Every election year, we hear the same thing -- people threatening to move to Canada if their favored candidate doesn't win. Maybe you've even said it yourself! But moving to Canada isn't as simple as packing up the minivan and driving to Ontario. If you're serious about wanting to move to Canada, you're going to need to get a residence visa for Canada. Today, we'll explore what it takes to legally live in Canada, so the next time one of your friends says they are going to move to Canada, you can tell them exactly what they'd need to do!
Temporary Residence in Canada
If today's presidential election doesn't go the way you want it to, and
you want to go chill out in Canada until after the inauguration, all you
need is your valid US passport. US citizens are allowed to stay in
Canada for up to 180 days without a visa. That's six full months that
you can enjoy poutine, curling, and Canadian weather with no visa required!
Six months a year in Canada isn't enough for you? You're going to need a visa if you want to move to Canada on a long-term basis.
Visas for Residence in Canada
There are two ways to move to Canada - on a temporary basis, with a residence-type visa, or on a permanent basis as an immigrant.
Residence visas are available to US citizens who will work or study in Canada.
- Student Visas require that you have been accepted into a "designated learning institution" in Canada. Designated learning institutions are schools and universities that have been authorized to host international students. Along with your student visa, you can also apply for a student work permit so that you can get a part-time job. (Poutine doesn't pay for itself, you know.)
- Work Visas allow you to live and work in Canada, receiving a salary from a Canadian employer. There are two types of work permit available
- Open Work Permits, which allow you to look for work in Canada and take a job with any employer, and
- Employer-Specific Work Permits, which require you to already have a job offer from a specific Canadian employer.
Your student visa or work permit will only be valid for a certain period of time, so you will need to extend your visa if you want to remain in the country. You would need to still be attending the same school or working for the same employer in order to extend your visa.
