If you’re from the United States or ask questions like “Can I Live in Canada if I am a US Citizen.” Chances are you’ve considered living in Canada at one point or another.
I know I have, as have many of my American friends and family members who have found themselves yearning for a different lifestyle in recent years.
In fact, according to the most recent census, there are more than 7 million Americans who call Canada their home.
| Move to Canada Through Express Entry | APPLYNOW |
| Get a Job in Canada | APPLYNOW |
| Study in Canada | APPLYNOW |
| Get Canadian Scholarships | APPLYNOW |
| Migrate To Canada | APPLYNOW |
Canada welcomes over 250,000 immigrants annually, many of whom are American citizens.
Suppose you’re considering moving to Canada and enjoying living in the United States. In that case, you might be wondering if it’s possible to live in Canada as an American citizen or what your options are if you decide to move north of the border at some point in the future.
Learn about how to live in Canada as a US citizen, including all the different ways to immigrate and how to get started today.
Can I Live in Canada if I am a US Citizen
As a US Citizen, you can legally live and work in Canada without ever taking on Canadian citizenship.
The type of visa you choose will largely determine how long you plan to stay, what your profession is, and which province you plan to live in.
It is advised that any person who plans on staying more than three years should apply for permanent residency.
There are also situations when an individual may not have the option of applying for either permanent residency or citizenship but would still be able to work and reside in the country, such as for family members of Canadians.
The 5 Best Programs to Help You Make the Move to Canada from the US
Express Entry Program
Express Entry is a Canadian immigration program with two streams:
- Express Entry – This one is for highly skilled workers and
- FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program) – This one is for people with work experience who might not have needed higher education.
The Express Entry stream has strict requirements to be eligible.
To qualify, you must be nominated by a province or territory in Canada. You must also meet the language requirement and score enough points on an eligibility grid.
First, you will fill out a profile to determine if you meet the Express Succession for permanent residence criteria.
If you do, you’ll receive a score between 0-1 000 points.
Once your application is received, it will undergo assessments to see if they are still admissible to Canada and their likelihood.
If they are found admissible, they’ll get 600 bonus points (making them at least 720).
If, after that assessment process, it seems like they would still fit into Canada’s current labor market needs. In that case,n they’re ranked higher than other applicants, increasing their chances of being invited over others to apply for residency.
All applicants are ranked according to how close their point total is to 1000.
Once the rankings are available, all provinces or territories get access and can invite people over based on their needs.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Quebec offers more points in its immigration system for skilled workers than any other province.
As it’s one of the few provinces with an expedited process for skilled immigrants. A minimum of 74 out of 100 possible points is required to qualify.
These points are gained by submitting a CV with Canadian experience and answering knowledge-based questions with three supporting documents (transcripts and diplomas) about your work history.
For this reason, it can be an excellent program for those with Canadian experience but not education credentials.
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program allows you to immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident.
This is after you have lived in Quebec for 12 months or longer as a temporary worker or student.
Once established in Quebec, eligible candidates may also apply for citizenship after living there for another two years.
FAST Program
If you’re a US citizen interested in becoming a permanent resident of Canada, you can apply for the FAST program, which stands for Federal Skilled Trades.
This program has an accelerated route to permanent residences if you meet a few qualifications.
Qualifications include 18 years old and having experience in 29 skilled trades or formal training in one.
Applicants must also demonstrate that they are qualified by their past employment, trade qualifications, or educational background.
Frequently Asked Question
How long can a US citizen live in Canada?
A US citizen may live in Canada for five years on their first Entry. Canadians, Americans, and citizens of other countries do not need a visa.
When you’re ready to leave, go back to the Canadian Immigration office for another stamp.
The only thing left is getting Canadian citizenship if you don’t have one.
Can US citizens work in Canada without a visa?
We must first look at whether or not a visa is required for Americans seeking to work in Canada.
There are several ways for an American citizen to legally work in Canada.
These methods can be divided into two groups: ways that require visas and practices that do not.
It’s important to know upfront which one you’ll need, as it can make things much more manageable.
For people who want to visit or study in Canada without having any Canadian permanent residence yet, they’re out of luck.
This is because no visa will allow them Entry into the country.
Can a US immigrant move to Canada?
To answer this question, you must first determine your eligibility for a work permit under NAFTA.
In most cases, if you are eligible, you will be able to find a company in Canada willing to sponsor and file an application on your behalf.
Another option may be if there is a specific occupational skill in which Canadian employers have a shortage of qualified applicants and would like you to work at their company.
This skilled position must also meet various criteria before it can qualify.
Another way into Canada would be through an exchange program or another country’s scholarships, maybe one offered by Germany or France.
The last option would be if you’re bilingual and would like to teach English abroad or join in humanitarian efforts.
Conclusion
Can I Live in Canada if I am a US Citizen? The answer is yes, of course.
If you’re not eligible for dual citizenship, there are many ways you can live and work in Canada.
In addition to freedom from required social security payments and excellent educational systems, Canadians have more options when it comes to filing taxes.
You can either file as a Canadian resident or do your taxes through your home country (the United States), so long as you don’t owe any taxes back home.