Quick answer
You cannot simply relocate and start working. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides who may live, work, or study in Canada. The practical sequence is:
1. Check if you are already Canadian
A Canadian parent can mean you already hold citizenship by descent. Confirm with a citizenship certificate, not a guess.
2. Pick an IRCC pathway
Express Entry, a provincial nominee program, family sponsorship, a work permit, or a study permit are the usual routes.
3. Land, then enrol
After you arrive with valid status, get a Social Insurance Number, a provincial health card, and a place to live.
Step 1 — See whether you already have citizenship
If a parent was a Canadian citizen when you were born, you may already be Canadian. That is not an immigration application. You apply to IRCC for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), then a passport if you need to travel as a Canadian.
Bill C-3 changed the first-generation limit on 15 December 2025. Use our citizenship by descent eligibility guide before you spend months on Express Entry.
Step 2 — Choose a way to come to Canada
IRCC publishes the official list of programs on Immigrate to Canada. Common options:
An online system that manages three federal programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades. You create a profile, enter a pool, and may receive an invitation if your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is high enough in a round. Start with IRCC's Express Entry page and the Come to Canada tool.
Provinces and territories nominate people who meet local labour or settlement needs. Some streams connect to Express Entry and add CRS points. Quebec runs a separate selection system.
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be able to sponsor a spouse, partner, child, or — in specific programs — parents and grandparents. See IRCC family sponsorship.
A work permit or study permit is temporary status. Some people later qualify for permanent residence through Canadian work or study experience. A job offer does not, by itself, give you the right to move.
Step 3 — Gather documents before you apply
Exact lists depend on the program. Most applicants should start collecting:
- Passports and civil-status records (birth, marriage, divorce, or name-change certificates)
- Education credentials and, when IRCC asks, an Educational Credential Assessment
- Language test results from an IRCC-approved test if the program requires them
- Police certificates and a medical exam from an IRCC panel physician when instructed
- Proof of work history and, if required, proof of settlement funds
Keep digital scans and paper originals. Names and dates must match across documents.
Step 4 — Choose a city, not just “Canada”
Housing, jobs, tax, and language differ sharply between Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, and smaller cities. Quebec has additional French-language and selection rules. Compare places before you name a destination on an application.
Use the city explorer, the comparison hub, and the province calculator. If you are already in Ontario and moving to Quebec, use the Ontario to Quebec checklist.
Step 5 — After IRCC approves you
Follow the instructions on your visa, confirmation of permanent residence, or permit. IRCC's new immigrants section covers arrival steps. Typical landing tasks:
Moving to Canada checklist
Use this as a working list. Tick items as you finish them. It is not a substitute for IRCC's document checklist for your program.
Before you apply
Before you travel
First weeks in Canada
Frequently asked questions
Shortlist provinces before you file
Pathway first, place second. The calculator shows how income, family size, and housing change monthly surplus by province.