How to Move to Canada from the US

Americans move to Canada through the same routes as everyone else: Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, family sponsorship, or study followed by permanent residence. No fast track exists just for US citizens. What Americans do get: visa-free visits, and CUSMA/TN work permits in listed professions, which give temporary work status only. An officer assesses each application.

Compare the routes with the Pathway Explorer

Last verified: November 2026

$990
IRCC’s processing fee for an Express Entry principal applicant
$600
The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
7 months
IRCC’s current estimate for a Federal Skilled Worker application
$15,263
Settlement funds for a single Federal Skilled Worker or Skilled Trades applicant

The fee calculator totals the IRCC fees for your whole family.

What can a US citizen do in Canada without a permit?

US citizens are visa-exempt and eTA-exempt. You generally do not need a visa or an eTA whether you arrive by land or by air, but you must carry proper identification, such as a valid US passport.

A visitor may stay for 6 months, or another period an officer sets (IRPR s.183(2)). Visiting is not the same as moving: to live, work, or study you still need the right permit or PR.

Which routes lead an American to permanent residence?

The main routes and IRCC’s processing estimates (IRCC data dated October 9, 2026)
Pathway	Before you apply	IRCC processing
Express Entry (FSW, CEC, FST)	At least 1 year of skilled work experience, an approved language test and, for education completed outside Canada, an ECA. Then a profile and an invitation	7 months
PNP (Enhanced)	A provincial nomination, then an invitation	7 months
Spousal sponsorship	A Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse or common-law partner sponsors you	About 18 months outland. About 26 months inland, outside Quebec
Study, then PGWP, then PR	Admission to a school and a study permit	Varies by program
Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)	An offer of employment through the Employer Portal	Check IRCC’s current times. Temporary permit, not PR

IRCC counts processing from a complete application.

Each province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut operates its own PNP streams. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile. In 2026, rounds for nominated candidates cut off between 697 and 805, through the round of October 26, 2026. Some PNP streams do not require a job offer.

A Canadian parent can sponsor a dependent child (generally under 22, IRPR s.2), and a Canadian child or grandchild can sponsor parents and grandparents. The Parents and Grandparents Program is paused: IRCC is not accepting new interest to sponsor forms.

The study route means studying at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), obtaining a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), gaining Canadian work experience, then applying through Express Entry CEC or a PNP.

An intra-company transfer work permit falls under IRPR s.205(a) (codes C61 to C63), or s.204(a) when the transfer is under CUSMA. You must have worked for the company, in a similar position outside Canada, for at least 1 year (full-time) in the past 3 years, in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge role.

The rule

A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile.

IRCC, canada.caVerify on canada.ca

How do CUSMA/TN work permits work?

The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, formerly NAFTA) allows US citizens to work in Canada under TN status, without an LMIA, in the professional occupations set out in the CUSMA professionals list. As visa-exempt foreign nationals, US citizens may apply for the permit at the port of entry. The initial permit runs up to 3 years, and extensions can be issued in increments of up to 3 years.

Key TN-eligible professions include:

Engineers and accountants
Computer systems analysts
Management consultants
Scientists in the listed fields, such as biologists, chemists, geologists and physicists
Registered nurses and pharmacists
Architects and urban planners
Lawyers (a law degree such as an LL.B. or J.D., or membership in a state or provincial bar)

TN status is temporary and does not directly lead to permanent residence. You can build Canadian work experience on TN status and then apply through Express Entry CEC or a PNP while maintaining legal status. The current eligible occupations are in IRCC’s CUSMA Chapter 16 reference (opens in a new tab).

What do Americans still file after moving?

The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. Moving to Canada creates a dual tax obligation:

You must file US federal tax returns annually with the IRS, even as a Canadian resident
You must file Canadian federal and provincial tax returns with CRA as a Canadian tax resident
The Canada-US tax treaty and US foreign tax credits are meant to limit double taxation
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) reporting is required when your foreign accounts, Canadian bank accounts included, exceed $10,000 USD in total at any time during the year
The IRS says you can only get the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) by filing a US return

How does a US criminal record affect an application?

Any US criminal record, including misdemeanors, can affect your Canadian immigration application. US convictions are assessed against the Canadian Criminal Code equivalent, not the US classification.

