How to Choose a Province to Immigrate To

Start with where your occupation is in demand and which provincial nominee stream you could realistically qualify for. Then compare housing costs, taxes, language and climate across two or three provinces. Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a Provincial Nominee Program. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants. No single province is best for everyone.

Compare published criteria in the Pathway Explorer

Last verified: November 2026

600
CRS points a provincial or territorial nomination linked to Express Entry adds
730 days
In five years: the residency obligation that keeps permanent resident status (IRPA s.28)
About three months
The longest waiting period some provinces apply before provincial health insurance begins

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. They differ widely in jobs, housing costs, taxes, climate, and the immigration streams they run.

Where is your occupation in demand?

For most economic immigrants, work comes first. Provinces have different in-demand occupations, so a role that is hard to land in one place can be sought after in another. Where your occupation is needed shapes both your job prospects and your immigration options at the same time.

Provincial nominee streams can target specific occupations and sectors (Saskatchewan’s Occupation In-Demand sub-category is one example), so the job you do can directly determine which provinces offer you a pathway.

Confirm your occupation’s code in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, then look at which provinces list that occupation in their streams or labour-shortage information. The NOC Finder can help you pin down the right code.

Which provinces run a nominee program?

Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Quebec selects its own economic immigrants through its separate system (for example the CSQ and the Arrima portal).

A provincial or territorial nomination linked to Express Entry adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, the largest single factor, and puts you near the top of the pool for the provincial nominee rounds. IRCC still decides.

Since November 3, 2026, a job offer adds points to your federal Express Entry CRS score (100, 70 or 50) only if its occupation is on IRCC’s high-wage occupations list, and only when it beats your Canadian work experience points. From March 25, 2025 to November 2, 2026, a job offer added none.

A job offer in any occupation may still matter for some program eligibility and for many PNP streams.

The rule

Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a Provincial Nominee Program. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants through a separate system rather than a PNP.

IRCC, canada.caVerify on canada.ca

How do living costs, taxes and language differ?

Cost of living: Cost of living, and housing costs in particular, vary widely by province and by city. CMHC’s annual Rental Market Report and Statistics Canada’s quarterly rent data give current averages by city.
Taxes: Provinces set their own income tax brackets, and sales tax varies. Some provinces add a provincial sales tax on top of the federal GST, others use a combined HST, and Alberta and the territories have no provincial or territorial sales tax. Verify current rates for any province on its official site.
Language: French is the official language of Quebec, which runs its own immigration system. New Brunswick is officially bilingual (Charter s.16(2)). Outside Quebec, most immigration programs do not require French. French ability can open extra doors, including French-language immigration streams and category-based Express Entry rounds.
Climate and lifestyle: Climate and lifestyle differ widely across the country, as do the daily life and community a family finds there.

How do you compare provinces?

Confirm your occupation code
Find your occupation’s NOC code, because some streams target specific occupations.
Shortlist two or three provinces
Base the shortlist on where your occupation is in demand and which immigration stream you could realistically qualify for.
Compare them side by side
Compare housing and overall cost of living, job market depth, taxes, language and climate. Weigh any family or community ties you have there too.
Confirm the current figures
Rely on official government sources for current figures and for a province’s open streams.

What applies once you settle in a province?

Immigrating does not automatically grant health coverage on day one. Some provinces apply a waiting period of up to about three months before provincial health insurance begins, and IRCC suggests buying private insurance while you wait.

Permanent residents must meet residency obligations to keep their status: 730 days in five years, under IRPA s.28. Confirm the details for your chosen province.

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What do people ask?

How do I choose a province to immigrate to?

Start with where your occupation is in demand and which provincial nominee streams you could realistically qualify for. Shortlist two or three provinces, then compare housing and overall cost of living, job market depth, taxes, language, climate, and any family or community ties. Confirm your occupation code first, because some streams target specific occupations. Our NOC Finder pins down the code and our PNP guide explains the streams.

How do I choose a city to move to in Canada?

Compare specific cities, not national averages: rents differ widely from one city to another. Check where employers in your field hire, what rent costs in current local data, and whether you have family or community there. Our Cost of Living by Province guide compares housing and everyday costs across provinces.

What is the best province to immigrate to in Canada?

There is no single best province for everyone. The right choice depends on where your occupation is in demand, which provincial nominee streams fit your profile, what you can afford, the language you speak and the life you want. A province where you clearly meet a stream’s criteria is usually a stronger target than one with no route in. Our Pathway Explorer lets you compare the published criteria.

Does every province have a Provincial Nominee Program?

Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a Provincial Nominee Program. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants through a separate system. Streams open, close and change criteria often, so confirm a province’s current streams on its official site. Our Provincial Nominee Program guide explains how the streams and nominations work.

Do I have to speak French to immigrate to a province?

Not for most programs. French is the official language of Quebec, which runs its own immigration system, and New Brunswick is officially bilingual. French is not required for most programs outside Quebec, though some require it (the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot asks for NCLC 5), and it can open extra options, including French-language streams and category-based Express Entry rounds. Our Quebec Immigration guide covers the separate Quebec system and its language rules.

Which province has the lowest cost of living for newcomers?

No single province is reliably cheapest, and costs change. Housing costs differ widely between cities, and jobs in your field, taxes and commuting all count. Use current Statistics Canada and CMHC rental data and compare specific cities. Our Cost of Living by Province guide sets the numbers side by side with their sources.

Will I have health coverage as soon as I arrive in a province?

Not always. Immigrating does not grant health coverage on day one. Some provinces apply a waiting period of up to about three months before provincial health insurance begins, and IRCC suggests buying private insurance while you wait. Permanent residents also have residency obligations to keep their status (730 days in five years, IRPA s.28). Our Healthcare for Newcomers guide covers each province’s rules for health cards and coverage.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.