By Brette Sember
“If Donald Trump
wins, I’m moving to Canada!” You may have heard someone you know say this—or
maybe you’ve even proclaimed it yourself, perhaps inserting a different
candidate’s name. You’re not alone. Google searches for “move to Canada” jumped more than 350%
after the March 1 Super Tuesday primaries, and now that Trump has effectively
wrapped up the Republican nomination after trouncing Ted Cruz and John Kasich
in Indiana’s primary, more spikes are sure to transpire.
The Nova Scotian
communities of Cape Breton have even launched a website called “Cape Breton if Donald Trump Wins,”
which emphasizes the island’s beauty, cultural diversity, and affordability,
touting it as a haven for Americans dissatisfied with the presidential options.
And with Hillary Clinton—not exactly a universally beloved political
figure either—closing in on her party’s nomination, other contingents of
Americans might decide to jump ship as well.
But while it might
sound tempting to pack up and head north of the border, it’s not as simple as
it sounds.
Determine your eligibility
You don’t need a
visa or special paperwork to visit Canada, but if you intend to stay
permanently there are hoops to jump through. The first thing you
should do is check your eligibility for permanent resident status under
Canadian law. The government has a brief online questionnaire you can use to determine your eligibility,
which improves if you have good job prospects or if you have relatives in
Canada. If you qualify, you may be able to apply for a visa under several
different programs.
Apply for permanent residency
If you’re
eligible, you need to complete an application for permanent resident status and
fork over a fee of $490 Canadian. It takes about 38 days for the application to
be considered. If you’re approved, you can pack up and go, but you’ll need to
live in Canada for two of the next five years in order to maintain your status
as a permanent resident. You can, of course, change your mind at any time and
revert your residency status back to the United States.
Canadian responsibilities
If you do become a
permanent resident of Canada, you’ll have to pay taxes there. The first step is to obtain a Social Insurance
Number. You will
have to file a tax return (even if you have no income in that first tax year),
so that the Canada Revenue Agency can determine your eligibility for things
like the goods and services tax credit, and child care credit. You will also
need to get a Canadian driver’s license; you might be able to convert your American
license to a Canadian one, but this varies by province.
Canadian benefits
Once you become a
permanent resident of Canada, you are entitled to Canada’s free universal health care system. You apply through the province where you’re living.
After you have been issued your health card (there is a three month waiting
period in some provinces), your medical care is paid by the government. To
understand all the rights and benefits of moving to Canada, you’ll want to read
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which spells out the political rights of
Canadian citizens and the civil rights of anyone in Canada.
Apply for citizenship
If you truly
intend to live permanently in Canada, you’ll likely want to become a citizen,
so you can have a voice in the government. You will have to wait six years,
four of which must be spent in Canada, before applying. By the way, you can
hold dual citizenship in the United States and Canada—you’ll
have two passports, but you’ll have to pay taxes in both countries and follow
the laws of both.
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