Moving Between Provinces After Landing: What Immigrants Should Know

Research on labour mobility in Canada shows that immigrants move between provinces at different rates depending on their status, how long they have been in Canada, and which province they started in. Temporary residents tend to move more than permanent residents who have settled with family and long-term jobs.

Language also plays a part. Those who speak the main language of the destination province are more likely to move there, and provincial patterns differ sharply. Some provinces retain newcomers well, while others see many leave for opportunities elsewhere.

If you immigrate through a provincial nominee program, you are expected to genuinely intend to live in that province. Moving away soon after landing can raise questions about your intentions. If you choose the federal Express Entry route without a nomination, you have more flexibility, but you should still think about where your career actually fits.

It is tempting to treat the first province as a stepping stone. Doing so honestly is fine under a federal program, but it is not appropriate if you committed to a province in a nominee application.

A licence or credential accepted in one province is not always accepted elsewhere without additional steps, though mobility agreements within Canada have made progress. Check the regulator for your profession before assuming you can move freely.

For regulated professions such as nursing, engineering, teaching, and trades, the process of moving a licence can involve fees, paperwork, and sometimes additional assessment. Planning for this saves frustration.

A hypothetical newcomer lands in one province through a federal program and later accepts a better job offer in another. Because she was not nominated by a province, she has the freedom to move, and she checks whether her professional credentials are recognised there. She finds that a short assessment is required and plans for it before moving.

Another newcomer, who was nominated by a province, is planning a quick move elsewhere. He realises that he committed to settling in the nominating province and should think carefully before moving. The first scenario is a normal move; the second raises questions that deserve advice.

For more background, see refusal support and options for Americans moving to Canada.

Where you land can matter as much as how you land. Mahyar can help you weigh provinces against your occupation and your route in a free assessment, and the provincial nominee page explains how nominations tie you to a place.