Canada: The problem with a northern escape plan
When I lived abroad, some of the fellow global travelers I met were Canadian. One sure way to confuse them was to ask what part of the United States they were from… which could easily happen if they hadn’t already said “about.”
It wasn’t that they didn’t like America, although there was some of that, especially between 2003 and 2004, they were just frustrated that if you talk like us, you must be American by default. In other words, they didn’t like being seen as an appendage of the powerful southern republic.
Canada has always attracted some Americans. Thousands of us served in their armed forces from 1939 to 1942. During the Vietnam War, eloping to Canada was quite popular, as I recall. But in general, among Americans, Canada is more popular as a butt of silly and inaccurate jokes and stereotypes than as a place to live.
Recently, however, internet searches for “moving to Canada” have suddenly shot up to all-time highs in the US (and UK). I’m sure you can guess the push factors.
The question is: Can the Americans really get in? I set out to answer that question, and what I found was not encouraging…
Oh, Canada. Ice hockey land, geese, “huh,” plaid shirts, and Bob and Doug McKenzie. What’s not to like, right?
There are many Americans who spend a lot of time in Canada. US citizens can stay in the country for less than six months out of a one-year period without a visa or other special paperwork. Many Americans spend the summer there and winter in the US, but six months out of the year is the maximum.
Some Americans can even temporarily work in Canada without a visa. For example, I have a friend who is a hunting guide and often organizes goose hunting parties in Manitoba during the American summer.
When it comes to permanent residence and citizenship, however, Canada is not so welcoming. Like Australia and New Zealand, it sets a high standard for foreigners who want to live there permanently.
visa withdrawal
Canada does not have a formal retirement visa program. Your only option is to apply for an investment visa as a retired person. In this regard, the Canadian government considers your ability to work and support yourself, just like any other immigrant. If you are well educated and fluent in English (even better, French), you are more likely to qualify. Likewise, even if you are retired, it helps if you can show that you have the financial resources to care for yourself and your family. If you have funds to invest in Canada, that’s another advantage.
However, if you have a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they may be eligible for the Parent-Grandparent Super Visa, which allows them to stay in Canada for up to two years.
job options
Countries like Panama or Costa Rica have visa programs that allow you to live there with the product of the work you do abroad, such as an Internet consultancy, since it does not involve competing with locals for work. Canada has nothing like this. The only way to obtain residency as a self-employed person is by being a “cultural worker” (eg artist) or farmer.
Applications for Canadian employment permits are handled through the Express Entry Immigration Program (EEIP). It is a system based on points based on age, marital status, adaptability, language proficiency, education and work experience. There are 1200 possible points, and you need a score of about 500 points to qualify. Going this route requires a confirmed job offer from a Canadian employer in a job category that has been identified as subject to skills shortages.
At the moment, some of the key categories for immigration under the EEIP are not accepting new applications.
investment options
For new investors, there is the Start-up Visa. Requires written investment support for a qualifying business from a government-approved angel investor group, venture capital fund, or business incubator. It also requires passing the Canadian Language Benchmarks test for English or French, and an appropriate amount of money to settle and pay your expenses before your business can start generating income.
For Americans with an existing business looking to invest in Canada, or for skilled workers, most provinces have their own Provincial Nominee Program with different criteria. Most are looking for investors or workers with skills that are in short supply in those parts of the country. Francophone Quebec is a bit different: its Immigrant Investor Program requires a minimum net worth of C$1.6 million and an investment of C$800,000.
Once you are a permanent resident, if you have physically lived in Canada for four of the six years (183 days of each of those four years), you can apply for citizenship.
The verdict
I have bad news for those fearful people who think they are just going to pack up the minivan and kids and cross the border if the November election result doesn’t work out for them. It’s not going to happen. Canada, in fact, is more restrictive than the United States when it comes to immigration.
In part, that’s because the country is much less populated and has a much smaller pool of immigrants to begin with. That means there are fewer potential immigrants trying to get in based on family relationships with someone already there.
Of course, Canada has a strong history of welcoming refugees from war, oppression and civil strife. Who knows? Perhaps the Americans will qualify soon enough.
now i wouldn’t that be ironic…