How to Move to Canada, You Know, Just in Case

[Celerity]

Everything you need to (legally) move north.

https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/how-to-move-to-canada





Back during the 2016 election, many Americans joked that they’d move north if Trump was elected. While most didn’t actually make the leap, there were enough Google searches looking into moving, well, anywhere, that even the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration website crashed. It’s been a pandemic and long lockdown since, but Canada has reopened its borders and is looking like a much more realistic option. The beauty of wide open spaces, more liveable cities, and publicly funded health care are more than enough to convince us.





With WFH now considered the norm, the challenge isn’t moving—it’s where to move. While we don’t have the flexibility of moving across borders like in Europe, heading north is not only aspirational, it’s attainable. Perhaps you’ve heard about some of the more underrated metropolises like Toronto, or are sick of being cooped up in a city after COVID and want to be surrounded by nature and views of the Canadian Rockies. Or maybe you want to live out your inner Francophile self but aren’t quite ready to cross the Atlantic (or deal with France’s notoriously difficult visa process).





Home to a melting pot of people from more than 200 countries, Canada has its own version of Little Italy and Chinatown downtown major cities like Vancouver and Toronto. But if you’d rather skip the cities, there are plenty of places to embrace the great outdoors that are just a short drive away. If you’re ready to make the move north, here’s what you’ll need to get the process rolling.







I actually want to move to Canada! Where do I start?

First things first, you should have a rough idea of how long you want to live in Canada. Less than six months? More than six months but still on a temporary basis? Indefinitely but could be forever? Will you be there for work, study, or marriage? Once you have an idea of the basics, take 10 minutes or so to check your eligibility via this handy online tool. If full Canadian citizenship is your endgame, you’ll still need to become a permanent resident first.

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[NanceGreggs]

1. I have lived in Toronto ...

... since 1974, and wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world.

[Cicada]

2. Weather is better in New Zealand or Australia

[NanceGreggs]

3. Not better for me.

I love the winter, love the snow. Besides, weather is a pretty low priority in terms of loving where I'm living.

The only time weather would enter into the equation is that I HATE the heat, and couldn't survive in a place without long, cold winters.

[zanana1]

12. I think we were separated at birth.

Everyone around here thinks it's weird that I love the snow. The more, the better. I also hate the heat and I stick close to my air conditioner all summer. I remove it from the window in November. (Just in case). If summer has one saving grace, it's thunderstorms. Love them.

[NanceGreggs]

20. I realize that we are in the minority.

I've known people who have had to relocate because they can't handle cold climes, and suffer depression from the early-dark days of winter.

I (we?) am the opposite. I start getting anxiety attacks when the clocks are changed in the spring, because it signals the onset of hot weather and later sunsets, longer days.

I always treat myself to a little 'celebration' when the fall brings falling leaves and chillier air - as I congratulate myself for having survived another summer.

My son is also "one of us" - counts the days until the streetlights go on at 6 pm instead of 9!

[riverbendviewgal]

10. I arrived in Toronto 1969 and stayed.

I had wanted to live in NYC when I was a kid living in NJ.. i was amazed that Toronto was a smaller version. Toronto is known as the Little Apple. I lived over 35 years in Toronto. Loved it.

i moved to northern Ontario in 2005 after my early retirement.
Stayed up there until 2019 when I moved south. . I now live in "the banana belt" an hour drive west of Toronto . Love it. Still get snow but not as much as up north or even Toronto.

I have seen much of Canada. I Still have yet to visit Newfoundland, yukon and the other territories.

I been to 40 US states, Mexico, Ireland and UK. Canada
I grew up on the ocean and love it. Canada has beautiful coasts and the great lakes. The rockies are awesome. Nova scotia is like Scotland. I can be at 3 of the Great Lakes in an hour or two.

I love Canada's progressive thinking and diversity.
The biggest plus is the health care. It is wonderful going to the doctor and hospital and not have bills to pay.

I am blessed being Canadian.

[NanceGreggs]

22. I'm originally from NYC ...

... and hated TO when I first arrived it seemed so "small town" compared to NY.

It took a while to adjust - and to understand that what I missed most was not NY itself, but the family and friends I'd left behind.

Eventually I stopped kvetching about "going home" and realized this IS my home - and I couldn't be happier that it is.

[riverbendviewgal]

23. I explored it like I did NYC

True that TO was different but in a good way. I felt safer in it. I lived in a small town b4 coming to TO so TO was as exciting as NYC.

I am truly Canadian thinking in my heart. My American family did/does not share my values . In fact they are now Trumpers, sadly.

I felt very free When I came to Canada and still do.

[Solly Mack]

4. K&R

[Evolve Dammit]

5. Thanks for posting. As we are fast becoming a shithole country, this is good to know.

[TurboDem]

6. Bookmarking.

Thanks for the post.

[dawn5651]

7. word of caution it can take years

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. It took about two years for our PR visas to be approved

That was in 2007-09. We had an excellent immigration lawyer who made sure every “i” was dotted and “t” was crossed. IIRC, there was only one request for additional information in the whole process.

There has been a backlog due to COVID, but CIC has hired tons of staff and doubled the target numbers for admissions over the next few years.

Canada WANTS and NEEDS new immigrants.

[Freddie]

8. My daughter is an RN

Been checking this out for her, looks like they really need nurses and she’d be very welcome. She has 2 young daughters and I want those girls out of this country. My daughter has looked into it, she’s concerned that the cost of living is very high and she’d be worse off financially. Still trying to get her to look at it seriously.

[localroger]

9. Canada is a beautiful and inviting country

I've been there as a tourist four times, visiting most of the major geographical areas. The scenery is beautiful, the cities are inspired, and the people are wonderful. It was striking driving back to Seattle from British Columbia that I could tell I passed into the US not just by the customs station, but by the sudden appearance of Jesus signs everywhere. Canada has newer and (to me) more impressive churches than the US, but they don't seem as inclined to push their religion on others.

Unfortunately, step 1 if you want to stay there more than a few months is "don't be 58 years old."

[ironflange]

13. Got here the easy way

Born here.

[Boomerproud]

15. You are lucky. Sincerely.

[ironflange]

16. I know that, thank you

[NanceGreggs]

21. Oh - so you cheated!

[Emile]

14. I was offered a job in Sioux Lookout, Ontario once. Too far

north for me, oh but summers are beautiful.

[FreepFryer]

17. "brought to you by the GOP - remember, do them a favor and just give up!"

discourageprop is so pathetic

[Disaffected]

18. Don't forget Calgary.

Recently ranked in the top three most livable cities in the world and first in North America!

https://dailyhive.com/calgary/calgary-was-just-named-the-most-liveable-city-in-north-america

[ironflange]

24. My town!

[Disaffected]

25. Same here.

[ironflange]

26. I'm in Legacy, how about you?

[Disaffected]

27. I'm a legacy too,

parents born here as well.

[ironflange]

28. Actually, I was born in Edmonton

[Elessar Zappa]

19. They wouldn't want me.

I’m disabled on SSDI on Medicare/Medicaid so they wouldn’t want to subsidize me. Otherwise, I would seriously consider moving.

[AllaN01Bear]

29. vancuver if i left. the us was supposed to be this way but a white minority using fear and violence

took it almost over . im staying put , this is my country too also dang nabbit.