Dreaming of Moving to Canada? Here’s What to Know if You’re American

Whether you’re curious about what life is like in our neighbor to the north or your job has been relocated to a new city, moving to Canada is a lot more complex than just packing up your things and crossing the border. 

Get your ducks in a row if you’re ready for life in the Great White North. There’s a whole checklist of things to take care of first before you can officially call yourself a Canadian resident — and finally feel justified in your crush on Justin Trudeau (just me?). 

Sure, you know how you’ll get there physically, but what’s the best way to stay without wearing out your official government welcome? It depends on how long you intend to be there.

If you’re just planning on relocating for a change of pace for a few months, consider a visitor visa. A visitor visa allows you to stay in the country for up to six months, with the option to renew 30 days before your visa expires.

If you plan on staying more than six months (but still, ultimately, temporarily), you’ll need to apply for a work or study permit. The amount of time you can stay on this type of permit will depend on how long your university program is or how long your job is guaranteed in Canada. 

If you’re planning on permanently moving to Canada (and pledging your full allegiance to a lifetime of Tim Hortons and poutine), your best bet is to try to apply for Express Entry. This is an all-online, fast-tracked immigration process, which takes about six months to process. It assesses your skills, education, and employment history to determine if you’d be a good fit for the country.

As far as what they’re looking for: Those with excellent English or French proficiency, as well as skilled workers with at least one year of experience in a field (think: professions that require a college degree) or skilled tradespersons (like a plumber, electrician, contractor, etc.). It also doesn’t hurt if you already have family ties in Canada. 

“There are categories for points for skilled work entry, similar to the procedure professionals are facing when they want to move to the U.S.,” says Lior Rachmany, CEO and founder of Dumbo Moving in Brooklyn, where he assists clients relocating to Canada. “If you have any arranged employment or you’re a certain age, it will gain you more points.”

When you’re being assessed for Express Entry, the answers you give on the questionnaire are worth a certain number of points. The goal is to get at least 67 out of 100 points.

You can also permanently move to Canada if you’re self-employed. But just like when you’re applying as a skilled worker or skilled tradesperson, you’ll be assessed on your experience, education, and language proficiency. You’ll also need to get a medical exam and a police certificate. 

Meesha Moulton, a personal injury and immigration attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a dual Canadian-American citizen and an immigration law expert. She says that the easiest way to move to Canada is through the Express Entry Pool.

“It makes you eligible for their permanent residency program … they assess you based on your age, education, if you speak multiple languages, and your work experience,” she says. “Canada is one of the few countries that really allows you to immigrate based on those factors and a certain skill.” 

If, for example, on the federal level, the Canadian government is looking for certain skilled workers, you may have a higher chance of being able to move there. 

“The other option, as well, is they offer a lot of work permits,” she adds. “If you were to apply for a job working for a Canadian company or maybe even a U.S.-based company in Canada, [if] they have a shortage of individuals with your skillset or people applying and you get offered that job, you can actually get a work permit.”

The easiest and fastest way to get a family sponsorship is if you have a spouse with Canadian citizenship, Moulton says. Your spouse can sponsor your citizenship bid. “You can also sponsor any child under the age of 22,” she adds.

More extended family can bid for sponsorship, but “how long it takes, very similar to the U.S., is just based on how close that relationship is. Obviously, they’re going to give priority to a spouse to try to keep those individuals together versus your aunt sponsoring you.”

“A U.S. permanent resident can work in Canada,” Moulton says, but “it’s a little bit more difficult.” You can apply for a work permit.

In addition to actual moving costs, you’ll have to pay application fees to either become a permanent resident or work or study there for a temporary period. 

For a work permit application, it’ll cost you $155 CAD, or $117 USD. As for students, those who plan on attending a Canadian school can apply for a study permit for $150 CAD. A visitor visa application — the kind for those who are staying more than 180 days — is $100 CAD with an option to renew for another $100 CAD. 

If you plan on making Canada your permanent home, you’ll have to dish out a bit more: An economic immigration (which includes the Express Entry) application with a permanent residence fee is $1,040 CAD.

In addition to that sum, you’ll need to provide proof of funds if you’re immigrating through the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Essentially, you need cash in the bank to prove you can be self-sufficient. The amount of money that’s required will depend on how many family members you have.

The short answer? Yes, you can live in Canada if you are a U.S. citizen — and actually, unless you actually apply for citizenship in Canada, you will still be considered an American citizen, even if you are a permanent resident of Canada.

This sort of arrangement happens all the time, according to Rachmany.

“I have many customers, especially in New York state who own property [in the U.S.] and go back and forth on a visa for years. Eventually, they are looking to get permanent residency,” he says. 

Really looking to pledge your love of Canada and all things maple syrup and hockey? You can achieve dual citizenship if you’re not quite ready to leave your red, white, and blue heart behind. 

If you’re jobless but are still looking to make Canada your new home, fear not. Several immigration programs don’t require you to have a job offer, like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, as well as a few Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which are programs where a province looking for a specific kind of immigrant can “nominate” you to live there.

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