Relocating to Canada
Understand the country before you commit to the move.
45% verifiedCanada is a North American federal parliamentary democracy with a long-established points-based and provincial-nominee immigration system, popular for both skilled-worker migration and family reunification.
Ask about moving to Canada
Answered only from Atlas's verified Canada guides — if it's not covered yet, we'll say so rather than guess.
Life in Canada
What will life actually be like?
Where should I live?
Living: Major Cities
What will daily life cost?
Living: Cost of Living
What is healthcare like?
Healthcare: Average Medical Costs
What about schools?
Living: Education
How will I bank?
Banking: System Overview
How will I get around?
Living: Transportation
Cities
Where should I live?
Canada's largest Census Metropolitan Areas (as of 1 July 2025, Statistics Canada): Toronto (~7.11 million, Canada's largest and its financial/economic hub), Montréal (~4.6 million, Quebec's cultural/economic center, French-speaking), Vancouver (~3.09 million, Pacific gateway, most expensive housing market nationally), Calgary (~1.84 million, Alberta's energy-sector hub, fastest-growing major metro at +19.2% 2021-2025), and Edmonton (~1.69 million, Alberta's capital, +14.9% growth over the same period). Most newcomers settle in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary due to established communities, job markets, and diaspora networks; Calgary and Edmonton offer more affordable housing (1-bed rent $1,350-1,800/month) relative to Vancouver ($2,300+) and Toronto ($2,100+).
Read the cities guide →Residency
Find your residency route
Your best route depends on how you plan to live, work and invest. These are the guides Atlas currently holds for Canada.
How do you plan to support yourself in Canada?
Residency: Citizenship
Canadian citizenship is generally available to permanent residents who have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) within the 5 …
Residency: Digital Nomad Visa
Canada does not currently operate a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa programme. Remote workers may be able to stay in Canada under existing immigration rules whe…
Residency: Permanent Residency
Canada provides multiple pathways to permanent residence through federal and provincial immigration programmes. Eligibility depends on the specific programme…
Residency: Processing Times
As of mid-2026, IRCC processing times are: Express Entry permanent residence 6-8 months; new work permits applied for outside Canada 4-6 weeks; work permit e…
Residency: Required Documents
Exact document requirements vary by immigration pathway, but most Canadian immigration applications require a passport or travel document, police certificate…
Residency: Retirement Visa
Canada does not operate a dedicated retirement visa programme for foreign nationals. Individuals wishing to retire in Canada generally need to qualify under …
Residency: Visa Overview
Canada offers a broad range of immigration pathways for foreign nationals seeking employment, study, business opportunities, family reunification or permanen…
Residency: Work Permit
A work permit is an authorization allowing eligible foreign nationals to work in Canada for a specified period and under specified conditions, issued through…
Property
A home is a relocation decision
Taxes
Understand the cost of your move
Banking
Banking
Healthcare
Healthcare
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Business
Business
Business: Accounting
Verified guideBusiness: Annual Compliance
Verified guideBusiness: Company Formation
Verified guideBusiness: Hiring Employees
Verified guideBusiness: Private Limited Company (Corporation)
Verified guideBusiness: Payroll
Verified guideBusiness: Social Security (CPP & EI)
Verified guideBusiness: Sole Proprietorship
Verified guideFrom the Journal
Latest on Canada
Polar Bears at Churchill Dump Draw Tourism Concerns, New Research
Cameras at the Town of Churchill’s dump are used to spot polar bears, drawing tourism concerns an…Exploring Métis Food Culture in the Prairies
A new docuseries follows two old friends as they travel the Prairies to explore the rich and dive…Discover the Hazelnut Inn: A Theme-Park Hotel in Rural British Columbia
The Hazelnut Inn, a whimsical hotel in Yarrow, BC, offers a unique experience with its castle-lik…Ready to turn this into a plan?
Explore Canada for free. Atlas Individual is the workspace that holds your timeline, budget, documents and next steps.
Start your Canada plan →