How do you move from Canada to the US? You need a legal immigration status that matches your reason for going: a job, a company transfer, a business you buy or start, a US spouse or family member, or school. That's the base of it, and everything else is logistics.

Once you've got the status sorted, you deal with the exit from Canada (taxes, provincial healthcare, your accounts) and the setup on the US side (health insurance, credit history, driver's licence, a US bank account). Your Canadian passport gets you in for a visit but it won't get you a life here.

I moved from Vancouver to West Palm Beach, Florida in August 2024 on an E-2 visa after my husband and I bought a yacht repair business. This post covers every legal path, including the ones we didn't take, because most Canadians I talk to have heard of one or two at most. If you want the backstory first, our story is here.

Quick note before we go: I share educational content only. None of this is legal or immigration advice, so please talk to a licensed US immigration attorney before you act on any of it.

Can Canadians Just Move to the US?

No, unfortunately not. You can't move to the US the way you'd move from Manitoba to BC. Living here, working here, going to school here, or running a business here all require a specific immigration status. So moving to the USA from Canada starts with one job: figure out which status fits you.

Two questions come first. Why are you moving? And what immigration status does that reason qualify you for? Answer those and the rest of this post gets a lot easier to read.

Why a Canadian Passport Is Not a Visa

Your Canadian passport lets Canadian citizens enter the US for short visits without a visitor visa. The US Department of State confirms that. What it doesn't do is give you permission to stay.

A few weeks in Florida is a visit. A one-year lease, a job, or enrolling your kids in school is a move. And a move requires status.

Visiting Versus Moving: What the Border Officer Is Looking For

The border officer is checking one thing: do your plans match your entry status? They weigh your stated purpose, how long you say you're staying, your ties to Canada, and whether you can support yourself. If the trip looks like a move (a moving truck, two dogs, school records, a job search), they'll treat it like a move.

What Are the Legal Ways to Move From Canada to the US?

There are six main visa options for moving from Canada to the US: TN status, employer sponsorship through H-1B or L-1, the E-2 treaty investor visa, family sponsorship, a student visa, and an employment-based green card. Most of the petitions run through USCIS or the US Department of State. Below is what each one looks like, who it's for, and the catch that comes with it.

1. TN Status (a Job Offer in a Listed Profession)

TN status is the fastest route if you're a Canadian professional with a US job offer in an occupation listed under the USMCA (the old NAFTA). Funny detail: a TN visa (USMCA) isn't technically a visa for Canadian citizens at all. According to USCIS, you can apply for TN status right at a US port of entry with an employer letter and your credentials. No US Embassy or Consulate visit, no visa interview.

The catch: TN only covers the listed professions, most of them want a bachelor's degree, self-employment isn't allowed, and your status is tied to that one employer.

2. H-1B and L-1 (Employer Sponsorship or a Company Transfer)

H-1B is the specialty occupation route through a sponsoring US employer, and it runs on a lottery. L-1 is a transfer inside a company that has both Canadian and US operations. Either way, the employer files the petition. You don't.

The catch with H-1B is the lottery odds. With L-1, your employer needs a US entity to move you into, and they control the timing.

3. E-2 Treaty Investor Visa (Buy or Start a US Business)

The E-2 visa is the treaty investor route, and it's the one my family used. Canada is a treaty country, so Canadian citizens qualify. The E-2 visa requires a substantial investment in a real, operating US business (there's no fixed legal minimum), and your spouse can apply for work authorization once you're in.

According to the US Department of State, Canadian nationals were issued 6,747 E-2 visas in fiscal year 2024. That makes Canada the third-largest E-2 user in the world, behind only Japan (15,521) and South Korea (6,778). Those three countries together account for more than half of all E-2 visas issued that year.

I had no idea Canada was one of the three biggest users of this visa until I went looking. Most Canadians have never heard of it, I sure hadn't. The catch is that the E-2 visa doesn't lead to a green card on its own, the business has to stay open, and every dollar of the investment has to be traceable. I wrote a separate post on proving your E-2 visa source of funds because that part deserves its own deep dive.

4. Family Sponsorship and Marriage to a US Citizen

Family sponsorship leads to a green card through a US citizen or permanent resident relative. Your sponsoring spouse or family member files Form I-130 with USCIS. Spouses of US citizens move through fastest. Siblings wait the longest, sometimes by a decade!

5. Student Visas (F-1 and J-1)

A student visa (F-1 for academic programs, J-1 for exchange programs) needs a school acceptance and SEVIS registration. Work rights are limited. Think of a student visa as a bridge to something else, because the status ends when the program does.

