Moving to Canada from the UK: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated: 22nd June 2026

Planning your move to Canada? We have been relocating British lives to Canada for nearly 30 years. It remains one of our busiest routes, and the demand is no surprise. Our own 2025 Relocation Index ranked Canada as the most desirable country to move to for two years running.

From our experience (and with our help) the move itself is the easy part. The real work lies in the planning leading up to it and preparing for the realities of living and settling in once you arrive.

This guide is designed to cover it all: from why & how to move, to common myths, visa options & costs, where to move, the logistics involved (our speciality), daily life, retirement and more.

Why move to Canada?

Canada has drawn Britons for generations, and the appeal is easy to understand: huge open space and an outdoors-first way of life, an immigration system that attracts skilled workers, strong wages in the right industries, diverse and liveable cities, and the soft landing of a country that mostly speaks your language. For most people it offers a real lift in quality of life without the language barrier of mainland Europe.

For a more comprehensive breakdown of the reasons Brits love to move Canada, see our guide on reasons to move to Canada.

What people get wrong about moving to Canada

Some myths and misconceptions about Canada come up regularly amongst our customers, and in forum discussions online. It is best to be aware of these myths before you move:

“It is basically the UK with nicer scenery.”
It shares the language, but it is its own country a long way from home, Quebec largely runs in French, and winters across most of it are far harsher than British weather prepares you for (temperatures swing from around minus 40 to plus 40, and your UK coat will not cut it).

“Canada will take pretty much anyone.”
It is welcoming, but moving there permanently is competitive and points-based: the main route, Express Entry, ranks you on age, education, language, skilled experience and qualifications, and clearing the bar does not guarantee a place. Plenty of people qualify, but it is rarely automatic. We cover the routes further down.

“My qualifications and experience will carry straight over.”
Often not, at least at first. A Library of Parliament review notes employers may not recognise foreign credentials or value overseas experience, and the Environics Institute found roughly one in four immigrants call this a major barrier at work. Regulated professions like medicine, nursing, law and engineering also need provincial licensing, so start early and plan for a gap before you are working in your field.

“Everything is cheaper than back home.”
It depends entirely on where you land: Toronto and Vancouver are not cheaper than the UK, while smaller cities stretch your money much further (compare any city on Numbeo). Two things catch Brits out everywhere, though: tipping of 15-20% and sales tax are added on top of the price you see, not baked in.

“Healthcare is free and instant, like a better NHS.”
Publicly funded and genuinely good, but not frictionless. It runs province by province, newcomers can wait up to three months before cover starts, and finding a family doctor or getting non-urgent treatment can mean long waits. Budget for private cover for your first few months.

“I will buy a house as soon as I arrive.”
Most non-residents currently cannot: a federal ban on foreign buyers runs until the start of 2027 and blocks most home purchases in larger towns and cities. There are exceptions, but the safe assumption is that you will rent first and buy once you are settled.

Moving to Canada from the UK

How do I get a Canada Visa?

There is no single “Canada visa.”

You apply to a specific programme that fits your situation, and the right one depends mostly on your age, your skills, and whether you have a job offer or family already in Canada.

The two most common routes for Britons are Express Entry, for skilled workers who want to settle permanently, and the Working Holiday, for younger people who want to try life there first.

The main Canada Visa options are:

• Express Entry: The main route to permanent residence for skilled workers. It ranks candidates on a points system (the Comprehensive Ranking System) and invites the highest scorers, so it suits people with a degree, skilled work experience and strong English or French.
  
• Working Holiday (International Experience Canada): For those aged 18 to 35, this is an open work permit that lets you live and work almost anywhere in Canada for up to two years, with no job offer needed. Britons can stretch it to around three years across two stays, which makes it the simplest route for young people.
  
• Provincial Nominee Programs: Individual provinces nominate people for their own labour shortages. These are growing fast and can be more attainable than the federal route alone, especially if you are happy to settle outside the biggest cities.
  
• Family sponsorship: If your spouse, partner, parent or child is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they may be able to sponsor you.
  
