Get a job or take classes relevant to one of Canada's 38 skill sets it looks for in its skilled workers permanent residency applications. Canada changes its list from time to time, so make sure you are viewing an up-to-date version. This career change will make your move easier, as you have a significantly higher chance of approval for legal permanent residency in Canada if your work background meets one of the skill sets on their list. You should have at least one year of experience working professionally in one of the fields.
Purchase a Canada guidebook to read about all the different cities and provinces. Get a feel for the regions you are interested in moving to. Like many large countries, different parts of Canada have different lifestyles. The province of Quebec is very similar to western Europe, while Toronto has many similarities to New York City and other U.S. east coast cities. Vancouver has more of a west coast, laid-back vibe. Read up about each area and narrow your search down to a few places.
Visit Canada to determine where you want to live. If you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident, you do not need a visa to enter Canada if your stay is less than three months; you just need a valid U.S. passport. If you plan to stay longer than three months, or you are not from the U.S., you will likely need a visitor's visa.
Visit each city or province you are interested in moving to. Spend at least a few days in each place. Ride public transportation to get a feel for everyday people and cleanliness of the city. Go to a grocery store to see the selection and cost of everyday items. Pick up a local newspaper to read about local news and look for job openings. Talk to people you meet about life in their city. You should come home with a decision about where you want to move in Canada.
Plan to spend at least $1,500 on your initial trip, including airfare and hotel costs.
Hire a Canadian immigration attorney. You do not need an attorney to immigrate legally to Canada; however, hiring an attorney will make the process easier, as he will provide step-by-step instructions to immigrate legally to Canada, and will submit all the paperwork for you. Expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,000 U.S. dollars for a reputable Canadian immigration attorney, plus about $2,000 per person in application fees.
Once the lawyer submits your application, expect to wait 10-14 months for a result.
Find a place to live in Canada. You can wait until after your application has been approved, or you can visit Canada while you wait for an approval to look for housing. If you prefer to buy a house, wait until you get your immigration application results back before you commit to any purchase.
Set a move-in date once you have been approved and have found housing. Hire a moving company to move most of your belongings. You can always move yourself, but a moving company will make things easier. Premiere Van Lines and Moving To Canada are two companies that can help you find a moving company. Moving companies can cost thousands of dollars, depending on how much you have to move and how far you are coming from to get to Canada.
Continue to look for a job in Canada. Some immigration attorneys help you with job placement, but do not rely solely on your attorney. Send your resume to available jobs in your field. Visit company sites like Find A Job Canada and Monster to view available job listings.
Move into your new house on your set move-in date. You might want to arrive a day or two before the date, so you can tie up and loose ends if there are any last minute issues before you move in.
