Canada

Permanent residence

• Express Entry: an online system for three federal programmes: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades. Candidates get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for age, education, language and experience. IRCC holds regular draws, including category-based draws for healthcare, trades, French speakers and other in-demand fields. Most applications are processed in about 6 months.
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): each province selects people who meet its labour needs. A nomination adds 600 CRS points in Express Entry.
• Quebec: runs its own selection system with separate rules and a strong focus on French.

Temporary routes

• Study permit: for programmes at a designated learning institution. Most new students need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) because of national caps. You must show enough funds for tuition and living costs.
• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): open work permit of up to 3 years after eligible studies, with field of study and language requirements for many graduates.
• IEC Working Holiday: open work permits of up to 1 or 2 years for young people (typically 18 to 30 or 35) from partner countries, allocated through random pools.
• Employer-specific work permits: usually need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) unless exempt, for example under CUSMA or intra-company transfers.

In-demand fields

• Healthcare: nurses, personal support workers, doctors and allied health professionals.
• Tech: software development, data, cybersecurity and AI, especially in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Waterloo.
• Skilled trades: electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters and heavy equipment operators.
• Engineering, finance and accounting, often requiring professional licensing.
• Transport and logistics, including truck drivers.

Salaries and conditions

Median full-time earnings are around $60,000-$70,000 a year, with software engineers typically earning $90,000-$140,000. Minimum wages are set by each province and are around $16-$18 an hour in 2025. Most employees get at least 2 weeks of paid vacation plus statutory holidays.

How to search

• Job Bank, the federal government job site, plus LinkedIn and Indeed.
• Recruitment agencies and industry associations.
• Networking, informational interviews and newcomer settlement agencies, which run free job programmes.

Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary income if you lose your job through no fault of your own.

Typical rents

Housing is the biggest cost in Canada. Average rents for a 1-bedroom apartment in 2025 are roughly:

• Vancouver: $2,500-$3,000
• Toronto: $2,300-$2,700
• Montreal: $1,600-$2,000
• Calgary and Ottawa: $1,800-$2,200
• Smaller cities (Halifax, Winnipeg, Quebec City): $1,300-$1,800

Types of housing

• Condos and purpose-built rentals in high-rise towers.
• Basement apartments in family homes, often cheaper but check they are legal.
• Shared houses and rooms, common for students and newcomers.

Applying for a rental

Landlords usually ask for a rental application, proof of income (employment letter or pay stubs), references and often a credit check. Newcomers without credit history may be asked for extra rent upfront or a guarantor.

Tenant rights are set by each province, including rent increase limits for many units in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

Public health insurance

Canada's public system, often called medicare, is run by each province and territory. Eligible residents, including permanent residents and many work permit holders, get free doctor visits and hospital care.

• Ontario: OHIP. Apply at ServiceOntario. There is currently no waiting period for eligible residents.
• British Columbia: MSP. Coverage starts after a waiting period of the rest of your arrival month plus 2 months.
• Quebec: RAMQ. Usually a waiting period of up to 3 months. You must also have prescription drug insurance, through an employer plan or the public plan.
• Alberta: AHCIP, with no waiting period for most eligible newcomers.

What is not covered

Prescription drugs (outside hospital), dental care, eye care, physiotherapy and ambulance fees are mostly not covered for working-age adults. Many employers offer extended health benefits for these. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan helps some lower-income residents.

Using the system

Finding a family doctor can take months. Meanwhile, use walk-in clinics, telehealth lines (811 in most provinces) and pharmacists, who can treat some minor conditions.

In an emergency, call 911.

A realistic monthly budget

For a single person renting a 1-bedroom apartment:

• Toronto or Vancouver: $3,800-$4,800 a month
• Montreal, Ottawa or Calgary: $2,800-$3,600
• Smaller cities: $2,300-$3,000

A family of four in Toronto or Vancouver often needs $7,000-$9,000 a month.

Typical costs

• Groceries: $450-$600 per person
• Utilities: $120-$250 for an apartment, higher for houses in winter
• Internet: $60-$90
• Mobile: $35-$65 for a plan with plenty of data
• Transit pass: about $100-$160
• Car insurance: very expensive in Ontario, often $150-$300 a month

Taxes on shopping

Prices on shelves usually do not include sales tax. Depending on the province, GST, PST or HST adds 5% to 15% at the till. Tipping is expected at restaurants (15% to 20%), in taxis and at hairdressers.

Childcare costs are falling under the national $10-a-day plan, but availability varies.

Public transit in cities

• Toronto: TTC subway, streetcars and buses, plus GO Transit regional trains. Pay with a PRESTO card or tap a credit card.
• Vancouver: SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus run by TransLink, using the Compass card or contactless payment.
• Montreal: STM metro and buses with the OPUS card, plus the new REM light rail.
• Calgary and Ottawa: light rail and bus networks.

Driving

Outside big cities, a car is often essential. Newcomers can usually drive on a foreign licence for a short period (typically 60 to 90 days, depending on the province). After that you must exchange it or pass local tests. Several provinces have exchange agreements with countries such as the UK, the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia and many EU members.