A US misdemeanor DUI committed on or after December 18, 2018 maps to Criminal Code s.320.14 (10-year max), which is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1)
A US felony is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1)(b) when the Canadian equivalent carries a maximum of at least 10 years. Otherwise it is assessed under s.36(2)(b): an offence that would be indictable in Canada, or two offences from separate events
IRCC says a person with an expunged record or a foreign pardon may still be inadmissible. An officer decides
Criminal Rehabilitation (can be applied for 5 years after the sentence ends) or a TRP may be required

What does it cost to immigrate from the US?

IRCC fees below reflect the rates effective April 30, 2026, per person, in CAD.

Government and third-party fees for one applicant
Fee	Amount (CAD)
Express Entry / economic PR processing fee (principal applicant)	$990
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	$600
Biometrics	$85
Medical exam (panel physician)	Set by the clinic
Language test (IELTS/CELPIP/PTE/TEF)	Set by the test provider
ECA (WES or another designated organization)	Set by the organization
FBI police certificate	Set by the FBI
IRCC fees total (single applicant, Express Entry)	$1,675

An accompanying spouse or partner pays $990 plus the $600 RPRF. An accompanying dependent child is $270, and children are exempt from the RPRF.

Which free tool checks your own case?

Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.

What do people ask?

Can I move to Canada from the US without a job?

Yes. Express Entry does not require a job offer, and some PNP streams accept candidates without one. Federal Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades applicants must instead show settlement funds: about $15,263 CAD for a single applicant under the table IRCC updated on July 7, 2025. Canadian Experience Class applicants are exempt. Our Proof of Funds for Express Entry guide has the full table by family size.

How much does it cost to move to Canada from the US?

For a single Express Entry applicant, IRCC's fees total $1,675 CAD: the $990 processing fee, the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee and $85 for biometrics. The medical exam, language test and credential assessment are priced by their providers and come on top, as do moving costs and settlement funds. Our fee calculator totals the IRCC fees for your whole family.

What is the fastest way for an American to get Canadian PR?

No single route is fastest. IRCC's Federal Skilled Worker estimate is about 7 months of processing after an invitation, and an invitation depends on your CRS score. Spousal sponsorship runs about 18 months outland and about 26 months inland (IRCC, October 9, 2026). CUSMA/TN status is a work permit only. Our processing times dashboard shows the current estimates.

Can I move to Canada from the US as a nurse?

Yes, through the same routes as other applicants, with one extra step: a licence. Registered nurses are on the CUSMA professionals list, so a US citizen can seek TN work status, and healthcare is one of the 2026 Express Entry categories. IRCC’s CUSMA instructions say that to be authorized to enter Canada as a registered nurse, a licence issued by the province of destination is necessary. Our Canada Immigration for Nurses guide covers licensing and the PR routes.

What are the tax implications of moving from the US to Canada?

You keep filing US returns. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, so you file with the IRS every year and with the CRA as a Canadian tax resident. The Canada-US tax treaty and US foreign tax credits are meant to limit double taxation. Foreign accounts above $10,000 USD in total at any time during the year trigger FBAR reporting, and a cross-border tax specialist can tell you how the IRS treats a TFSA or RRSP. Our taxes for new immigrants guide covers the Canadian side.

Can I keep my US citizenship if I become a Canadian citizen?

On the Canadian side, yes: Canada allows multiple citizenships while you keep your Canadian citizenship. Not all countries do, so check the US rules with the US State Department. To become a Canadian citizen you first need PR and at least 1,095 days physically present in Canada in the five years before you apply (Citizenship Act s.5(1)(c)). Our How to Become a Canadian Citizen guide sets out the rest.

Can I move to Canada with a DUI on my record?

Possibly, but a DUI is a serious obstacle. An impaired driving offence committed on or after December 18, 2018 maps to Criminal Code s.320.14, with a 10-year maximum, which is serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). The routes are Criminal Rehabilitation, open 5 years after the sentence ends ($1,231 for serious criminality), or a Temporary Resident Permit. Our DUI and Canada entry guide explains each route.

Do I have to live in Canada to keep my PR status?

Yes. A permanent resident must count at least 730 days in every five-year period (IRPA s.28). Days physically present in Canada count, and so do some days abroad, such as accompanying a Canadian-citizen spouse or working full time for a Canadian business. Falling short lets an officer find that you no longer meet it; you stay a PR until an official decision is made, and a PR card’s expiry does not end status (IRPA s.46). Our PR Residency Obligation guide explains the 730-day rule and what counts.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

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