6. Employment-Based Green Cards (EB-1 Through EB-5)

An employment-based visa in the EB-1 through EB-5 categories leads to permanent residency, either through a sponsoring employer or a qualifying investment under EB-5. The timelines run into years. And no, Canadian citizens can't enter the Diversity Visa Lottery, so that shortcut is off the table.

Can You Move to the US From Canada Without a Job Offer?

Yes, you can move to the US from Canada without a job offer. The realistic routes without an employer are the E-2 visa (business ownership), family sponsorship, or a student visa. Of those three, the E-2 visa is the one almost nobody back home has heard of, and it's the one built for people who are done waiting on a job offer that may never come.

My husband worked as a yacht mechanic in Vancouver for four years. I'd rebuilt my career in digital marketing after leaving nursing in 2021. Neither of us had a US employer lining up to sponsor us, and we weren't interested in waiting for one. So we bought a yacht repair company in West Palm Beach and moved in August 2024.

He runs the shop full time. I handle payroll, marketing and the website. The thing that surprised me most was how much of the process was paperwork and patience rather than money!

If you're still deciding whether to move at all, I wrote about whether moving to the USA from Canada is worth it before I wrote this. And if "no job offer" is the thing holding you back, my free E-2 starter guide walks through the route I wish someone had told me about years earlier.

What Do You Need to Sort Out in Canada Before You Leave?

Before you leave Canada, you need to settle your tax residency, decide what happens to your registered accounts, deal with your home, close out provincial healthcare, and tell your banks and the government you're going. This is the side of the move most people underestimate.

Tax Residency and the Departure Tax

Leaving Canada usually makes you a non-resident of Canada for income tax purposes, and that change in tax residency triggers what everyone calls the departure tax. It works through a deemed disposition: the Canada Revenue Agency treats certain assets as if you sold them at fair market value the day you left, even though you didn't. You still file a Canadian return for that year.

Talk to a cross-border tax advisor early, ideally two years out if you own property or investments. That sounds dramatic until you see the bill.

What Happens to Your TFSA, RRSP and RESP

The US tax system doesn't recognize a TFSA, so many Canadians close it before moving. An RRSP can stay open and stays tax-deferred federally in the US, though some states tax the growth.

An RESP may need a Canadian-only subscriber, because the US doesn't treat it as tax-free. Whatever you keep, record the fair market value of every investment in US dollars on your departure date.

Selling Your Home and the Principal Residence Exemption

Claiming the principal residence exemption is simpler if you close the sale while you're still a Canadian tax resident. Sell after you've become a non-resident of Canada and you pick up withholding rules and extra filings you didn't need (we still have our Canadian real estate - a rental condo, and it's a pain).

Provincial Healthcare and Your Medical Records

Provincial healthcare ends once you leave the province or blow past the residency rules for your plan. Grab copies of your medical records, current prescriptions, and vaccination records before you go. Line up US health insurance so your coverage starts before the provincial healthcare lapses so that y don't leave a gap.

We found that US healthcare was cheaper than we planned for. We have great coverage (paid for through the business we own), and we each pay around $400/month. 

Banking, Mail, Subscriptions and Government Notices

Keep at least one Canadian bank account open through the transition. Tell the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, your banks, and your insurers that you've moved. Forward your mail and cancel the Canadian memberships and subscriptions you'll forget about otherwise.

Pets and Your Vehicle

Pet relocation needs current vaccinations and a health certificate from a licensed vet, plus whatever your airline wants if you fly. We drove down with two dogs, and the vet paperwork was the easy part. The car was harder, especially because we had imported it from Japan (a 1992 Toyota Landcruiser - righthand drive).

A Canadian vehicle has to meet the US import, safety and emissions requirements that US Customs and Border Protection publishes, and you'll need US auto insurance before you can register it. This also depends on what state you're moving to, somewhere like California is a lot stricter than Florida.

How Much Does It Cost to Move From Canada to the US?

Moving from Canada to the US typically costs a family somewhere between USD $10,000 and USD $25,000 in relocation costs before income and housing settle, and plenty of families spend more. The moving truck (or cube, like we opted for) is the smallest piece of that.

The One-Time Move Costs

The one-time relocation costs are movers or a truck rental, temporary housing, rental deposits, furniture, legal and immigration fees, vehicle import fees, and pet relocation. Immigration fees swing wildly depending on your route.

