Ways to live in Canada
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Work permit Work permits →
Express Entry (permanent residence for skilled workers)
An online system for three economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades. Candidates create a profile, are ranked, and the best-placed are invited to apply for permanent residence.
- What you need
- Federal Skilled Worker: 1 year of continuous skilled work in the last 10 years, language level CLB 7 (Canadian Language Benchmark), completed secondary education, and at least 15,263 Canadian dollars in savings for one person. Canadian Experience Class: 1 year of skilled work in Canada in the last 3 years, no savings needed. Federal Skilled Trades: 2 years in a trade in the last 5 years plus a job offer or a certificate of qualification. A job offer is not required for the first two; a provincial nomination adds extra points.
- Savings
- about $11,000
- Renewable
- No
- How to apply
- Create an Express Entry profile online on the government website and wait for an invitation to apply.
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- Leads directly to permanent residence.
Student visa Student visas →
Study permit
Lets you study at a designated learning institution (a school approved to host international students). Eligible students can also work part-time off campus.
- What you need
- Acceptance at a designated learning institution and, for most post-secondary programs outside Quebec, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (master's and doctoral students at public institutions are exempt from 2026). Proof of funds for the first year's tuition, travel and living costs of at least 23,448 Canadian dollars a year for one person outside Quebec (applications from 1 September 2026). Clean criminal record, medical exam if required.
- Savings
- about $16,900
- How long
- For the length of the study program
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- 150 Canadian dollars
- How to apply
- Online with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before travelling. Off campus you can work up to 24 hours a week during classes and without a limit during scheduled breaks.
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Investment and golden visa Investment and golden visas →
Start-up Visa Program (paused)
Permanent residence for founders backed by a designated organisation. Canada stopped accepting new applications on 30 June 2026 and plans a High Impact Start-up Pilot to replace it; the Self-Employed program is also paused.
- What you need
- Not open to new applicants.
- How long
- Permanent residence (when open)
- Renewable
- No
- How to apply
- Closed to new applications
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- Was a direct route to permanent residence.
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| Room in a shared flat | $950 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | $1,320 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $1,900 |
| Bills | $120 |
| Typical local salary | $2,920 |
| Budget for one person | $1,920 |
Cities to consider
- TorontoMany cultures on the lake
- MontrealFrench flair and festivals≈ $937 a month for one person, before rent
- CalgaryPrairie city near the Rockies
- OttawaCanals, museums and calm
- VancouverMountains meet the Pacific≈ $1,017 a month for one person, before rent
- QuebecOld walls above the St. Lawrence
- HalifaxHarbour town with sea air
- VictoriaGardens and island calm
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Canada pairs multicultural cities with lakes, forests and mountains on the doorstep. Toronto and Montreal offer food from everywhere, Vancouver mixes ocean and peaks, and newcomers are a normal part of every community.
Day to day
People fly between regions and drive within them, with good transit in major cities. Public healthcare covers residents, though waits can be long. Cards and tap payments are everywhere, internet is reliable, and English or French depends on the province.
Trade-offs
Winters are long and very cold in most of the country. Housing in big cities is expensive, and wait times for specialists can be frustrating.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States180 days
United KingdomETA · 180 d
AustraliaETA · 180 d
New ZealandETA · 180 d
SwitzerlandETA · 180 d
NorwayETA · 180 d
SingaporeETA · 180 d
JapanETA · 180 d
South KoreaETA · 180 d
IsraelETA · 180 d
United Arab EmiratesETA · 180 d
Hong Kong180 days
South AfricaVisa
MexicoVisa
BrazilVisa
Questions
Does Canada have a digital nomad visa?
Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.
How much money do I need to live in Canada?
A single person can live on from about $1,920 a month. A one-bedroom flat costs about $1,320 a month.
How can I move to Canada?
The routes we have checked are: Work permit, Student visa, Investment and golden visa.
When was this information checked?
The residence routes for Canada were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
Sources and last check
Residence routes for Canada were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
- IRCC — Tech Talent Strategy: digital nomads (CIMM, Nov 2023)
- IRCC — Fee list
- IRCC — Extend your stay as a visitor
- IRCC — Start-up Visa Program
- https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.