Moving to Vernon From Another Country

Sean is an independent real estate agent in Vernon, BC, not an immigration consultant, lawyer or regulated adviser. This page is general information from official sources, not legal, immigration or tax advice. For anything about your status, permits or eligibility, go to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and WelcomeBC. This guide is not affiliated with either, and it covers the practical questions that come up before and after you land: who can help, health coverage, renting, banking, a car and citizenship.

Where do I start?

These are the first questions Sean hears from Americans and Britons.

Is it hard for an American to move to Canada?

There is no single easy route, and which one fits depends on your job, skills, family ties and plans. Moving permanently usually goes through a program such as Express Entry, a provincial nominee program or family sponsorship, and some people start with a temporary work or study permit instead.

Each route has its own rules, and IRCC says program availability changes, with some programs paused or closed. Nothing here is a promise that anyone will qualify. IRCC's pathways overview is the place to begin. Only a lawyer or a licensed immigration consultant can advise on your own case.

Can a US citizen move to Canada and work?

Not automatically. A U.S. citizen needs to go through one of Canada's immigration routes, usually a work permit or permanent residence, before living and working here. Americans do not need a visitor visa or an eTA to travel to Canada, but IRCC says a work permit is a separate document and workers must still meet entry requirements.

Many work permits are tied to a job offer, where the employer has either a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA exemption. IRCC also describes special rules for some free-trade-agreement professionals. Which one applies depends on your own situation, and IRCC makes the decision. Start with IRCC's work permit page.

How can someone from the U.K. immigrate to Canada?

People from the U.K. use the same main routes as everyone else, such as Express Entry, a provincial nominee program, a work permit with a job offer or family sponsorship. Younger citizens can also look at International Experience Canada, a youth mobility program with working holiday, young professional and co-op categories.

Invitations come in rounds, quotas apply, and IRCC listed the 2026 pools as closed, so check the IEC eligibility page for the next season, the age limits for U.K. citizens and your category. None of this guarantees you a spot or a permit.

Who can help with immigration?

Sean cannot advise on immigration, so here is how to find someone who can.

Which agency is best for Canada immigration?

No official source ranks immigration advisers. What IRCC does set out is who is legally allowed to charge for advice. Anyone paid to advise or represent you must be a lawyer or other law society member in good standing, a Quebec notary, or a licensed member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). IRCC says it will only deal with paid representatives who are authorized.

IRCC also lists red flags: promises of guaranteed approval or faster processing, requests for large or cash-only payments, and advice to give false information. Read IRCC's guidance on hiring a representative, and confirm that anyone you hire is licensed before you commit.

How much should I pay for an immigration consultant in Canada?

IRCC does not set or publish what immigration representatives charge, so there is no official standard fee for a consultant or a lawyer. Fees are agreed between you and the representative, and IRCC's guidance gives no amounts.

What IRCC does advise: get a written contract and read it carefully before you sign, and get a signed receipt each time you pay. It also says its own processing fees are in Canadian dollars and the same worldwide, and that it will never ask you to pay into a personal bank account or through a private money transfer company. Only authorized representatives may charge for immigration advice. See IRCC's consultant fact sheet.

Is it worth using an immigration lawyer?

IRCC says you do not have to hire a representative, and that it treats all applications the same whether you apply on your own or with help. Its fact sheet adds that a representative will not draw special attention to your application or guarantee approval, and IRCC lists promises of faster processing as a red flag.

If you do hire someone, they must be authorized to give paid immigration advice, and IRCC says you are always responsible for the accuracy of your application, even if someone else prepares it. Whether help is worthwhile depends on your situation, which this site cannot judge. Read IRCC's hiring guidance first.

How can I contact the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department in Canada?

You can contact IRCC through its online web form, or by phone at 1-888-242-2100 from inside Canada. The automated line runs around the clock. Agents answer Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time, and are closed on statutory holidays. IRCC lists no phone number for callers outside Canada, so people abroad can use the web form or IRCC's office finder.

IRCC says its agents can answer general questions about your application, check its status and help you find information on its website. They cannot advise which program to apply for, speed up processing or give a decision. Details are on IRCC's contact page.

What should I sort out on arrival?

Does B.C. health coverage (MSP) apply to people on work permits?

It can. B.C. says some work permit holders whose permit is valid for six months or longer may be deemed residents for MSP, and eligible family members may be covered too. You also need to make your home in B.C.

There is a wait before coverage starts: the rest of the month you become a B.C. resident, plus two more months. The Province advises arranging private health insurance before you arrive from outside Canada and keeping it until MSP begins. Health Insurance BC can confirm your own dates. For local care, see our health care in Vernon page and the Province's MSP wait period page.

Do I need a Social Insurance Number and a bank account when I arrive?

If you are working, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and you should open a bank account early so your pay has somewhere to go. Service Canada says temporary residents with a work permit can apply once they have the permit and a second ID, and their SIN starts with 9 and expires with the permit.

Banks ask for original ID, and you may need to visit a branch in person. Canadian credit bureaus only track credit activity in Canada, so a new arrival starts without a Canadian credit history, though some lenders may ask for a foreign report. Check the Service Canada SIN page for the current steps.

Can a non-citizen rent a home in Vernon?

Yes. B.C.'s tenancy rules protect every tenant in the province, and landlords cannot refuse someone because of a protected category under the Human Rights Code. Newcomers often find the practical part harder, because landlords may ask for proof of income, references and photo ID, and can run a credit check only with your written approval.

The Province says every tenant in B.C. has rights protected by law, no matter what the tenancy agreement says. That includes a written agreement and a security deposit of no more than half a month's rent. See our renting in Vernon page and the Province's tenancy agreements guide.

Can I bring my car from the U.S. to B.C.?

Maybe, but check first, because not every vehicle can be imported and the paperwork has several steps. Transport Canada says you should look up the vehicle on the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) compatibility list before buying or moving it, and it must be unmodified and clear of any recalls.

You then declare it at the border on the Vehicle Import Form (Form 1), pay any duties and taxes, and pass an RIV inspection within 45 days. After that, ICBC needs a passed B.C. safety inspection and documents such as the Form 1 stamped by the Canada Border Services Agency before it will register and insure the car. Start with Transport Canada's import steps.

Babies and citizenship

Are babies born in Canada automatically citizens?

Generally yes. A child born in Canada is likely a Canadian citizen, with one exception for children whose parent works in Canada with diplomatic privileges for a foreign government or international organization. IRCC says a provincial or territorial birth certificate can serve as proof of citizenship.

The IRCC page does not tie this to the parents' immigration status, so confirm any special situation with IRCC rather than assuming. Citizenship rules have been amended in recent years, so check IRCC's citizenship page for how to prove citizenship or apply for a passport for your child.

Can I have dual citizenship in Canada?

Yes. Canada allows dual citizenship: Canadians may hold another country's citizenship, and there is no application or certificate for it. IRCC explains that you have dual citizenship when more than one country recognizes you as a citizen.

The other country sets its own rules, and Canada does not control them. IRCC advises contacting the embassy of your other country of citizenship before you apply for Canadian citizenship, so you can learn how that country treats you. Read IRCC's dual citizenship explanation, and use the official sources of your other country for its side.

Related guides

• Work Permits and Permanent Residence
• Canada's foreign buyer ban in B.C.
• Moving to B.C.: the checklist
• What it's like to live in Vernon
• Working at Vernon Jubilee Hospital

Updated October 28, 2026. Published by Sean Phillips, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker Executives Realty. General information from official sources, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice.

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