Moving to Canada: an essential guide

With more Americans renouncing their citizenship and moving away, it’s clear that expatriating is an increasingly popular choice. According to research, 5816 Americans renounced their citizenship in the first six months of 2020, compared to only 2,072 in all of 2019.

Whether you’re thinking of relocating from the U.S. or internationally, here are some essential things to know before moving to Canada.

The Express Entry system

To live in Canada, you will need to apply for a visa via Canada’s Express Entry, a system used to process most of the country’s immigration applications in three economic immigration programs. These immigration programs include:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) – The FSW is for professionals and skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada permanently
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) – The FST is for those with experience in a skilled trade who want to immigrate to Canada permanently
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – The CEC is for those who have worked in Canada for at least one year to immigrate permanently

Express Entry is an online system used to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. It's considered to be the fastest and most straightforward route for immigration to Canada. While Express Entry is a competitive immigration system, Canada is eager to attract expatriates. The country aims to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021 alone, increasing to 411,000 in 2022 and a further 421,000 in 2023.

Before you can register for Express Entry; you will need to take an eligibility test to learn whether you are eligible for an immigration program. Once you’ve found out whether you’re eligible, you will need to create an online profile using some, if not all, of the following documents:

• A passport or travel document
• Language test results to prove your English or French language skills (the language test evaluates your writing, reading, listening and speaking abilities)
• Provincial nomination (if you have one)
• Written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one)
• Proof of work experience
• Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if you have one)
• Proof of funds (to show if you have enough money to settle in Canada)
• Proof of Canadian education or an educational credential assessment report (if you’re applying through the FSW program)

Once you’ve completed and submitted your profile, you will be accepted into a pool of candidates, if you are eligible.

You’ll then be ranked in the Express Entry pool using a points-based system. Your score is based on the information in your profile. Usually, candidates in the pool with the highest scores will be invited to apply. If you are invited to apply, you’ll then have 90 days to submit your application.

To apply, you will need to upload the following documents:

• Police certificates
• Medical exams
• Proof of funds
• Birth certificate (only required if you’re declaring dependent children)
• Use of a representative form (required if you’ve hired a representative)
• Common-law union form (required if you’ve declared your marital status as “common-law”)
• Marriage certificate (required if you’ve declared your marital status as “married”)
• Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement (required if you’ve declared your marital status as “divorced”)
• Death certificate (required if you’ve declared your marital status as “widowed”)
• Adoption certificate (required when a dependent child is listed as “adopted”)

Once you’ve completed and submitted your application, a decision will be communicated within six months or less. The process of moving to Canada can be a complicated one, but the more research you conduct, the simpler it will be.

How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada?

According to the Government of Canada, the amount of money you need to support your family depends on the size of your family. First, you’ll need to calculate the size of your family by including:

• yourself
• your spouse or partner
• your dependent children and
• your spouse’s dependent children

This following table shows the minimum amount of money you need to immigrate to Canada:

Note that you only need to provide proof of funds to meet the minimum requirements of the following programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

If you’re applying under the Canadian Experience Class or you’re authorized to work in Canada and you have a valid job offer, you do not need to show proof of funds.

Obtaining permanent resident status

A permanent resident is someone who has immigrated to Canada but is not yet a Canadian citizen. The permanent residency process can be complex as there are many ways to apply to become a permanent resident, including Express Entry, as detailed above. The process can vary for individuals and families which is why you should conduct as much research as possible before applying for permanent resident status.

To maintain permanent resident status in Canada, a person must meet a residency obligation. The residency obligation requires a person to be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within a five-year period.

As a permanent resident, you have the right to:

• Apply for Canadian citizenship
• Access Canadian healthcare and social services
• Live, work, and study anywhere within Canada
• Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Enter and leave Canada’s borders using their Canadian permanent resident card, or permanent resident travel documents (PRTD)

To become a Canadian citizen, you must first obtain permanent resident (PR) status.

Language

Home to two official languages – English and French – Canada is a bilingual country. As mentioned above, you will need a good grasp of English or French to be eligible for a visa. The languages used in the country reflect its rich history under British and French political and economic rule.

At 57%, the majority of residents in Canada are English speakers, while French speakers make up 21% of the population, according to the most recent government consensus. The remaining 22% of the population speak more than 215 other languages, including Mandarin, Punjabi and Spanish.

The majority of French-speaking Canadians are found in the province of Quebec, with 85% of its residents speaking French as their main language.

Finding a job

If you’ve already had a job offer or if you’re relocating for your current job, then you’re one step ahead. You may be interested in our guide 'Top tips for working in Canada’ to help you settle into your new workplace.

If, however, you don’t have a job lined up, there are plenty of ways to find a job that suits you and your experience.

Start by searching via major national job sites and career portals such as the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, Moving 2 Canada, WOWJob, Hot Jobs in Canada, Jobs.ca, Eluta and Workopolis, to name a few. If you know where you want to live in Canada, there are many regional job sites you can visit.