• Study permit: Studying at a Canadian institution is a route in its own right, and often a stepping stone to working and staying on afterwards.
  
• Employer-sponsored work permit: A job offer from a Canadian employer can support a work permit, and sometimes a later path to permanent residence.

Find out which immigration pathways you are eligible for by answering a few questions on the Government of Canada website.

The easiest and hardest routes.

For under-35s, the Working Holiday is comfortably the most straightforward, since it asks for little more than savings and insurance.

For everyone else, Express Entry and provincial nomination are the “easiest” pathways to settling in Canada for good, but how easy or hard they are comes down to your occupation, age and language scores.

The hardest visa pathways are for people without in-demand skills, a sponsor or Canadian experience and for those in regulated professions that need separate licensing (medicine, nursing, law, engineering).

How much does it cost to get a Visa?

Government fees are modest next to the cost of the move itself, but they add up.

A Working Holiday permit comes to around CAD $365.

Permanent residence through Express Entry or a provincial programme is CAD $1,590 for a single adult in 2026 (a $990 processing fee plus the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee).

There will be further costs for things such as a language test, a credential assessment, biometrics and medical and police checks, which can add several hundred dollars.

Fees change every couple of years, so check the current amounts with IRCC before you budget. These are application fees only, separate from the cost of physically moving, which we will come to next.

Immigration rules and programmes change often, and the right route is genuinely personal, so treat this as a map rather than advice. Always confirm the detail on the official Government of Canada immigration site.

How much does it cost to move to Canada?

As a rough guide, all-in-all it usually costs somewhere between £10,000 and £20,000 to move from the UK to Canada, though where you fall in that range depends on your visa, the size of your move and how you travel. The main costs break down as:

• Visas and documents. Covered above: around CAD $1,590 for permanent residence as a single adult, plus language tests, a medical, police checks and any professional help you pay for.
• Flights. A one-way economy seat runs from around £250 to £500 per person.
• Shipping your belongings. Anywhere from about £540 for a few boxes to roughly £4,000 to £5,600 for a three-bedroom home in a 20ft container. You can see current prices by city and move size on our Canada container shipping costs page.
• Money to land on. Budget for a rental deposit plus your first and last month’s rent, often around £3,500 to £4,000 for a family home, and private health insurance to cover the wait before provincial healthcare begins.

Check out our guide to the cost of moving to Canada for a complete breakdown of moving costs.

What is the cheapest way to move to Canada?

• Ship it by sea, and ship less. Bulky, low-value items may cost more to send than to replace, so be ruthless about what earns its place. Removals via shared container (or groupage) is the cheapest option, since you only pay for the space you use. Booking early helps too (we take 10% off moves confirmed within ten days of quoting).
  
• Time your flights. One-way fares to Canada are cheapest outside the July-to-August summer peak, so an autumn or winter move tends to be cheaper on flights. Book a few weeks to a couple of months ahead, fly midweek where you can, compare carriers like Air Transat and WestJet against Air Canada, and set a price alert so you catch a drop.
  
• Move your money carefully. When you transfer savings to Canada, high-street banks usually build a markup into the exchange rate. A specialist money-transfer service offering the mid-market rate can save a meaningful amount on a large sum, so it is worth comparing before you send a rental deposit or your savings across.

How do I transport my belongings to Canada?

Getting your belongings across is the part we handle every week, so here is how it works in practice. For full details or for a free quote, see our page on removals to Canada.

There are two main options, chosen by the size of your move:

• Shared container. Your goods are packed and share a container with other shipments, so you pay only for the space you use. It is the most cost-effective choice for anything from a few boxes up to a one-bed flat.
• Full container. A 20ft or 40ft container for your sole use, which suits a two-bedroom home and upwards.

Either way, sea freight is the usual method. Air freight is faster but far dearer, so it is best kept for a small case of essentials if absolutely necessary. Typical sea transit times run from around ten days to Montreal and twelve to Toronto, out to about thirty to Vancouver on the west coast, with inland cities somewhere in between. We publish our weekly Canada sailing schedule so you can choose a date that suits you.

