Over the years, the trend of Americans moving to Canada has been witnessed many times. Be it those who fled from British rulers in the late 18th century or the ones escaping the war of Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s, Canada has been the number 1 destination for many Americans who got repelled by their country’s imperialists.
Similarly, after the presidential victory of Donald Trump in America, this trend witnessed a huge spike. As per Google trends, after the night of the election, search terms for ‘how to move to Canada?’ spiked by 5000%. The most volume was witnessed in the neighbouring states of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire. The ironical part of this is that ‘immigration’ was one of the most important issues for American citizens in the 2024 United States presidential election, and now they are willing to leave their own country.
Moreover, it is important to note that, as an American, you can enjoy a relative advantage when compared to the other citizens of the world because of your language proficiency. This also includes the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, making it very easy to travel between the 2 countries.
So, the big question is: Can a US citizen just move to Canada?
Well, the answer to the question is ‘yes.’ However, U.S. citizens do need to take certain steps if they want to live in Canada. Provided the recent caps on various Canadian immigration programs, it can be extremely challenging to secure a place within the declared 2025 intake number of Canada. This is why our immigration lawyers advise you to seek professional legal guidance to increase your chances of success.
Why does Canada remain an attractive destination?
As of 2023, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas reports that more than 1 million Americans are already living in Canada. This showcases that the country already has a long history of welcoming newcomers. However, reports of restricted intake of permanent residents have surfaced in the last few months. From 485,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, a continued decline in the number of permanent residents can be expected.
“Canada is an open country,” and people “see a lot of hope in coming to Canada,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller told reporters in October. However, he also highlighted the importance of maintaining a well-managed immigration system so that it benefits everyone, be it Canadian nationals or foreign nationals. But when it comes to the United States, this country has always ranked in the top when it comes to receiving ‘invitation to apply’ for permanent residency. Canada and the US share a border, which has helped them to maintain a close relationship. This can help the potential applicants to make their transition easier, especially if they are an in-demand skilled worker.
Further, once you enter Canada, you will notice that the country offers much faster ways to citizenship. This can help you establish roots and secure your family much better. The country has high regard for work-life balance as well, such as restricting after-work communication, providing statutory paid holidays, and giving at least 2 weeks of paid vacation per year. These are just the tips of the benefits; immigrants also enjoy substantial severance pay, paid parental leave, publicly funded healthcare, and old age security.
How much time will it take to immigrate to Canada?
This depends on the type of immigration pathway you are choosing for yourself. Anyone can apply for temporary or permanent status in Canada, given that they meet the qualifications required by the IRCC. There are many immigration programs that applicants can consider if they want to live in Canada on a temporary or permanent basis. Some of the easiest immigration programs are listed below, where the chance of success is high.
Express Entry System: This is the primary system for managing skilled worker applications in Canada. It involves creating an online profile and being scored under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The candidates are then ‘invited to apply’ for permanent residency if they have high scores. Under this, there is a Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), which has a high probability rate of acceptance for US citizens.
Family Sponsorship: If you have close family members in Canada (like a spouse, common-law partner, or children), they might be able to sponsor your immigration.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): Provinces and territories select immigrants based on their economic needs. If you have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific Canadian province or territory, you should consider this route.
Study or Work Permits: Temporarily moving to Canada to study or work can also lead to permanent residency. Graduates from Canadian institutions may apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class within the Express Entry system.
Business Immigration: This includes options for entrepreneurs and self-employed persons who can start businesses in Canada and thereby gain a path to residency.
All these programs can take up to more than 6 months to process; however, there are certain exceptions. For example, if there is an American skilled worker who is willing to live in one of the Canadian Atlantic provinces like New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, or Labrador, then they can also expect a waiting period of 8 months.
What is the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)?
CUSMA or the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement is a free trade agreement, created to boost economic stability and increase the standard of living for all people of the three countries. This agreement was formed in the replacement of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in March 2020.
Here are some key features of CUSMA:
- Trade: CUSMA helps to maintain a tariff-free market access and includes new clauses to address modern trade challenges. It also improves the rules on technical barriers to trade, so that Canadian business can export goods within the CUSMA region easily.
- Labor: CUSMA ensures that high labor standards are maintained, none of the parties shall ever reduce protections to attract trade or investment. Along with that, it also establishes migrant worker’s rights to protect them against any kind of violence.
- Environment: CUSMA includes commitments against global environmental issues like illegal wildlife trade, illegal fishing, improving air quality and marine pollution.
- Indigenous peoples: Canada’s focus remains on representing the rights and interest of Indigenous people. This was done by maintaining policy flexibility for indigenous communities, in the areas of investment, services and government procurement.
- Free Trade Commission: The Free Trade Commission (FTC) is the central institution of CUSMA and is made up of government representatives from each country.
How can our Immigration Lawyers help you?
Canadian immigration lawyers are equipped to help potential immigrants understand various pathways to residency and citizenship. They provide invaluable assistance in dealing with bureaucratic hurdles and ensuring that applications are processed efficiently and correctly. Therefore, if you want to maximize your chances of immigration to Canada, then connect with us at 905-405-0199.
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