By Sean G McKinsley and Kimberly J White
The short answer
Moving from the United States to Canada in 2026 depends first on your citizenship and your goal. US citizens with a qualifying job offer in a listed profession often start with an LMIA-exempt CUSMA work permit. Permanent residence for every nationality runs mainly through Express Entry (changed on November 3, 2026), Provincial Nominee Programs, provincial entrepreneur streams or family sponsorship. Every pathway, timeline and admissibility question depends on individual assessment, and our practice represents clients for federal and provincial matters outside Quebec.
Moving from the US to Canada in 2026: visas, work permits, taxes and pathways
Official requirements (Government of Canada)
CUSMA work permits (Professionals, Traders, Investors)
Citizen of the US or Mexico. US permanent residents (Green Card holders) are not covered. Professionals need a pre-arranged job in an occupation listed in Appendix 2 of CUSMA Chapter 16 with the matching credentials.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/international-free-trade-agreements/cusma.html
Spousal and family sponsorship
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child for permanent residence.
Processing times change; check the live IRCC tool before you plan.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html
What this means for your strategy
Moving Your Business from the US to Canada: The Routes That Exist in 2026
The Start-up Visa Program and the Self-Employed Persons Program are paused. Saskatchewan’s entrepreneur stream is permanently closed effective March 27, 2025. Most listed provincial entrepreneur streams are work-permit-first, with minimum investments starting at CAD $100,000 in some regions. We never forecast the exchange rate, and we do not give tax advice.
Buying a Tourism, Lodge or Hospitality Business in Small-Town Canada (2026)
Looking at a lodge, outfitter, inn or small-town hospitality business in Canada? Check whether the province will accept that kind of business before you make an offer.
How do CUSMA work permits work for US citizens, and what options exist for Green Card or H-1B holders?
Chapter 16 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) facilitates temporary entry for citizens of the United States and Mexico. It covers Professionals (code T36) in occupations listed in Appendix 2, Traders (T34) who carry on substantial trade between the US and Canada, and Investors (T35) who have committed a substantial amount of capital in Canada. These permits are LMIA-exempt. US citizens are visa-exempt and may apply at a port of entry, although IRCC encourages Investors to apply before arrival.
CUSMA does not apply to permanent residents of the US or Mexico. Green Card holders and H-1B workers who are not US or Mexican citizens use other routes, such as LMIA-supported work permits, Francophone Mobility outside Quebec (NCLC 5 or higher in French speaking and listening), Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program.
Canada Has No Retirement Visa: What US Retirees Should Know
Canada has no retirement visa. Buying a home does not give you immigration status. Here is what US retirees should know, including the Super Visa.
The treatment of US retirement plans and Canadian registered accounts depends on US and Canadian tax law and the Canada-US tax treaty. We do not give tax advice; speak with a cross-border tax professional before you move.
How does spousal sponsorship or studying in Canada work for US families in 2026?
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child for permanent residence. If you have children born outside Canada, check first whether they may already be Canadian citizens: on December 15, 2025, the Government of Canada passed Bill C-3 to change the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, and IRCC has an official tool to check whether you may already be a citizen.
Health Care, Taxes and Cost of Living: The US-to-Canada Comparison (2026)
Health care, taxes, housing and immigration: official US-to-Canada numbers for 2026, including provincial health-card waits, FBAR rules, CMHC rents, and the 2027–2029 levels plan.
A note from Sean
Practice note on business representation: Provincial entrepreneur and business immigration filings, including temporary C11 work permits for business owners seeking only temporary residence, are handled under a written service agreement, and professional fees are set out in that agreement (government fees not included). Sean is personally involved in every business plan we prepare, working with our team and back and forth with you, and CIVS assists clients in applying for and establishing a Canadian business bank account, subject to the bank’s usual review and approval.
Related questions
Can a US Green Card holder get a CUSMA (formerly NAFTA) work permit?
No. CUSMA temporary entry is restricted to citizens of the United States and Mexico and does not apply to permanent residents of either country. Green Card holders use other routes, such as Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, LMIA-supported work permits or Francophone Mobility outside Quebec.
Can I work remotely from Canada for my US employer as a visitor?
IRCC states that digital nomads working remotely for an employer outside Canada can stay and work in Canada for up to six months at a time with visitor status and no work permit. Visitor status is temporary, and time spent in Canada can have tax consequences, so speak with a tax adviser.
Do US citizens still have to take a language test and get a degree evaluation for Express Entry?
Yes. You need approved language test results less than two years old (CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada) and an Educational Credential Assessment to claim points for education completed outside Canada.
What US police certificate does IRCC require?
IRCC asks for an Identity History Summary issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which you can request from the FBI online. Your application instructions tell you who in your family needs one.
Who you’ll speak with
Immigration advice is provided by Sean G McKinsley, RCIC, CICC R529731, and Kimberly J White, RCIC — Founder, KWIC, CICC R712483. Verify active registration on the official CICC Public Register at register.college-ic.ca.
Next step
We do not accept short Quick Inquiry forms as the basis for evaluations, calls or quotes; every evaluation begins with our completed Full Assessment Questionnaire.
The Eligibility and Pathway Assessment is USD $1,500 (government fees not included).
Message us on WhatsApp or email us — +1 587 703 9805 · info@civs.ca · mckinsley-white.ca/start-here
We provide Canadian federal and provincial immigration services outside Quebec. We do not give tax advice. This is general information, not legal advice.
What Clients Say
Reviews from the Canada Immigration and Visa Services Google listing (opens in a new tab).
As a British national, I worked with Sean, Kimberly, and their team on my permanent residence application. They were professional, responsive, and clear throughout the process, and their guidance helped make everything much easier. I would highly recommend them to others from the UK or anywhere looking to move to Canada.
Reviews reflect individual experiences; results depend on each case and are not guaranteed.