On customs, the good news is that your used household goods come in duty-free, as long as you have owned and used them for at least six months and import them within a year of arriving. You will need your passport, an inventory and your visa, and you have to be in Canada to clear the shipment. A handful of things are prohibited or restricted, including food, plants, firearms, alcohol and tobacco. Our Canada customs guide covers the detail, and a good mover handles the paperwork for you.

Can I ship my car to Canada?

You can bring your car, but check whether it qualifies first. Vehicles under 15 years old must have been built to Canadian or US standards and meet the federal RIV programme; those over 15 are exempt but need proof of age. Most imports attract around 6.1% duty plus 5% GST, and shipping itself starts at roughly £1,200 for a standard car.

For an everyday runabout it is often cheaper to sell here and buy there once you arrive; but for something you love or could not easily replace, shipping makes sense. Our sister company Autoshippers handles the car side.

Can I move with pets to Canada?

You can bring cats and dogs to Canada, and there is no quarantine, but it takes forward planning. Canada asks for an up-to-date rabies vaccination (for dogs over three months) and a vet’s health certificate dated within five days of travel, with a microchip recommended. Costs run to roughly £1,500 to £2,500 for a dog, less for a cat, and a few provinces restrict certain breeds, so check your destination first.

We handle the household side of your move; for the pet itself, we have partnered with PetAir UK, a vet-led pet relocation specialist and British Airways Preferred Partner that has moved more than 32,000 pets worldwide. They take care of the health checks, paperwork, custom-built crates and flights, and 1st Move customers get 5% off, so they are well worth a look. Our guide to moving abroad with pets covers the whole process in more detail.

Where should I move to in Canada?

Canada is enormous, and the right city depends on what you are optimising for: jobs, housing costs, climate, or pace of life. Two ways to narrow it down quickly are to look at where other UK movers actually go, and to look past the obvious names.

Where our customers move, and why

We see a steady stream of UK enquiries, and the pattern barely changes year to year. Three cities dominate.

• Toronto is the single most requested destination, at about 16% of our UK to Canada enquiries. It has the biggest and most diverse job market in the country, a strong safety record, and the deepest range of amenities. The catch is housing: benchmark prices sit above CAD $1.2 million, among the highest in Canada.
• Vancouver is second, at about 12%. People go for the lifestyle and the mild coastal climate, with mountains and sea on the doorstep. It is also the least affordable city we track, with homes around CAD $1.24 million.
• Calgary is third, at about 9%, and it is arguably the best value of the three. A high median household income (around CAD $100,000) sits alongside homes nearer CAD $612,000. Colder winters and a more car-dependent layout are the trade-off.

After those three, demand spreads across Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Halifax and Victoria, each in the low single digits. The pattern worth noticing is that demand tracks opportunity, not comfort. The most-requested cities are where the work and the income are, even when the housing hurts, which is why value-led Calgary tops our overall livability ranking while lifestyle-led Victoria sits mid-table despite its mild weather.

We rank all eight major cities on affordability, jobs, safety, lifestyle, climate and real UK demand, with the data and methodology behind every score, in our best places to live in Canada guide.

Five hidden gems worth a look

That ranking deliberately sticks to the eight big cities. Plenty of smaller places never make those lists but suit the right person very well. Five worth a look:

• Quebec City, Quebec. One of the oldest cities in North America, with a UNESCO-listed old town, and consistently among the safest places in Canada. Housing is far cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver. The trade-off is language: you will need functional French for daily life and most jobs.
• Kelowna, British Columbia. In the Okanagan Valley, with a milder, sunnier climate than most of Canada, lakes, and wine country on the doorstep. It is cheaper than Vancouver but still BC-priced, and the local job market is smaller.
• Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Canada’s main tech cluster outside Toronto, home to the University of Waterloo and a genuine start-up scene, about an hour from Toronto at noticeably lower housing costs. Strong for tech and engineering careers, though the winters are still Ontario-cold.
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. One of the more affordable cities in the country and among the sunniest, with a growing economy across agriculture, mining and tech. The catch is hard Prairie winters and a smaller, less diverse job market.
• St John’s, Newfoundland. Colourful, characterful and scenic, with a strong local culture and some of the friendlier house prices in the country. The trade-offs are real: it is remote, the weather is famously wet and windy, and jobs are limited unless you can work remotely.

