Moving from London to Toronto: Customs Checks + What You Must Declare

Up and moving from London to Toronto is thrilling, but the whole customs thing can be a little overwhelming at first. You’re not alone. Most people are thinking the same things:Will my shipment be held up? Must I declare my used items? What if I forget something?

Here’s the truth: Canadian customs are usually straightforward when your paperwork and item list are organised. The biggest problems occur when people do not declare items correctly or if a clear “goods to follow” list is not provided for their shipment.

This guide covers all that in plain language — what customs checks really are in Toronto, what you need to declare, what to avoid packing, and how to prepare a list that customs officers actually understand.

What customs checks happen when you land in Toronto?

When you land at Toronto Pearson Airport, or which ever point of entry you use, you deal with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).. Their role is to confirm:

• Who you are (passport + documents)
• Why you’re entering Canada (settling, work permit, study, PR landing, etc.)
• What you’re bringing into Canada now
• What you’re bringing later (your shipping or unaccompanied baggage)
• Whether anything you have is restricted or needs special clearance

You generally answer their questions at the kiosk or counter, and then proceed to a customs officer for a brief chat. Sometimes you’ll walk straight through. Other times, they may bypass baggage or request further detail—especially if you have plenty of luggage, big electronics, food or a declared shipment.

Your shipment matters: “Goods Accompanying” and “Goods to Follow”

If you’re shipping households items from the UK to Toronto, customs typically wants you to prepare two lists:

 Goods Accompanying

Items you carry on the plane with you:

• Carry-on bags
• Checked luggage
• Extra suitcases with personal belongings

Goods to Follow

Items arriving later:

• Sea Freight (container/LCL)
• Air freight
• Unaccompanied baggage / boxes sent separately

And that’s key, because customs’ preference is that you declare it all when you first land, including items arriving later. If you don’t declare “goods to follow” at the start, your shipment can become harder to clear (and yes, it can cause delays).

What should you declare when moving to Canada?

A simple rule: If you’re bringing it into Canada (now or later), declare it.

People often think “declare” means paying tax for used personal stuff. Not exactly. In many cases, your used household goods are treated as personal effects. Still, customs want a clear record of what’s coming in.

Here are the top categories you should always declare clearly:

1) Electronics (and anything expensive)

Electronics get attention because they’re easy to resell. So don’t be vague.

Instead of writing “electronics,” list things like:

• Laptop (brand + model)
• Phone (brand + model)
• TV (size + brand)
• Gaming console
• Camera / lenses

If you can, include serial numbers for big-ticket items (laptops, consoles, cameras). Not always necessary, but it helps especially if customs gets suspicious and starts asking questions.

2) Jewellery and watches

This is where people mess up. Jewellery doesn’t look like “household goods” and can be valuable, so customs may ask about it.

What to do:

• Make a small list of jewellery/watches
• Add an estimated value
• Keep photos or receipts if you have them (helpful, not mandatory)

If you have something truly valuable on you, be upfront about it. It saves you drama later.

3) Alcohol and tobacco

If you bring alcohol, cigarettes, cigars or vape products you bring. There are rules and limits in Canada, and customs officers do ask.

Even if it’s a small amount, don’t try to hide it. Declare it and let them decide what’s allowed.

4) Food items (even small snacks)

This surprises many Movers. Canadian border rules treat food seriously—even packaged items.

Common examples that trigger questions:

• Homemade snacks
• Meat or fish products
• Dairy items
• Seeds, spices in bulk
• Fresh fruits or vegetables

If you have food in your bags, just declare it. Best case, they wave you through. Worst case, they take it away. But not declaring food is what causes penalties.

5) Items that look commercial (bulk stock)

If your shipment includes things like:

• 20 identical perfume bottles
• multiple sealed phones
• bulk beauty products
• stacks of branded clothing with tags

It could be considered a commercial import by Customs
and not personal effects. That results in increased paper work and potential taxes/duties.

If you have to remove personal effects, make it personal:

• normal quantities
• used items mixed with household goods
• avoid “retail-style” packing

How to make a customs-friendly inventory list (without going crazy)

You don’t have to itemize every fork and spoon. But you do, however, want something that looks organized and realistic.

A simple format works best:

Good examples:

• “Kitchen items (used) – CAD $250”
• “Clothing and shoes (used) – CAD $600”
• “Books and personal items – CAD $200”
• “Laptop – Dell XPS 13 – CAD $900”
• “TV – Samsung 55 inch – CAD $500”

Not-so-good examples:

• “Stuff – $3,000”
• “House items – $5,000”
• “Miscellaneous – $7,500”

Customs officers are human. If your list looks lazy, they ask more questions. If it looks clear, they usually move on fast.

Quick table: what to declare and how to list it

Restricted and risky items: avoid packing these

Some items are not worth the headache. Even if they’re legal in the UK, they may be restricted in Canada or require special handling.

Items that commonly create trouble:

• Meat, dairy, fresh foods
• Plant material, seeds, soil
• Certain knives/weapons-like items
• Firearms or ammunition (strict rules)
• Anything that looks like it could be for resale

Do not guess if you are uncertain about a particular item. Or check the rules before you pack or declare it at the border.

Related Articles:

» Moving London to Toronto: Customs Clearance + Delivery Checklist
» Moving London to Berlin: Shipping household goods + Timeline
» Moving Amsterdam to Paris: Transit options + Insurance guide
» Moving New York to London: shipping options + customs steps
» Moving New York to Paris: customs, packing list, and timeline

What happens when your shipment arrives in Toronto?

Once your shipment reaches Toronto (port/warehouse/airport Cargo area), it will go through Customs Clearance. Your mover or Freight agent may handle the logistics, but you are still responsible for what’s inside the shipment.

Typically:

1. Your goods arrive
2. Documents and inventory list are reviewed
3. Customs may inspect the shipment (random or targeted)
4. Shipment is released for delivery

Shipments usually get delayed for one of these reasons:

• “Goods to follow” was not declared on arrival
• inventory list is too vague
• restricted items were found
• paperwork mismatch (name, address, values)

That’s why you want your lists neat and consistent from day one.

Movers BS checklist: London to Toronto customs prep

Before flying:

• Prepare Goods Accompanying list
• Prepare Goods to Follow list
• Estimate values in CAD
• Separate high-value items (electronics/jewellery)
• Avoid restricted food items or declare them clearly
• Keep your shipping documents + mover details handy

At the airport:

• Declare that you’re moving and have goods to follow
• Provide your lists when asked
• Answer simply and honestly (don’t over-explain)

After arrival:

• Share customs-stamped paperwork with your mover if required
• Keep a copy for yourself (don’t lose it, seriously)