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Guides to moving to Canada
Each guide covers one subject, with a 30-second summary and links to official sources. 35 guides so far.
Research
Open this step →Is it right for us?
Is Canada right for you?
Who it suits, what the weather is really like, the time difference and how far you are from home.What people wish they’d known
The surprises British movers mention most: winter, rents, getting a family doctor, credentials and the distance.What rules catch Brits out in Canada?
Declaring food and cash at the border, cannabis, drink-driving tests, phones at the wheel, school buses, right on red and wildlife.Work and pay
How do I get a job in Canada?
Where jobs are advertised, how employer sponsorship (LMIA) works, a Canadian-style résumé and how to check what a job pays.Will my UK qualifications be recognised?
Educational credential assessments (ECA) for immigration, and licensing with provincial regulators for nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers and trades.What’s it like to work in Canada?
Hours, holidays, politeness, hybrid work, the right to disconnect in Ontario, and French at work in Quebec.Is my Canadian job offer a good one?
Salary versus benefits, payroll deductions, holiday, probation, sponsorship costs and what to ask before you sign.+ calculatorWhat are my rights at work?
Who sets the rules, minimum wages by province, holiday, overtime, sick days, notice and where to complain.Home, family and health
Which Canadian visa or permit do I need?
Visitor eTA, work permits, the Working Holiday, Express Entry, provincial nominations, family routes, fees and the 2026 cuts.How does healthcare work in Canada?
Provincial health plans, waiting periods, what isn’t covered, finding a family doctor and cover for the gap.How much does it cost to live in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonWhich Canadian city is right for us?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do schools work in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonMaking the move
Open this step →Before you fly
Do I still pay UK tax?
UK residence, the P85, split years, and how Canada taxes your worldwide income once you arrive.Should I rent out or sell my UK home?
Letting or selling from Canada: lender consent, the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme, the 60-day rule and Canadian tax.What happens to my UK pension?
The frozen State Pension, voluntary National Insurance after April 2026, the UK–Canada social security agreement and moving UK pensions.Can I bring my medicines?
How much you can bring, controlled drugs, why cannabis stays behind, and getting prescriptions once you arrive.How do I bring my dog or cat?
Rabies paperwork, age rules, why there is no quarantine from the UK, flights and what it costs.How do I move money from the UK?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do I ship my things to Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonYour first 30 days
How do I find a place to rent?
Where Canadians list rentals, how viewings and applications work, and how to compete with no Canadian credit history.Is this rental listing genuine?
The warning signs of a fake listing, how to check who owns a property, and where to report a scam.How do deposits and leases work?
Deposits by province, rent increase limits, the tenant boards, utilities and tenant insurance.+ calculatorCan I drive on my UK licence?
How long a UK licence lasts after you move, swapping it without a test, insurance, winter tyres and buying a car.How do I get a SIM, internet and call home?
Choosing a mobile carrier, setting up home internet and keeping in touch with the UK.Your first 30 days in Canada
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow much tax will I pay in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do I open a Canadian bank account?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonCan I live in Canada without a car?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonYour first weeks
Your first day at work
The forms you’ll fill in, how pay and benefits work, probation and workplace safety training.How do pensions and savings work in Canada?
CPP and QPP deductions, Old Age Security, workplace pensions, and the RRSP, TFSA and FHSA tax-free accounts explained.How do I build a credit history?
Why you start from zero, Equifax and TransUnion, newcomer and secured cards, and how to build a good record.Food shopping and eating out
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do I make friends in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonThe partner at home
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonLiving here
Open this step →Make the most of it
How do we make the most of a Canadian summer?
Lakes and cottages, camping in national parks, wildfire smoke, heat, sun, ticks, bears and water safety.How do we get through, and enjoy, a Canadian winter?
How cold it gets, what to wear, winter tyres, clearing snow, emergency kits, skiing, skating and festivals.How do public holidays and school holidays work?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonWhere can we go for a weekend away?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonWork and money
Can I change jobs in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonCan I freelance or start a business in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonFamily and home
Should we renew our lease or move?
What happens when a fixed term ends, rent rise caps for 2026 and 2027, the notice you give to leave, deposits and Quebec’s 1 July moving day.+ calculatorCan we buy a home in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do we change schools in Canada?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do we find childcare and holiday camps?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonHow do we hire a nanny or cleaner?
We’re writing this guide now.Coming soonProtect what you’ve built
How do we get permanent residence and citizenship?
The main routes from a work permit to permanent residence, what PR gives you, keeping your status, and becoming a Canadian citizen.What should we check when our insurance renews?
Car insurance in each province, tenant and home cover, extended health and dental, and travel cover for trips home.Do we need a will in Canada?
What happens without one, your UK will, guardians for children, powers of attorney, probate fees and tax at death.What should I check each year on UK tax, pensions and property?
A yearly check-up: UK and Canadian tax returns, reporting foreign property, your State Pension, UK pensions, your UK home and your vote.Moving on
Open this step →Plan your exit
How do I leave Canada, and in what order?
Notice at work, your lease, the car, departure tax, your last Canadian tax return, RRSP and TFSA, and keeping PR if you might come back.What do I need to close before I leave Canada?
Which bank account to keep, phone, utilities, insurance, provincial health cover, benefits, mail and credit cards.How do I take my pet back to the UK?
Microchip, rabies vaccination, the GB pet health certificate endorsed by the CFIA, tapeworm treatment and approved flights.Back to the UK
How do we settle back into the UK?
The NHS, tax, National Insurance, CPP, OAS and your State Pension, schools, university fees, your licence and renting.How do we find a home and a job back in the UK?
Renting with no recent UK history, the Renters’ Rights Act, buying and stamp duty, job hunting from Canada and your Canadian experience.Get new guides first
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