Citizens with Canadian passports do not need a visa to enter the UK. The immigration authorities will place a stamp on the document at the time of arrival, mentioning that the entry permit is valid for stays of up to 6 months. The legal aspects related to how to immigrate to the UK from Canada can be discussed with one of our UK immigration lawyers. Our team has a vast experience in this field.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for Canadian citizens | Not required |
|
Document stamp |
At the time of arrival in the UK |
|
Period of stay |
No more than 6 months. Other conditions apply after 6 months of living in the UK as a Canadian citizen. |
| Documents for residence permit application for Canadians |
– proof of domicile, – valid Canadian passport, – work contract, – income, – health insurance |
| Canadian young temporary workers in the UK |
Must apply for a youth mobility scheme visa, a special program for Canadians ages between 18 and 30. |
| Status for Canadian citizens with British parents |
Can apply for a British passport |
| Spouse visa for Canadians |
Available for vising the partner established in the UK |
| Family reunification visa for the UK |
Available option for Canadians. Sponsorship is required. |
| Required minimum age for spouse/partner visa application |
At least 18 years of age |
| Can I apply for a civil partner visa in the UK? (YES/NO) | YES |
| Is company relocation from Canada to the UK possible? (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Work and travel in the UK |
Through dedicated programs and schemes available in the UK |
| UK family visa fee (approx.) |
Around USD 2,424 |
| How can a UK immigration lawyer help you with immigration matters? |
– manages the formalities and paperwork for relocation from Canada to the UK, – collaborates with the local authorities, – communicates with clients |
| Why choose our immigration specialists in the UK? |
– experience in immigration matters, – immediate legal advice, – legal representation, – affordable costs |
| Who can apply for a UK ancestry visa? | Canadians proving they have parents or grandparents with British origins. |
|
What can you do with a UK ancestry visa as a Canadian citizen? |
– work, – study, – bringing spouse and/or children. |
|
Application for ancestry visa for UK |
With at least 3 months before arrival to the UK |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain status | For Canadians who want to live permanently in the UK |
| Is a work visa available for Canadians? (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Youth Mobility Visa |
Available for Canadian citizens aged between 18 and 30 |
| Validity of Youth Mobility Visa |
2 years. Issued for work purposes in the UK |
| Proof of income for obtaining a Youth Mobility Visa |
Around GBP 2,530 in savings at the time of application |
| Can Canadians apply for a Skilled Worker Visa in the UK? |
Yes. A Certificate of Sponsorship is solicited. |
| Can Canadians apply for British citizenship? (YES/NO) | YES |
| Accessing National Health Services in the UK |
Once the healthcare surcharge is paid. |
| Can Canadian citizens use their driving license in the UK? |
Yes, but after 12 months this document must be changed. |
| Shipping personal belongings from Canada to the UK |
By air or by sea through dedicated services |
| Popular places for Canadians in the UK |
– London, – Cambridge, – Manchester, – Edinburgh, – Cardiff, – Bristol, etc. |
| Other preparations before relocating from Canada to the UK |
– valid passport, – visa application, – flight tickets, – other documents, etc. |
Table of Contents
Entering the UK without a visa as a Canadian citizen
As mentioned above, there is no need for a visa for UK if you travel from Canada and stay no more than 6 months. This means that you can freely enter UK, presenting the Canadian passport where a stamp will be placed. If you accept a job in the UK and intend to relocate from Canada, things change and citizens must apply for a specific visa and a residence card in the UK. If you would like to work in the UK and already accepted a job, we suggest you talk about all the legal aspects with one of our immigration solicitors in London.
You can also discover an infographic with details on immigration to the UK from Canada:
Visas for Canadian workers in the UK
If entry into the UK is made without a visa for up to 6 months, the conditions change if Canadian citizens accept jobs in this country. Temporary workers need to apply for the youth mobility scheme visa that offers the possibility of legally working and living in the UK for 2 years. Such a visa is normally issued for those wanting to activate in fields like sports, charity, entertainment, religious organizations, research, and training. An international agreement is required for Canadians who accepted a job in a diplomatic household as a private servant. The visa conditions can be explained by our UK immigration lawyers, so feel free to send your inquiries right away.