Wherever you land, it is worth a research trip before you commit, since these places trade very differently on weather, jobs and distance from home.

Living in Canada: what UK expats need to know

Before you book your flights and arrange your shipping, it helps to get a feel for daily life in Canada. Here is a practical overview of the things most UK movers ask about, from money and healthcare to schooling, driving and bringing your belongings with you.

💰 Currency	Canadian dollar (CAD)
🗣️ Official languages	English and French
👥 Population	Around 41 million
🇬🇧 British expats	Over 500,000
🧭 Popular destinations	Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa

Cost of living in Canada

How expensive Canada feels depends heavily on which city you compare, so the honest headline is that the big Canadian cities work out cheaper than London but pricier than most of the rest of the UK.

Against London, Toronto comes out noticeably cheaper: rent runs roughly 40% lower, eating out around 20% lower, and groceries are broadly similar (figures from Numbeo, early 2026). Vancouver is Canada’s most expensive city, yet even there rent sits well below central London. Compare Canada to UK cities outside London, though, and the picture flips: groceries and restaurant bills tend to run a little higher than you are used to, while petrol and running a car usually work out cheaper.

A few patterns hold wherever you settle: food and eating out lean expensive, fuel leans cheaper, and housing is by far the biggest variable. For a like-for-like figure on your exact destination, run a current comparison on a live tool such as Numbeo, and budget for a deposit, first month’s rent and setup costs on arrival.

Opening a Canadian bank account

You can usually open a Canadian bank account as a newcomer without a job or local income, and several of the big banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) run dedicated newcomer packages. You will typically need to open the account in person and provide two pieces of ID, often your passport plus a second document.

Most newcomers find it easiest to set up an account in the first week or two after arrival, since you will need one for rent, salary and bills. You can find more detail in the government guidance on opening a bank account in Canada.

Finding work and getting an SIN

Before you can start a job or get paid, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is free and issued by Service Canada. Apply for it as soon as you arrive, as it gates everything from employment to opening certain accounts. See the official guidance on getting a SIN.

Once you have your SIN, the main job boards are the government’s own Job Bank, Indeed Canada and LinkedIn. It is worth checking which occupations are currently in demand in your target province, as several provinces run their own immigration and hiring streams tied to local skills shortages.

What are salaries like in Canada?

Salaries in Canada are often higher than in the UK in cash terms, but that headline misleads on its own: a bigger number is not a pay rise once you weigh it against the cost of living, income tax and the exchange rate. The average salary is around CAD $68,700 a year, based on Statistics Canada’s average weekly earnings for early 2026, which at today’s rate is close to the UK’s own full-time average. The gap people notice tends to show up in specific skilled and in-demand roles rather than across the board.

Here is how some common roles compare. Canadian figures are converted at roughly 1.86 CAD to the pound (June 2026) so you can read them straight against the UK column.

Role	Canada (CAD)	Canada (≈ GBP)	UK (GBP)
Registered nurse	~$85,000	~£46,000	~£37,000
Software developer	~$95,000	~£51,000	~£49,000
Civil engineer	~$90,000	~£48,000	~£42,000
Electrician	~$75,000	~£40,000	~£38,000
Secondary school teacher	~$75,000	~£40,000	~£40,000
Accountant	~$68,000	~£37,000	~£39,000

These are rounded national averages from sources including Canada’s Job Bank, Indeed and Glassdoor, and published UK pay data. They vary widely by province, city and experience, so treat them as a starting point, not a quote.

The honest takeaway is that healthcare and engineering pay noticeably more in Canada, which fits the labour shortages driving immigration in those fields, while tech, trades and teaching come out broadly similar once converted, and some office roles like accounting are not clearly better paid at all. So the useful question is not “does Canada pay more” but “does my role pay more, in the province I am moving to, after tax and rent”.

