Getting a Visa for Canada

As a UK citizen moving to Canada, you’ll need a visa. This can come in different forms, depending on the reason you’re moving to Canada. Most likely you’ll likely want to work while in Great White North, and therefore you’ll need to apply for a work permit. You can also view other avenues to Canada here.

⚠️ Be aware: sort out your visa before planning any removals to Canada, your belongings won’t be able to enter the country without being accompanied by a copy of your visa!

Do You Want to Know More About Visa in Canada?

Visa applications can be a complicated process, so we put together a short guide on Canadian visas. Since a visa doesn’t need to be a hassle to apply for!

Yes, I do!

How to Move to Canada: A Checklist

We know that moving to a new country, let alone a new continent, can be daunting. Therefore, to help you with your international removal from the UK to Canada, we’ve curated a moving checklist, to make your move easy, since we know how hard it can be!

✔️ Important Documents

It can be easy to forget how important these documents are, but you’ll need them to apply for your visa, healthcare card, tax, and jobs. We recommend you keep them safe, accessible, and even make duplicates! They can be expensive and take time to replace, trust us.

• Passport
• Visa and Work Permits
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Medical Documentation (including dental and immunizations)
• University Degree(s)
• Police Background Check

✔️ Organise an International Removal Company

If there’s one thing you should definitely do early, it’s find a removal company. With an international removal to Canada, there’s a lot to organise and it’s best to have someone with experience in moving household goods to Canada, trust us. So, in your quest for the best check out the top UK international removal companies.

✔️ Pack

Read our expert packing guide for special tips to optimise your move. Be ruthless with your selections, especially with furniture removals to Canada. Let’s be honest, you do not need the broken table that you have been meaning to fix for a decade or the lamp that has been collecting dust in the cupboard.

✔️ Healthcare

The Canadian equivalent to the NHS is Medicare, which similarly uses funds from the government to give affordable healthcare to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

To enjoy the benefits of the Canadian healthcare system, you should apply for a national healthcare card upon arrival. Make sure you are privately insured in the meantime since you may have to wait up to three months to receive it!

However, as it’s possible to see long waiting times when seeking medical help through Medicare it might be an idea to keep your health insurance plan to access private healthcare options if you, like most of us, can’t stand long queues!

✔️ Tax

You must inform HMRC when you move abroad. After moving to Canada, you need to apply for a social insurance number through the Canadian government as it’s necessary to work and pay taxes.

Of course, that’s not all there is to taxes. And if you want to be more informed (who doesn’t?), then read our page on taxes in Canada to find out more.

✔️ Banking

When you arrive, it is advised that you open a Canadian bank account as soon as possible. All of the ‘Big Five’ Canadian banks listed below cater to newcomers, so do some research as to which bank best suits your circumstances:

• CIBC
• HSBC Canada
• Scotiabank
• BMO
• National Bank of Canada

Fun Fact: Canada has been using polymer banknotes since 2012.

✔️ Pets

We know how important furry friends are. To make sure you don’t have to leave them behind, take note. When moving to Canada from the UK with a cat or dog you need:

• Valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate
• Veterinary Certificate

To learn more about the specific criteria for other pets, check out the Canadian Government’s page on import requirements.

✔️ Import Your Car to Canada

In general, cars sold in countries other than the United States and Mexico cannot be imported to Canada, so it’s unlike you’ll be able to bring your car. There are some exceptions which are listed below:  

• It is 15 years or older (a real golden oldie!)
• The vehicle is a bus manufactured before January 1, 1971
• The car is non-regulated
• The vehicle is bought new from the manufacturer and meets all Canadian standards, the manufacturer must provide proof to the Canadian government

Fun fact: in Nunavut in northern Canada, licence plates are shaped like polar bears!

✔️ Driving License

When you arrive in Canada, you can use your UK driver’s license for the first couple of weeks, but you’ll need to exchange it for a regional license to keep driving. Fortunately, it’s very easy to do when you’re from the UK. It varies by province, but common things you need are:

• Required ID
• Your current driver’s licence
• Fee for your licence
• Proof of driving experience
• Proof of Residency

For more information check out the Canadian government’s page on driving.

If you want an even more thorough checklist, go check out our moving abroad checklist. What’s better than having one checklist? Having two!