Moving To Canada Isn't As Simple As You Think For Americans

If you've found yourself Googling "how to move to Canada" during the last few weeks (or months, or years), you aren't alone. After all, this North American country is one of the safest destinations in the world, not to mention downright gorgeous, full of friendly people, and home to lively, unique cities.

Unfortunately, if you hail from the United States, it's not as simple as packing a bag and hopping across the border. (And, no matter what you may hear, it's not simple for Canadians or Mexicans to cross the American border, either). In addition, Canada is limiting immigration after a post-COVID boom caused housing and job shortages.

While moving to Canada permanently may not be as easy as you hoped, it is still possible. There are several legal pathways to immigrating to Canada from the United States, depending on your job, family connections, heritage, and financial situation. Here's a guide to see if you qualify to emigrate from America to Canada — and what else you can do if you (sadly) don't meet any of the requirements.

Americans have no special status when it comes to moving to Canada, but there are several different immigration pathways you can take. Be warned that moving to Canada is complex and will take both time and money — at least six months and potentially up to $13,000 USD ($18,000 CAD). And that doesn't include the cost of your time having meetings and interviews or filling out paperwork. 

The easiest way to gain residency in Canada is through family reunification, marriage to a Canadian, or having a parent with Canadian citizenship. Canada also has a refugee visa (which Americans are not eligible for), an entrepreneurial start-up visa, and visas for students or those who have graduated from Canadian institutions. Another common way to move to Canada from the U.S. is if you have a job with a Canadian employer. Canada also has an Express Entry program, primarily for skilled workers, either with prior Canadian work experience (the Canadian Experience Class), eligible foreign work experience (Federal Skilled Worker Program), or skilled workers from select trades (the Federal Skilled Trades Program). You don't necessarily need an employer when you apply, especially if you have a background in manufacturing, construction, transportation, agriculture, or natural resources. The Express Entry pathway will get you to Canada within six months, which is by far the quickest option.

If you don't qualify for any of these visas, there's still another option, especially if you have (or can get) a remote job. Canada's new remote work visa is calling on digital nomads, and this six-month permit is reasonably easy to get. However, the drawback is that it is only six months.

If your Canadian dreams are not possible at the moment, other options could still get you abroad. Remote work is one of the best ways to do that, as you have location flexibility. And every year, more countries announce digital nomad visas, which range from six months (Canada) to several years — and some of these best destinations for digital nomads even have pathways to permanent residency or citizenship. 

However, if remote work isn't your thing, you can try to get a work permit. Teaching English (TEFL or TESOL) is a viable option all over the world, although the pay for such work varies widely. You'll find higher teacher paychecks in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, or South Korea. You can also find a job that will sponsor you to move abroad (or find a spouse who will do the same). If you have experience in highly coveted professions like medicine or engineering, you may be able to find a job overseas in your field.

If you're under the age of 30, you may qualify for a working holiday visa in places like New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. If you're under the age of 35, you may qualify for a working holiday visa in Canada, too! Some other ways to move abroad include attending a university (grad school, anyone?), seasonal jobs, or starting your own business. Plus, more and more countries are establishing start-up visas, including the Netherlands, Singapore, Denmark, Spain, and, of course, Canada.