Some of Canada’s key industries include service sectors like health care, transportation, construction, banking and tourism. Manufacturing, mining and natural resources are also important industries in Canada.

Due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are plenty of in-demand jobs, particularly general labour, technology, IT, health care, transportation, agriculture, engineering and finance.

Opening a bank account

In Canada, you don’t have to be a Canadian citizen to open a bank account. You have the right to open a bank account as long as you show proper identification. You can open an account even if you don’t have a job, lack money to deposit right away, or have previously declared bankruptcy.

To open a bank account, you usually have to go in person to a financial institution, such as a bank or federally regulated credit union, and provide an acceptable form of identification. While the specific requirements may vary depending on the financial institution, you’ll usually be asked to provide some or all of the following documents:

• Your valid, unexpired passport
• Your immigration papers (or permanent residency card, if you have one)
• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Proof of address

For more information on specific requirements, refer to the Government of Canada’s official website.

The five top banks in Canada are Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Relocating pets

If you’re moving to Canada with pets, they will need to meet import requirements set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Some pets, including both domestic and non-traditional pets, may need to be tested or quarantined before entering Canada.

You may need one or more of the following when bringing a pet to Canada:

• An import permit
• A health certificate
• A rabies vaccination certificate
• A visual inspection

If you’re using a pet carrier, you should ensure that the pet carrier(s) is large enough to allow room for the animal to lie down, turn around and stand. You should also make sure that your pet has access to water and pet food. If you’re taking your pet on an aeroplane, contact the airline in advance because most airlines have specific requirements for transporting animals.

Where to live

Canada is a vast and diverse country, which means that there are plenty of places to settle down and call home.

Vancouver

Home to a wide range of social and leisure activities, spectacular wildlife and natural surroundings, it’s easy to see why Vancouver appeals to expats.

Vancouver also has an ethnically diverse population, making it easier for expats to integrate and feel at home. For example, in the most recent census, an estimated 72% of Vancouver residents speak English, while 16% speak Chinese.

Indigenous communities make up part of Vancouver’s diverse population. In fact, after Winnipeg and Edmonton, Vancouver has the third-largest population of Indigenous peoples in Canada. As you explore city districts like Little Italy and Punjabi Market, you’ll get a great feel for just how diverse this destination is.

The city offers a wonderful mixture of urban and rural landscapes. Vancouver is sheltered by mountains and sits near the islands in the Georgia Strait – perfect for nature lovers and outgoing expats. Only a stone's throw away from Vancouver’s thriving city centre lies the stunning Stanley Park, which attracts around 8 million visitors every year. This 400-hectare park is home to beautiful beaches, lakes, a waterpark, a swimming pool and Canada’s largest aquarium.

Calgary

Described as Canada's cosmopolitan capital, Calgary has an impressive range of arts and culture destinations for those who prefer their weekends a little more low-key. Also called ‘the gateway to the Rocky Mountains', the city offers winter skiing at nearby resorts with lifts running from downtown, and hiking adventures just outside the city limits. You’ll find endless things to do in Calgary.

Calgary is surrounded by stunning national parks and boasts more than 10,000 hectares of parkland and public green spaces, offering an outdoor-oriented lifestyle to its 1.5 million residents. Another city known for multiculturalism, Calgary is home to more than 240 different ethnicities.

In terms of weather, Calgary has a unique way of dealing with the cold Canadian winters that expats from warmer destinations will appreciate. The city’s Plus 15 skywalk system is a network of elevated, sheltered walkways spanning around 16 kilometres with 83 bridges connecting businesses across the city via heated, enclosed passages.

Toronto

Nestled between Canada’s Great Lakes, Toronto is the country’s largest city with 6.2 million people.

With around half the population born outside of Canada, the city is a truly diverse international community. As far as finding expat communities and meeting other globally mobile citizens, you’d be hard-pushed to beat Toronto.

With Niagara Falls less than two hours away, it’s not hard to discover world-famous beauty spots. The city is also packed with thousands of shopping outlets, bars and restaurants, leaving you spoiled for choice. The summertime is particularly lively in Toronto when months of hot weather welcomes an array of music, food and arts festivals.

For more information on where to live in Canada, see our guide ‘Deciding where to settle.’ You can also find out whether to buy or rent property in our useful ‘Property in Canada’ guide.

Health care and insurance

Ranked 30th in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO), Canada’s healthcare system is ranked higher than those in the U.S. Facilities in the country are advanced, and you can expect high-quality medical care should you need it.

Expats who have obtained permanent residence status or Canadian citizenship can take advantage of tax-funded Canadian health insurance. Otherwise, expats should consider getting an international health insurance plan.

Learn about what it's like to live in Canada by reading our ‘Living in Canada’ guide. It offers useful information about the country’s lifestyle, culture and more.