How to move to Canada from the UK -The Telegraph

Canada has long been an attractive option for British people looking to start a new life elsewhere, and since the Brexit referendum, a growing number of Brits have been researching how to move to Canada from the UK. It would seem they are in good company: the country has one of the highest per capita immigration rates in the world, and thousands of individuals relocate to Canada every year.

There are many reasons to look at moving to Canada. The second-largest country in the world in area, its beautiful and varied landscape boasts everything from majestic mountains, extensive shorelines and forested valleys to blue lakes, snowfields, and vast plains. 

It is a land of diverse cultures, and its cities are a melting pot of nationalities. It is also bilingual, with both English and French as its official languages – though English is the more prominent of the two. It has an advanced economy with a typically strong currency that is easily traded with the UK, and from a cultural perspective, while it’s always important to respect any differences, it is not hard to see why Brits tend to feel so at home there.

However, if you’re considering emigrating to Canada, you’re likely to have many questions to evaluate for your move abroad, including what the requirements for moving to Canada are, what jobs might be available to you, and how much moving might cost.

Here, we’ve answered the most common questions from those interested in moving to Canada from the UK:

Can I get a working holiday visa for Canada?

Canada is a popular choice for British working holidaymakers, with the International Experience Canada program (IEC) open to applicants between 18 and 35, allowing you to live, work and travel in the country for up to two years. Once your application is accepted, you will usually join a pool of candidates, and from there, it becomes a ‘potluck’ system, with successful applications selected at random. 

Ordinarily, there are specific criteria that you must meet to have a chance at selection, for example, having at least $2,500 CAD in savings on arrival to support you while you’re there, as well as a return ticket or the ability to demonstrate you have the financial resources to purchase a return ticket and proof of health insurance.

If you are applying for the Young Professionals programme through the IEC, you must also have a valid job offer in Canada before arrival.

How can I move to Canada if I’m over 35?

If you’re looking to move to Canada from the UK but are over the age of 35, you’ll be ineligible for the IEC program. Accordingly, the main option is to go straight for permanent residency. Each year, between 6,000 and 10,000 UK citizens become permanent residents of Canada, mainly via the Express Entry route, applying as skilled workers. 

There are other routes via the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Federal Skilled Trades program, the Canadian Experience Class, or the Provincial Nomination Program. In any case, your education, work experience and English/French language ability (remember, Canada is bilingual) will be assessed, and your score will determine your application acceptance. Just like working holidaymakers, you will then proceed to a pool of candidates, of whom those with the highest scores are most likely to be picked. This is also the best option if you wish to move to Canada permanently.

If you do not have an existing job offer and are hoping to move to Canada from the UK, researching the current Canadian skills shortage list via the government website is a great place to start. 

Can I retire to Canada?

The Canadian government focuses mainly on welcoming people into the country who will contribute to the economy, so it’s much easier to secure the right to live in Canada if you are working rather than retiring there. Therefore, there are no current incentives for people from the UK to retire to Canada. 

You can, however, visit for up to six months a year without a visa, so if you are able and willing to have two homes, that might be an option. If you have a spouse, a child or a grandchild who is a Canadian citizen, it’s a little simpler as they may be able to sponsor you, but this still comes with limitations.

For example, they must be over 18 and have enough money to support you regardless of your financial situation. The parent or grandparent ‘super visa’ allows for visits of up to two years and provides multiple entries within ten years. If you’re not keen on uprooting yourself on a regular basis to fulfil visa requirements, the simplest approach is to move to Canada before you retire and then work and achieve residency before changing your status.

It’s also worth remembering that your UK state pension will not benefit from the ‘triple lock’ guarantee, and the pension payment will remain static when you leave the UK. The UK government has agreements with some countries to ensure pensioners receive inflationary rises, but this is not the case with Canada, so you will want to allow for that in your budget.

How much does moving to Canada cost?

Moving to Canada from the UK costs varying amounts depending on what category or stream you obtain your visa under. For a working holiday visa (International Experience Canada program) or a standard work permit, the fee is $172 CAD per person, plus $100 CAD for an open work permit, which is required for Working Holiday permits but not Young Professional and International Co-op (internship) permits.

If you arrive via one of the skilled worker programs, the principal applicant’s fee is $1,365 CAD, and another $1,365 CAD if your spouse/partner is accompanying you. For each dependent child, the fee is $230 CAD. 

If a Canadian family member is sponsoring you, the fee is $1,080 CAD per adult applicant and $155 CAD for each dependent child. These fees do not include the $515 CAD Right of Permanent Residence fee (RPFR), which must be paid once an application for permanent residence has been approved, and there are also requirements around how much money you have in savings (known as ‘settlement funds’) when you arrive in Canada. If you do not have employment confirmed before arrival, these settlement funds will be substantially higher.

You may also need to consider the initial costs of sending money to Canada from your UK bank.

What if I need to transfer money to and from Canada?

When living and working in Canada, you may need to make regular international money transfers or exchange large amounts of currency in one go, whether it’s transferring UK funds to Canada to help manage your new life, buying property abroad, or sending money back to the UK to pay off a mortgage or help fund family studies or other ventures.

Transferring money via high-street banks can be expensive, complicated and time-consuming, costing up to £30 for a single international transfer. Luckily, Telegraph Media Group readers can benefit from a more competitive alternative with zero transfer fees in over 120 currencies worldwide via Telegraph Media Group International Money Transfers, powered by Moneycorp. 

As well as competitive exchange rates and no transfer fees, the service offers tailored customer support, with dedicated experts on hand to assist with your payment needs, plus 24/7 access via a secure online platform and mobile app.

• Open an account today to send money to Canada with the Telegraph Media Group International Money Transfer Service.
  

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The above article was created for Telegraph Financial Solutions, a member of The Telegraph Media Group. For more information on Telegraph Financial Solutions click here.

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None of the information contained in this article constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. TTT Moneycorp Limited (company number 738837) is registered in England. Its registered office is at Floor 5, Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ. Moneycorp is a trading name of TTT Moneycorp Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the provision of payment services (firm reference number 308919). Date of approval 16/01/2024

Information correct at date of publication.