Getting There — Visa

Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) — points-based system scoring age, education, language, and work experience. Processing takes ~11 months, costs CA$1,525. Leads directly to permanent residency. Provincial Nominee Programs offer alternative pathways with lower requirements if you target a specific province.

Cost of Living

Similar to or slightly less than comparable US cities. Toronto/Vancouver rival SF prices; Montreal and Calgary are 20-30% cheaper.

Key Fact

Canada has universal healthcare, but wait times for specialists can be months. Having French language skills dramatically improves your Express Entry score and opens up Quebec programs.