Two things to weigh against any offer. Income tax is charged both federally and provincially, and for most earners the combined bite is broadly comparable to the UK, though it varies by province. And paid holiday is less generous: the statutory minimum in most provinces is two weeks a year, rising with length of service, against the 28 days you are used to in the UK.

Driving in Canada and swapping your licence

This is the practical step Brits most often overlook. Most Canadian provinces have a licence-exchange agreement with the UK, which means you can usually swap your UK photocard for a provincial licence without sitting a driving test, though you will normally need to do it within a set period of becoming a resident. The exact rules, fees and timeframes are set by each province, so check your destination province’s transport authority once you know where you are settling.

In the short term you can generally drive on your UK licence, and an International Driving Permit is useful in the first few months. A few things differ from home: you drive on the right, you can usually turn right on a red light unless a sign tells you otherwise, and some provinces require headlights on during the day. Licensing, insurance and the finer rules of the road all vary by province.

Renting or buying property

Most newcomers rent first, and there are no restrictions on renting as a non-resident. Listings sites like Rentals.ca and local agents are the usual starting point, and a security deposit is normally capped at one month’s rent in most provinces.

Buying is more restricted. Under the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, non-citizens and non-permanent-residents cannot buy most residential property until 1 January 2027. Importantly, the ban only applies in larger urban areas (Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations), not in smaller towns and rural areas, and there are exceptions for some work permit holders, certain international students and others who meet specific criteria. If buying is part of your plan, take legal advice on whether an exception applies to you.

Healthcare for UK expats

Canada has a publicly funded healthcare system, but it is run separately by each province and territory, and you must register for a provincial health card. The key point for newcomers is that coverage is not always immediate: some provinces (for example British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec) impose a waiting period of up to three months, while others (such as Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia) cover eligible residents sooner.

Because of that gap, it is strongly recommended to arrange private health insurance to cover your first three months. Emergency care is available regardless. You can read the official overview of how publicly funded coverage works.

Tax: what to sort before and after you move

Before you leave, tell HMRC you are moving abroad using form P85, which affects your UK tax position. Once in Canada, you will generally become a Canadian tax resident and file with the Canada Revenue Agency. The UK and Canada have a double taxation agreement, so income is not normally taxed twice, but your situation is worth checking with an accountant who handles UK to Canada moves, especially if you have UK property, pensions or investments.

Moving with family

Schools and universities

Public schooling is free for permanent residents and citizens, and it is run by each province, so the structure, curriculum and even the school-leaving age vary by where you settle.

Children generally start at five or six and must stay in education until at least sixteen, though Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Nunavut require attendance until eighteen or high school graduation.

Quebec runs differently again: high school finishes a year earlier, after which students take a two-year college stage called CEGEP before university.

Private schools are available everywhere if you want them, usually at well below UK private fees. If you are on a temporary permit rather than permanent residence, the local school board may ask for extra documentation before enrolling your child.

As a permanent resident, your children pay the heavily subsidised domestic tuition rate, which averages around CAD $7,000 a year. On a temporary permit they may instead be charged the international rate, which now averages closer to CAD $42,000 a year for an undergraduate degree, and more again at the most sought-after universities. Bear in mind too that Canadian degrees usually run four years rather than three.

The universities themselves rank well internationally, with Toronto, McGill and British Columbia consistently the top three.

Having a baby in Canada

Maternity care is covered once you are on a provincial health plan, but if you give birth during a waiting period or before your coverage starts, costs can run into several thousand dollars. This is another reason to keep private cover in place until your provincial card is active.

Lifestyle and Culture in Canada

Canada is a culturally rich country, home to a mix of cultures and languages. It’s known for its inclusive society and high quality of life. There is more of an importance placed on a work-life balance in Canada compared to the UK, which sees many workplaces offering flexible hours. 

Culture and Language

Canada’s culture and language may differ by region. Quebec has a strong French influence with its own customs and legal system, the Prairies are known for hospitality and cowboy culture, and the Maritimes are famous for music, seafood, and tight-knit communities.

