Are you exploring the option of moving to Canada from the United States?

With the upcoming 2024 presidential election, some American citizens are exploring their options, and finding that Canada is a great choice for Americans to move to. When looking to move to a new country, there are many factors to consider.

1. Am I eligible to move to Canada?

If you are wondering if you are eligible to move to Canada from the United States, then you are in the right place! Canada has numerous immigration programs available depending on your personal background. There are permanent options, that give you Canadian permanent residency which leads to Canadian citizenship. There are also temporary options available for those looking to work or study in Canada for a year or more. While many people think that Americans can live and work in Canada without a visa due to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Americans do require the proper permit to live, work, or study in Canada. Complete our free assessment to find out if you qualify.

2. Languages spoken

Canada has two official languages, French and English. Those looking to move to Canada from the United States are not required to know both official languages. Applicants are required to know one of Canada’s official languages, and those who do know both official languages will have an advantage. An estimated 75.5% of the Canadian population identify English as their first official spoken language, with only 18% identifying as being English French bilingual.

3. Availability of jobs

The current unemployment rate in Canada is 6.5%. Employment rose by 47,000 (+0.2%) in September while the employment rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 60.7%. Recent immigrants to Canada often face unique challenges finding work related to their education, training and skills. This statistic can be due to many factors including language abilities, recognition of qualifications, transferability of licensing and North American work experience. If you are looking to find out more about the availability of jobs in your field, you can read more on the Canadian government’s Job Bank website. Their Outlook tool allows you to learn more about the current and future availability of jobs in Canada by location, and specific occupation.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently targeting individuals with experience in healthcare occupations, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations, trade occupations, transport occupations and agriculture and agri-food occupations.

4. Cost of living

According to the government of Canada, most Canadians spend 35% to 50% of their income on housing and utilities. This includes the cost of their rent or mortgage, heat, electricity, telephone service, and water. Paycheque deductions can reduce your pay by as much as 25% to 35%. This amount will vary depending on how much you earn, as well as which province you live in.

5. Moving to Canada with pets

When looking at the topic of moving to Canada from the United States, many peoples’ main concern is whether or not they can bring their pets along with them. For many people, pets are a member of the family and the idea of having to move to Canada without them is unbearable.

Luckily Canada is pet friendly and you can bring pets with you when you move to Canada from the United States. Of course, this would be dependent on the type of pet that you are looking to bring in with you. Cats and dogs are allowed to accompany you when immigrating to Canada as long as you have the correct paperwork in order.

When moving to Canada from the United States with a pet The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) requires that the animals be Rabies vaccinated within the last twelve months and that you have the records with you to prove this. The fee for importing a domestic dog, cat or, ferret is $34.46 Canadian. If you have more than one of these pets the fee is an additional $5.75 Canadian. These fees do not apply to dogs, cats or ferrets from the United States of America as long as the required documentation is presented when importing the animal to Canada.

When looking to move to Canada from the United States, there are many things to consider. If you are thinking about taking the first step, speak to one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants to discuss your options!