Moving to Canada temporarily or permanently as a US citizen

Canada’s Popularity as an Immigration Option

In 2016, Trump’s successful presidential victory caused a surge in traffic on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) website that crashed as “move to Canada” and “immigrate to Canada” spiked on election night. As yet another election cycle looms in the United States, online data suggests that Americans are considering Canada as an immigration option. Permanent resident status allows Americans to become permanent residents of Canada, essentially allowing them to live in Canada while retaining their American citizenship. Eventually, they can become citizens of Canada and maintain their American citizenship, as dual citizenship is permitted in the United States.

Immigration Options for American Citizens

My goal for this post is to briefly provide American citizens with options on how to immigrate to Canada. In reality, the same immigration rules apply to the citizens of the United States as they apply to citizens of other countries. It is easier for the citizens of the United States as they speak English, and the English test results will likely be higher. Regardless of whether English may be their native language, Americans still need to take an English test conducted by an organization designated by IRCC. As the countries share the same border, cultural adjustment will be less than it is for citizens of other countries, and both countries’ legal and economic structures are remarkably similar, making the transition smoother.

The Permanent Route

Federal Economic Class: The federal government operates the federal economic class using the Express Entry management system, which requires candidates to submit a profile to the immigration portal. The highest-scoring profiles are issued Invitations to Apply (“ITA”). Under the Express Entry management system, candidates are ranked according to core factors such as age, education, work experience, and language ability using the Comprehensive Ranking System (“CRS”) points.

Category-Based Express Entry: In 2023, a Category-Based Express Entry system was introduced, which made clear that the government gives preference to certain professions based on the needs of the economy. The lucky ones work in trades in construction, transport, agriculture, agrifood, and French speakers. The list of these professions will likely change after some years to meet the needs of the Canadian economy.

Provincial Economic Class: All provinces and territories are included; Americans intending to immigrate to Canada under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (“PNP”) will gain 600 points.

Quebec Immigration: Please read more about Quebec immigration here.

Business Immigration: Canada also aims to attract entrepreneurs and investors through its business immigration programs. To submit an application for permanent residence under the business category, the applicant usually needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000 CAD for most provinces, three years of business ownership or executive management experience, and an investment of at least $200,000 CAD; these requirements vary by province.

Temporary to Permanent Residency

Study and Work Path: You can obtain a letter of acceptance from a Canadian college or university, which needs to be a Designated Learning Institution (“DLI”), and follow the steps to eventually apply for PR. This path works for all ages and is a popular route for candidates who do not immediately qualify for permanent residence when applying from the United States.

Work Permit Path: Your prospective Canadian employer will need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (“LMIA”). You can read more about the LMIA process here. Alternatively, U.S. citizens can also work in Canada through the International Mobility Program without an LMIA under agreements like the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (“CUSMA”).

International Experience Canada (“IEC”) Program: U.S. citizens aged 18 to 35 can obtain an open work permit for 12 months under this program, designed to help young people gain work experience in Canada.

Moving to Canada with a Criminal Record

A criminal offence could make a person inadmissible to Canada. However, U.S. citizens could still move to Canada under certain conditions, including receiving rehabilitation or a Temporary Resident Permit.