Moving to Canada: your relocation checklist
How to move to Canada: the visa and residency routes, cost of living, banking, healthcare and taxes you'll deal with, organized by phase. Generate a free plan tailored to your passport, family, and budget below.
The average advertised salary is about CA$71,306 a year and English proficiency is rated “native” (EF EPI).
Moving from the United States? See the Canada from the USA guide.
Budgeting the move? See the cost of living in Canada.
Canada at a glance
Live and regularly refreshed data, each fact with its source.
Climate · Ottawa
Jan -9° · Jul 23°
Open-Meteo
Air quality · Ottawa
AQI 42 · Good
WAQI
Internet
~180 Mbps median
Ookla
Messengers
No known issues
OONI, 6 months to July 2026
Foreign-born residents
22.2% of population
World Bank 2024
Population
41.7M
World Bank 2025
Population density
5 / km²
World Bank 2023
Unemployment
6.9%
World Bank 2025
Avg advertised salary
CA$71,306 / yr
Adzuna, June 2026
English proficiency
native
EF EPI
Safety advisory
Level 1 · Exercise Normal Precautions
U.S. State Dept
Currency
CAD
ISO 4217
Timezone
UTC-4
Open-Meteo
No inbound regime (worldwide taxation)
Residents are taxed on worldwide income
No special expat break; newcomers get a step-up in the cost base of assets on arrival, which matters for capital gains later.
Verified June 2026 · CRA
Getting set up in Canada: key steps & official resources
The main immigration, tax, healthcare and housing bodies you'll deal with, with the official portals and typical costs. Curated and hand-verified — last reviewed June 2026. Figures are approximate; always confirm the current numbers on the official site.
- Immigration is via IRCC (www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html); get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada (www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html).
- Healthcare is provincial (e.g. OHIP in Ontario, MSP in BC, RAMQ in Quebec) and can have a waiting period of up to ~3 months — buy private interim insurance to cover the gap.
- Tax authority is the CRA (www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html). Main housing portals: Realtor.ca (www.realtor.ca), Rentals.ca (rentals.ca), Kijiji. Emergency number is 911.
- Key figures (approximate — verify current values): the SIN is free and issued same-day at Service Canada; provincial health coverage can have up to a ~3-month waiting period (e.g. BC) — interim private insurance costs ~CAD 50–100/month; rental deposits vary by province (e.g. Ontario: first + last month's rent; BC: half a month security deposit).
The Canada relocation checklist at a glance
1Before you go
- Confirm which visa or residency route fits your situation
- Gather and, where needed, apostille/translate key documents
- Sort out international health insurance for the gap period
- Budget the move and notify your bank of the relocation
2First week
- Register your address with the local authority
- Get a local SIM / mobile number
- Start the local bank account application
- Locate the nearest clinic and pharmacy
3First month
- Complete residency registration and get your ID number
- Enroll in the healthcare system or private insurance
- Set up utilities and a long-term rental contract
- Understand your tax residency obligations
4First 90 days
- Exchange or apply for a local driving license if required
- Build a local support network and language basics
- Review and optimize banking, taxes, and insurance
- Handle school enrollment or childcare if you have kids
This is a general outline. Your personalized plan above adapts every step to where you're moving from, your visa status, and your situation. Always verify official requirements: this is not legal or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to move to Canada?
It depends on your passport and why you are moving: tourist entry rules are different from working, studying or joining family. Generate a free plan above and we check the visa route for your exact passport and situation, using a 238-country visa matrix.
Does Canada have a special tax regime for newcomers?
Yes: No inbound regime (worldwide taxation). Residents are taxed on worldwide income. No special expat break; newcomers get a step-up in the cost base of assets on arrival, which matters for capital gains later. Status: active, verified June 2026 against CRA.
What is the weather like in Canada?
In Ottawa, average daily temperatures run about Jan -9° · Jul 23° (Open-Meteo historical data, 2025). Regional climates can differ a lot; a city-level plan uses data for your exact destination city.
Can I use WhatsApp and Telegram in Canada?
Network measurements over the last six months show Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, Facebook Messenger working normally in Canada (OONI, 5 January 2026 to 7 July 2026). This reflects measured reachability, not an official policy statement.
What do jobs pay in Canada?
The average advertised salary is about CA$71,306 a year (Adzuna job listings, June 2026). For a benchmark role like software engineer, the median advertised band starts around CA$120,000. Advertised salaries skew toward roles that are posted online, so treat this as a signal, not a guarantee.
How high are taxes on salaries in Canada?
The OECD tax wedge is about 32% (2025): that is the share of what a job costs an employer that goes to income tax and social contributions for a single average worker. It is not your personal income-tax rate, but it is the honest way to compare countries.
How current is this data?
Climate, inflation and life expectancy were refreshed 12 July 2026; prices, taxes and air quality 7 July 2026; messenger reachability 7 July 2026. Tax regimes are hand-verified against official government sources. Every fact on this page shows its source.