Outdoor Adventures

Nature is a huge part of life in Canada. With vast mountain ranges, thousands of lakes, expansive forests, and coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the country offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Skiing, snowboarding, canoeing, camping, hiking, and ice skating are not just seasonal hobbies, they’re integral to the Canadian experience. Many Canadians spend weekends or holidays in cottages or cabins, especially in the summer.

Sports

When it comes to sport, ice hockey is more than just a pastime in Canada, it’s a national identity. The passion around the NHL is intense, particularly in provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. Lacrosse holds the title of official summer sport, but soccer, especially among youth, is growing rapidly, thanks in part to Canada’s participation in international tournaments and the expansion of professional teams. Baseball, basketball, and even curling are also widely followed.

Food Scene

The food scene in Canada is influenced by local produce and global inspiration. Canada has several iconic dishes loved by locals:

• Poutine – A Quebecois classic made of fries topped with cheese curds and gravy.
• Butter tarts – A sweet pastry filled with a sugary, buttery filling that’s sticky, rich, and distinctly Canadian.
• Tourtière – A French-Canadian meat pie traditionally eaten during holidays.
• Nanaimo bars – No-bake layered dessert bars from British Columbia, made with chocolate, custard, and coconut.

Retiring in Canada

Retiring to Canada is harder than most people expect, for one simple reason: Canada has no retirement visa. There is no equivalent of the routes that let you retire to parts of Europe on proof of income. So the realistic ways in are family-based, or already holding the right to live there. And even once you are settled, the finances carry a sting that catches a lot of people out.

Getting the right to stay

If you have a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, two routes open up.

• The Parents and Grandparents Program is full sponsorship to permanent residence. The catch is that intake is capped and heavily oversubscribed, with invitations drawn from a pool, so in practice it behaves more like a lottery than a process you can count on.
• The Super Visa is the more accessible option. It is a multiple-entry visitor visa that lets you stay up to five years per visit, valid for up to ten years. You need private medical insurance of at least CAD $100,000 valid for a year, and your host has to meet a minimum income level. It is visitor status, though, so it does not let you work and it does not give you provincial healthcare. You carry private cover the whole time. The eligibility rules are set out on the IRCC super visa page.

Without family already there, the economic routes like Express Entry are realistic only if you still have in-demand skills, because the points system favours younger applicants and scores drop sharply with age. In practice, many people who retire in Canada moved earlier in their careers and earned permanent residence or citizenship long before they stopped working.

The money side most people miss

• Your UK State Pension is frozen. It is payable in Canada, but it does not get the annual increase that pensioners in the UK receive. It stays fixed at the rate it was when you moved, and loses value to inflation every year after. Around 480,000 British pensioners living abroad get no increase, and the large majority of them are in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, because the UK has no agreement with Canada to uprate it (gov.uk figures). Over a twenty-year retirement, that gap compounds into a serious loss of income. You arrange payment of the pension abroad through the UK’s International Pension Centre.
  
• Other pensions and tax. Private and workplace pensions can usually be paid to you in Canada. Once you are a Canadian tax resident, you are taxed on your worldwide income, with the UK-Canada double taxation treaty there to stop the same money being taxed twice. Moving a pension out of the UK entirely is possible but complex and easy to get wrong. This is one for a cross-border financial adviser: we move households, not money, and the tax position is too individual for a guide like this to answer.
  
• Healthcare gets pricier with age. As a permanent resident you get provincial healthcare, though some provinces make new arrivals wait up to three months before cover starts. On a Super Visa you are not covered by the public system at all, and private insurance costs more the older you are, so budget for it honestly rather than as an afterthought.
  
• Where you settle matters more on a fixed income. Atlantic Canada and the Prairies stretch a pension a great deal further than Toronto or Vancouver. The mild-climate spots retirees are drawn to, Victoria and Kelowna in particular, are among the more expensive places to land, as covered in the section above.

The move itself is the straightforward part. The visa route and the pension and tax position are what really decide whether retiring to Canada works, so get specialist immigration and cross-border tax advice before you commit to anything.