• Winter tyres are mandatory in Quebec from 1 December to 15 March, and on many BC highways.
• Car insurance is compulsory and can be very expensive for new drivers without Canadian history.

Long-distance travel

VIA Rail links Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, and runs scenic long-distance routes. For most other trips, fly with Air Canada, WestJet, Porter or Flair.

Daily life

Canadians are generally polite, relaxed and welcoming. Cities are multicultural, so you will find food, festivals and communities from almost every country. Work-life balance is valued, and most people finish work by 5pm or 6pm.

Seasons and outdoor life

Canadians make the most of every season:

• Summer: cottages, lakes, camping, hiking and festivals.
• Winter: skiing, skating, snowshoeing and ice hockey, which is close to a national religion.
• Autumn: spectacular colours, especially in Ontario and Quebec.

Parks Canada manages dozens of national parks, including Banff, Jasper and Pacific Rim.

Social etiquette

• Say please, thank you and sorry often.
• Tip 15% to 20% in restaurants and bars.
• Be on time for work and appointments.
• Respect diversity; discrimination is illegal and socially unacceptable.

Making friends

Join community centres, sports leagues, volunteer groups and newcomer programmes. Settlement agencies in every city run free events, language classes and mentoring.

Schools for children

Education is run by each province. Public schools are free for children of residents and most work or study permit holders, from kindergarten to grade 12. Many provinces offer French immersion programmes, and Quebec requires most children of newcomers to attend French-language schools.

• Register at your local school board with proof of address, immigration status and immunisation records.
• Private and international schools cost around $20,000-$40,000 a year.
• Childcare fees have fallen in many provinces under the federal $10-a-day childcare plan, but spaces are limited.

Universities and colleges

Canada has world-ranked universities including the University of Toronto, UBC and McGill, plus practical colleges and polytechnics. International undergraduate tuition typically ranges from $25,000 to $60,000 a year.

Study permit rules

Since 2024 Canada has capped new study permits. Most applicants need a provincial attestation letter, and the proof of funds requirement is about $22,900 a year for living costs (plus tuition and travel) for a single student. Students can usually work up to 24 hours a week off campus during term.

Opening an account

The Big Five banks, RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC, plus National Bank and credit unions, all offer newcomer packages. These often include free banking for a year, a credit card without credit history and help with international transfers. You usually need your passport and immigration document; your SIN is needed for interest-earning accounts.

Online banks such as Tangerine, Simplii and EQ Bank have lower fees but no branches.

Payments

• Interac debit and Interac e-Transfer are used everywhere to pay people and landlords.
• Contactless cards and phone payments are standard.
• Cheques are still sometimes needed for rent, so keep a chequebook.

Building credit

Your credit score (from Equifax and TransUnion) affects renting, phone contracts, car loans and mortgages. Get a credit card early, use a small part of the limit and pay it in full every month.

Taxes

The tax year is the calendar year and personal returns are due 30 April. Filing is important even with low income, because it unlocks benefits such as the GST/HST credit and the Canada Child Benefit. Registered accounts such as the TFSA, RRSP and FHSA help you save tax.

Your immigration status

• Keep your permit valid and apply to extend before it expires. If you apply in time you can usually keep working under the same conditions while you wait (maintained status).
• Follow the conditions on your permit, such as your employer, study hours or location.
• Permanent residents must live in Canada for at least 2 years in every 5 to keep their status.

Alcohol and cannabis

• The legal drinking age is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.
• Cannabis is legal for adults (19 in most provinces, 18 in Alberta and 21 in Quebec), but buy only from licensed stores and never cross a border with it.
• Drinking in public is restricted in most places, although some cities allow it in certain parks.

Driving

Impaired driving (alcohol or drugs) is a serious criminal offence and can make a non-citizen inadmissible to Canada, leading to loss of status.

Work and rights

Employment standards (minimum wage, overtime, holidays) are set by each province, or federally for industries such as banking and airlines. Discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability is illegal under human rights laws.

Entering Canada

• Visa-exempt travellers (for example from the UK, EU countries, Australia, Japan and South Korea) need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. It costs $7 and is linked to your passport for up to 5 years.
• US citizens need only a valid passport.
• Other nationalities need a visitor visa, which includes giving biometrics.

Visitors can usually stay up to 6 months, but the border officer decides the length of stay. You cannot work on visitor status.

Arriving as a newcomer

Use the Advance Declaration in the ArriveCAN app at major airports to speed up customs. If you are arriving with a work or study permit approval letter, the permit itself is issued at the border, so check that all details are correct before you leave the counter.

Getting around

Distances are vast: Toronto to Vancouver is a 4 to 5 hour flight. VIA Rail's long-distance trains and road trips are memorable ways to see the country.

Highlights

• The Rockies: Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise
• Niagara Falls, Toronto and Ottawa
• Old Montreal and Quebec City
• Vancouver Island and the Pacific coast
• The Maritimes and Newfoundland