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Americas · English, French · updated 2026-10

Moving to Canada: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,850 a month to live in Toronto, and a family of four about $6,150, including rent. Canada grants permanent residence from day one on its main route, with citizenship after 3 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

Monthly budget
$2,850
High cost
Safety
62
Safe
Stability
86
Very stable
Family
79
Excellent
Main city
Toronto
Language
English, French
Permanent residence
Day 1
Citizenship
3 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in Canada?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Canada, per month in US$

One person
$2,850
Family of four
$6,150
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Toronto centre
$1,500
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,800
Estimate
Price level
90
US = 100
Income per person
$4,702
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
62
Safe
Homicides per 100k
1.98
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.81
Rule of law+1.48
Control of corruption+1.59
Government effectiveness+1.76
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (86/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
79
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.798
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
5.4
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82.1 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$6,378
per person / year
Education spending
4.8%
of GDP

Spouses get open work permits in many cases; children attend public school free. Family members are included in the PR application.

Visa & residence routes

Points
Express EntryPoints-ranked draws lead straight to permanent residence. Category draws favour French speakers, healthcare, trades and in-Canada experience.
Points
Provincial Nominee ProgramProvinces nominate people for local labour gaps; a nomination adds 600 Express Entry points.
Job offer
LMIA work permitThe employer must show no Canadian could fill the role.
Investment
Start-up VisaBacking from a designated venture fund, angel group or incubator.

Some passports also get: CUSMA professional work permit; International Experience Canada.

Who gets easier access to Canada

Canada is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

CUSMA professional work permit (2 nationalities)

CUSMA professional work permit: fast processing for 60+ listed professions with a Canadian job offer.

Flag of MexicoMexicoFlag of the United StatesUnited States

International Experience Canada (36 nationalities)

International Experience Canada: 1–2 years of open work for ages 18–35, by country quota.

Flag of AndorraAndorraFlag of AustraliaAustraliaFlag of AustriaAustriaFlag of BelgiumBelgiumFlag of ChileChileFlag of Costa RicaCosta RicaFlag of CroatiaCroatiaFlag of the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicFlag of DenmarkDenmarkFlag of EstoniaEstoniaFlag of FinlandFinlandFlag of FranceFranceFlag of GermanyGermanyFlag of GreeceGreeceFlag of Hong KongHong KongFlag of IcelandIcelandFlag of IrelandIrelandFlag of ItalyItalyFlag of JapanJapanFlag of LatviaLatviaFlag of LithuaniaLithuaniaFlag of LuxembourgLuxembourgFlag of the NetherlandsNetherlandsFlag of New ZealandNew ZealandFlag of NorwayNorwayFlag of PolandPolandFlag of PortugalPortugalFlag of San MarinoSan MarinoFlag of SlovakiaSlovakiaFlag of SloveniaSloveniaFlag of South KoreaSouth KoreaFlag of SpainSpainFlag of SwedenSwedenFlag of SwitzerlandSwitzerlandFlag of TaiwanTaiwanFlag of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom

Visiting: 1 passports can visit visa-free, 52 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 144 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
Day 1
Express Entry grants permanent residence directly
Citizenship
3 yrs
3 of the last 5 years
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Canada's 2026–2028 plan holds permanent admissions at 380,000 a year and keeps cutting temporary residents.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Canada?

About $2,850 a month for one person and $6,150 for a family of four in Toronto, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,500 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,800. Prices are 90% of US levels. Canada is the 63rd cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Canada safe to live in?

Canada scores 62/100 for safety (safe), ranking 45th of 76. The homicide rate is 1.98 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Canada politically stable?

Canada scores 86/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 12th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Canada good for families?

Canada scores 79/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 22nd of 76. Life expectancy is 82.1 years and under-5 mortality is 5.4 per 1,000 births. Spouses get open work permits in many cases; children attend public school free. Family members are included in the PR application.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Canada?

The main route grants permanent residence on arrival. Express Entry grants permanent residence directly.

How long until I can become a citizen of Canada?

Usually 3 yrs of residence. 3 of the last 5 years. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Canada without a job offer?

Yes. Express Entry: Points-ranked draws lead straight to permanent residence. Category draws favour French speakers, healthcare, trades and in-Canada experience. Provincial Nominee Program: Provinces nominate people for local labour gaps; a nomination adds 600 Express Entry points.

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Canada can move