Can a US Citizen Move to Canada?

In recent years, Canada has seen a significant increase in the number of US nationals looking to spend an extended amount of time living and working in Canada.

Visit Canada from the USA

Canada’s visa requirements vary greatly depending on your reasons for going to Canada from the US. If you are considering Canada as a future option to move abroad, but are not sure whether it’s the right fit for you, then you can choose to visit and stay in Canada to begin with.

Canada has a relaxed immigration policy for US nationals visiting Canada. US citizens are entitled to enter Canada for up to 180 days within 1 calendar year without being required to apply for any type of visa, and can cross the border simply using their US passport. This could be a particularly useful initial option for those who work remotely online, have a passive income or significant savings, or are retired and living on a pension.

Deciding to officially move to Canada, however, will require a very different immigration process, including needing to apply for a visa, residence permits, and work permits.

Move to Canada

American citizens who wish to move themselves and their family over the border to Canada can do so through a variety of different programs and Canadian visa immigration options. In general, you will need to apply to move to Canada by applying for one of the following categories:

• Getting a work permit
• Skilled Worker immigration programs
• Family Sponsorship
• Business immigration programs
• Getting a study permit
• Obtaining Canadian citizenship.

Page Contents

• What is the Difference Between Visiting Canada and Moving to Canada as a US Citizen?
• Work Permit Options for American Citizens
• The Express Entry Program
• Global Talent Stream
• Intra-Company Transfer
• Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
• Working Holidays
• Family Sponsorship
• Business Visa for Canada
• Obtaining a Study Permit
• Am I Eligible to Move to Canada from the USA?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

For Americans who wish to move abroad to work in Canada, you will be required to apply for a work permit, which functions in the same capacity as a work visa.

The type of route you take for a Canadian work permit depends on the type of work you are qualified for, and how long you intend to work and live in the country. Depending on the occupation and the nature of your work, there may be opportunities to expedite the application process (this is known as the express entry system).

In some cases, the applicant and Canadian employer will be required to undertake a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and submit it as part of the visa application process. This assessment looks at the benefits of hiring a foreign individual, to ensure that hiring a non-Canadian citizen will have a neutral or positive impact on the local labour market and economy within the region you intend to move to.

An LMIA serves as evidence that hiring a foreign worker will have a neutral or positive impact on the local labour market. Once an LMIA is approved, you can apply for a temporary work permit through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Canada offers various types of work visa programs to applicants from the USA and other foreign nationals, detailed below.

The Express entry system is a fast-track route for many U.S nationals wishing to move to Canada and gain permanent residence. Over 110,000 people are offered residency through this system each year.

There are three main pathways for U.S nationals to apply for the Express Entry Program:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – For those with at least one year of skilled work experience (or 1560 hours) within Canada within the last three years.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – For those with specific work experience, education, language proficiency, and financial stability. Applicants must meet the National Occupational Classification (NOC) criteria and achieve a minimum of 67 points.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – this is designed for skilled trade workers with at least two years of full-time experience. Applicants need a relevant qualification or job offer from a Canadian employer.

Comprehensive Ranking System

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a system used by the government to select the most eligible foreign national applicants for permanent residency in Canada, and is used as part of the Express Entry system.

It ranks applicants based on factors like age, education, work experience, language skills, and employment prospects. Those with the highest scores are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

The Express Entry System is a fairly complicated system to navigate, especially if you want to move to Canada as soon as possible. Total Law can Help. You can get in touch with us online, or speak to one of our experienced legal advisors today by calling us on +1 844 290 6312.

The Global Talent Stream is a work permit route designed to support Canadian employers positioned in high growth and IT industries to hire skilled foreign workers in areas of the country that have a shortage of qualified candidates for those positions. These jobs meet the express entry profile.

When applying for a job offer through the Global Talent Stream, you will be be added to the express entry pool of applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Qualified in IT industries and other high-demand sectors
• Wish to move to Canada as soon as possible, as the application process is typically completed within one month
• The applicant and their prospective Canadian employer have acquired an LMIA, and the employer has committed to offering a specific salary and meet other typical employment standards.

The Intra-Company Transfer Program is a program designed for international companies to send their key employees to Canada, without requiring an LMIA.

As Canada is the United States’ largest trading partner, large numbers of U.S. businesses have affiliate branches, offices or subsidiaries in Canada. Employees eligible for this program must hold executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge roles.

The Intra Company Transfer Program allows applicants to take their family members to accompany them in Canada.

The Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), formerly known as NAFTA, is a work permit route designed specifically for U.S. and Mexican citizens to obtain a temporary work permit in Canada in a more streamlined way. In general, CUSMA work permits do not require an LMIA.

To meet the requirements of a CUSMA work permit, U.S. citizens can work in Canada under one of the following categories:

• CUSMA Professionals – The CUSMA professionals category offers work permits across over 60 professions, and is an appropriate route for those who are qualified to work in education, finance, law, medicine, and scientific fields.
• CUSMA Intra-Company Transfer – This category is available for US citizens who work for a CUSMA approved company and wish to be transferred to work in Canada on a temporary basis in a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate of their CUSMA employer. You must have worked for a minimum of 3 years at the company or hold an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge position.
• CUSMA Traders and Investors – this route is for those who work in and demonstrate a commitment to significant trade in goods or services between Canada and the United States. CUSMA investors must demonstrate that they have made substantial investments into a Canadian business and intend to enter Canada to manage and grow the business.

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are a permanent residence pathway for individuals wishing to move to Canada to settle in a specific Canadian province or territory. All Canadian provinces except for Nunavut and Quebec run their own PNP, which has specific requirements from foreign nationals who wish to work in Canada in order to meet its economic and demographic needs.

The eligibility criteria and application processes vary in each Canadian province and the sort of work you apply for. Some provinces require more skilled workers, and others are seeking business investors. In general, PNPs are considered easier routes to gaining permanent residence in Canada.

To apply for a PNP, you must first decide which particular province you would be happy to move to to live and work in Canada. Then, you must apply to be nominated by the province, which is then put forward to the federal government who has the power to approve your application for permanent residence.

Canada’s provinces and territories that are operating PNPs are:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

The International Experience Canada (IEC) program facilitates international exchanges between young people who come from different nations. U.S. citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply for an open work permit under the Working Holidays program, which is valid for up to 12 months.

To be eligible, applicants must be:

• Enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies at some point in the previous 12 months
• Final-year students who are not returning to school.

Applying for a work permit in Canada can be very complicated, especially if you are eligible for more than one, or have particularly unique circumstances. Our team of immigration lawyers are experienced at managing skilled worker applications and guiding clients through the entire immigration process. Contact us online or call us today on +1 844 290 6312 for more information.

The family sponsorship route for moving to Canada is available to US citizens and other foreign nationals who have a spouse or a common law partner that either has Canadian citizenship or has Canadian permanent residence status. This also applies to same-sex couples. The family sponsorship application route usually takes approximately 1 year to process.

To be eligible to live in Canada through family sponsorship, both parties must be approved by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and the relationship must fall under one of the following categories:

• Legally married
• Common-law partner
• Conjugal partner (i.e. you can prove your relationship is financially, emotionally, socially and physically interdependent).

The International Student Program (ISP) is a visa program that allows foreign national students to study in Canada. If you are accepted onto the student program, you will be given a study permit which counts as a resident permit, allowing you to move to Canada for the duration of your study permit.

The eligibility criteria for the International Student Program is as follows:

• You have applied for and have received an acceptance letter for a study program offered by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada
• You can prove you have sufficient financial resources to cover your stay in Canada, including living expenses and you tuition fees
• You do not have a health condition that could be a threat to public health
• You have a clean criminal record.

In certain cases, students might require:

• A Provincial Attestation Letter, which verifies that their selected educational institution is recognized and authorised by the provincial government
• Proof of language proficiency in English or French.

Once you have moved to Canada with a study permit and completed your studies, you may be eligible afterwards to transfer over to a work permit to continue building your life and career in Canada.

Your eligibility to move to Canada greatly depends on your reasons for moving and what type of permit or visa you apply for. In general, you will need to meet Canada’s standard eligibility requirements for US citizens:

• Having a valid U.S. passport
• Proof of work experience in the relevant field and program
• Have completed an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Have sufficient language skills, demonstrated in a pass in the relevant language test (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF) for your application
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Medical exam results and private health insurance
• Police certificates indicating a clean criminal record
• A job offer (if applicable)
• Provincial nomination (if applicable).

Your application may be unsuccessful if you:

• Have a criminal record
• Have a medical issue that poses a risk to public health or excessive demand on public services
• Provide false, inaccurate or fraudulent information in your application
• Insufficient financial resources
• Do not meet the requirements of the specific requirements of the program you apply for
• You have previously been deported from Canada.