Canada

CAN

Canada has continued using Express Entry category-based selection draws to target specific labour-market needs (notably French-language proficiency, healthcare, trades, and education occupations) rather than relying solely on general CRS-score draws, while overall immigration levels have been scaled back under the multi-year Immigration Levels Plan announced in late 2025 amid housing and public-services capacity concerns.

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has continued to see no full new-intake cycle, with IRCC instead leaning on an expanded, longer-validity Super Visa as the main family-reunification pressure valve while existing PGP applications are processed down.

Naturalisation: 3 years
Tax system: Residence Based
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Dual citizenship: Allowed
Capital: Ottawa
Region: americas
Population: 38,250,000
Cost-of-living: 68 /100

→ If you hold a Canada passport, see the Canada nationality guide

Passport Rank

Visa-Free

152

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Canada passport has visa-free access to 152 destinations. See the full Canada passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Canada without a prior visa (53)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

Greece+35 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

11 approved English test centres in Canada →

Country Details

Capital: Ottawa
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Languages: English, French
Population: 38,250,000
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 3 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Continental / Subarctic
English Proficiency Rank: #6
GDP per capita: $55,698
Life expectancy: 82.11 yrs
Population growth: 0.94%/yr

GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

195

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 3 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Toronto	$2,000	$1,700	$380	$140	$120
Vancouver	$2,200	$1,800	$380	$100	$80
Montreal	$1,400	$1,100	$340	$120	$72

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Toronto

-4°J

-3°F

1°M

8°A

14°M

19°J

22°J

22°A

18°S

11°O

5°N

-1°D

Rainfall range: 50–84 mm/month · Daylight 9h (winter) to 15h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Temporary Resident Visa (visitor)
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Study Permit
Open Work Permit
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Start-up Visa
Self-Employed Persons
Family Sponsorship (spouse/partner/child/parent)
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
International Mobility Program (IMP)

Authority: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Official Portal: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html
Phone: +1-888-242-2100

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 3
Language Test: Yes (English or French CLB 4)
Civic Test: Yes
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $470
Processing: ~27 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $10,000
Transaction taxes: 3%

Foreign buyers: Foreign Buyers Ban (Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act): two-year ban extended to 1 Jan 2027. Exemptions for refugees, international students meeting criteria, temporary residents with prior tax filings. Toronto CAD 14-18k/sqm (~USD 10-13k). Land Transfer Tax (Ontario) 0.5-2.5% tiered + Toronto municipal LTT doubled.

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
Toronto French School	Toronto	IB + French baccalaureate	$22,000–$32,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

170 Mbps median

49% fibre coverage

eSIM: Rogers, Bell, Telus, Freedom Mobile

Driving

IDP not required

Local licence required after 2 months

Exchange eligible: USA, most EU, UK +7 more

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre not required

EU pet passport: not accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

#11

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠CRA tax scam calls
⚠rental deposit scams targeting new immigrants
⚠overseas employment scams targeting work-permit holders

Examples of areas to avoid: specific blocks in Vancouver Downtown Eastside late night

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Legal
Civil Partnerships: Recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: Yes
ILGA Rank: #7

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Widely available
Prayer Facilities: Common

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. Who is the head of state of Canada?

Answer: The King

Source: Discover Canada

Q2. What are the three branches of government?

Answer: Executive, Legislative, Judicial

Source: Discover Canada

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Hospitals

Toronto General Hospital (UHN)

Toronto, Canada CAN

TransplantationCardiology and Cardiac SurgeryThoracic SurgeryGastroenterology and Hepatology+3

7 languages

Toronto General Hospital

Toronto, Canada CAN

Heart TransplantationLung TransplantationLiver TransplantationCardiology+2

2 languages

Company Formation in Canada

Canada Federal Corporation

canada

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-20