Your First 90 Days

Your first 90 days bring rent, deposits, health insurance premiums, utilities, groceries and car costs, all at once. Convert enough Canadian dollars to cover 30 to 90 days of US expenses before you leave, and keep an emergency fund on top of that, you'll want it!

The Exchange Rate Is a Real Line Item

On a USD 50,000 transfer, a small difference in the CAD to USD rate changes what lands in your account by hundreds of dollars. Compare your bank's rate against a foreign exchange provider. And stage large transfers over a few weeks rather than converting everything on one bad day.

What Is Actually Different Once You Get There?

Once you arrive, the four biggest differences are health insurance, credit history, your driver's licence, and filing taxes in two countries during that first year. The cost of living varies a lot by state, but those four systems work differently everywhere in the US.

Health Insurance

There's no universal health insurance in the US. Coverage comes through an employer plan, the HealthCare.gov marketplace, or a private policy. Budget for premiums plus deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, because the monthly premium is only part of the actual cost.

Starting Credit From Zero

Your Canadian credit history doesn't come with you (I wish it did). Expect bigger deposits, a secured credit card, or a co-signer at first. Open a US bank account and a secured card in your first week so the credit file starts building from day one.

My husband opened a bank account immediately with a secured credit card and started building credit, which I didn't. After 14 months of living in Florida I still had no credit! I'm working on this now and have been able to get a 740 credit score (from 0) in around 9 months. 

Driver's Licence and Registration

Most states want you to get a local driver's licence within about 30 days of establishing residency. Bring proof of residency and proof of identity. Registering the vehicle takes proof of ownership and US insurance.

Filing Taxes in Two Countries the First Year

Your first year means a Canadian exit return and a US return. The IRS uses the substantial presence test to decide US tax residency: at least 31 days in the current year and 183 weighted days over three years. The Canada-US tax treaty helps you avoid double taxation, but it doesn't get you out of filing in both countries.

What Does a Realistic Timeline Look Like?

A realistic timeline for moving from Canada to the US runs 12 to 24 months from the day you decide to move week. TN status with a job offer in hand compresses that. Most green card routes stretch it. This is roughly how it played out for us.

12 to 24 Months Out: Pick Your Path and Your Professionals

Decide which visa route fits your reason for moving. Find an immigration attorney and a cross-border tax advisor now, because both book up. If the E-2 visa is your route, start the business search and the source of funds paper trail at the same time.

6 to 12 Months Out: Paperwork, Money and the House

File or prepare the petition or application for your chosen status. Decide whether you're selling the house and, if so, aim to close before you leave. Plan the RRSP, TFSA and RESP decisions with your accountant, and start watching the CAD to USD rate so you can convert in stages.

90 Days Out: The Exit List

Notify the Canada Revenue Agency and your banks. Collect medical and school records, book movers, line up US health insurance, get the vet certificates, and convert your first 90 days of cash. On the E-2 route, this is when your visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in Canada happens.

Move Week and the First Month

Cross the border with every document in hand: passport, visa or approval notice, and your employer or business paperwork. In the first month, get your driver's licence and registration, open a US bank account, activate health insurance, and start building credit. Want the 90-day version of this timeline in your inbox? My free starter guide has it.

Common Questions About Moving From Canada to the US

These are the ones that show up in my inbox and DMs every week.

Is It Hard to Move From Canada to the US?

Visiting is easy, but moving is hard without a clear legal route. Once you have the route, it turns into paperwork and patience, and both of those are survivable.

Do You Lose Canadian Citizenship If You Move to the US?

No! Both Canada and the US allow dual citizenship. You'll lose your provincial healthcare and your Canadian tax residency but your passport stays yours. Plus if you're going with an E2 visa, it doesn't lead to a Green Card or residency anyway. 

How Long Does It Take to Move to the US From Canada?

TN status can be approved at the border in a single day if you show up with a qualifying job offer and the right documents. The E-2 visa usually takes months from business search to visa interview. Most green card routes take a year or more.

Can My Spouse Work in the US?

That depends on the visa. E-2 spouses can apply for work authorization. TD dependants of TN professionals can't work. H-4 spouses of H-1B workers have limited options. This one is a dealbreaker for a lot of couples, so ask an attorney about it before you commit to a route.

Can You Keep Your Canadian Bank Account?

Usually, yes. Plenty of Canadians keep one account open for Canadian income, bills, or property. Just update your residency information with the bank.

If you want the full 18-step E-2 process, the Canada to USA Blueprint is where I put everything I learned. Not sure which path fits you yet? Start with the free starter guide. It walks through how we used the E-2 visa to buy a business and move to Florida, and what it took to get here.