your used household goods are exempt from customs duty. However, GST (5%) and applicable provincial tax may still apply depending on the province: Ontario (13% HST), British Columbia (12%), Quebec (14.975% combined), Alberta (5% GST only). New or unused goods do not qualify for duty exemption. Fusion calculates your tax exposure at quotation stage.

Fusion can ship a car from Dubai to Canada by RoRo where the route offers it, or in a container, and handles the UAE side — export clearance, RTA deregistration and the export certificate. Whether your particular car can be imported and registered in Canada, and at what cost, depends on the vehicle and your circumstances — we check Canada’s current rules for it at survey, before you commit to shipping it. See our Automobile Relocation page.

Yes. Dogs and cats entering Canada from the UAE require a health certificate from a UAE government-recognised veterinarian. Dogs also require proof of rabies vaccination administered at least 30 days before arrival. Canada does not require quarantine for dogs and cats meeting documentation requirements. The CFIA requirements are managed by Fusion’s pet relocation team — see our Pet Relocation page.

Canada prohibits: prohibited firearms (as defined under Canadian law), controlled drugs, hate propaganda, obscene material, endangered species items (CITES), and counterfeit goods. Restricted items include: certain food products (meat, dairy, fresh produce), plant material and soil (CFIA requirements apply), and restricted weapons. Fusion provides a full prohibited and restricted items list at survey stage and advises on any items that require special handling.

Container arrival and property availability often don’t align perfectly — particularly for new settlers waiting for rental agreements or property completions. Our Canadian partner network provides storage near your delivery destination, charged by the week. Re-delivery is coordinated by your Fusion coordinator when you are ready. This is built into the service from the start — not an afterthought. Moving to Canada? You May Also Need