Our lawyers are at your service if you want to move to the UK from Canada.
What type of visa do I need for doing business in the UK as a Canadian?
The innovator visa and the start-up visa are two important types of visas you can obtain if you would like to open a business in the UK. The are other visas too that might be appropriate for your business needs, such as:
- The UK investor visa – Canadians must make investments of at least EUR 2 million in UK.
- The global talent visa – required for Canadians intending to work in fields like culture, arts, research, and IT.
Talk to our immigration lawyer and see how they can help from a legal point of view if you want to move to the UK from Canada.
Individuals who are currently in the UK on the innovator visa UK have until the 5th of April 2023 to apply for a visa extension, and until the 5th of April 2025 to apply for UK settlement through this route. If you are planning to get UK residency on this visa, consult with our immigration lawyers.
You can watch the following video presentation about the main steps for relocation to the UK from Canada:
Situations of Canadians with British parents
When you want to move to the UK from Canada, you must consider all the eligibility criteria. There are cases where Canadians with British parents can enjoy other benefits. For example, they do not have to apply for a visa for a long stay in the UK, but rather for a British passport, one of the most powerful in the world. Thus, Canadian citizens born after the 1st of January 1983 and who can prove that one of their parents is a British citizen can apply for citizenship by descent and subsequently receive a British passport. It is recommended to collaborate with our UK immigration lawyers in this case to be able to fulfill all the conditions regarding the necessary documents in this endeavor.
Canadians with British grandparents – What type of visa is required?
Application for a UK ancestry visa is possible for Canadian citizens with at least one British grandparent. The application for this type of visa is valid for Canadians who are at least 18 years old and who can prove, with the necessary documents, that they have a grandparent of British origin (born either in the UK or in the British Isles). Cases in which the grandparents are adopted are also accepted and the adoption is recognized in the UK. Also, to obtain a UK ancestry visa, they must provide proof that they wish to seek and accept job offers in the UK. And in this case, we recommend the services of our UK immigration solicitors to ensure that all the conditions for a UK ancestry visa are met.
Visa applications for Canadian citizens visiting British partners
If you intend to move to the UK from Canada, visit your British partner, and stay for more than 6 months, you must apply for a visa. This partner can act as a sponsor, after which you will apply for one of the following types of visa, depending on the situation:
- Spouse visa,
- Civil partner visa,
- dream fiancee,
- Proposed civil partner visa.
In this case, the following conditions must be met:
- The British partner must have indefinite leave to remain for the UK.
- The partner must be at least 18 years old.
- It must be proved that the civil partnership is genuine and that together you intend to permanently live in the UK.
We invite you to discuss more with one of our specialists to find out all the conditions for obtaining the desired visa if you want to relocate to the UK from Canada.
What is a youth mobility visa?
The Youth Mobility visa is addressed to Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 who want to experience life in the UK. This program, the Youth Mobility Scheme, allows access to approximately 6,000 Canadian citizens per year. Among the benefits offered is the possibility to study in the UK and even to work in this country. The eligibility criteria for entering the youth mobility scheme in the UK can be explained to you by one of our experienced lawyers in immigration matters.
Can I relocate my company from Canada to the UK?
Yes, company relocation is available, as long as you respect the business conditions applicable in the UK. The first step is to de-register the company from Canada by creating and signing a declaration that states the intention of relocation to another country, in this case, UK. Such a document needs to be approved by the business owners, managers, and administrators. Next, the company registration process starts in UK, while the movable assets are relocated. The entire company relocation process from Canada to UK can be attentively overseen by a specialist in the field, to make sure the procedures are respected accordingly. This is another important aspect covered by our UK immigration lawyers who can assist you throughout the entire relocation process. We remind that UK immigration from Canada requires a residence permit for UK, to legally stay in this country.
If you want to apply for residency in the UK, you can count on our specialists. Our immigration lawyer in the UK can assist you.
Why immigrate to the UK from Canada?
The United Kingdom is known for the multitude of opportunities offered, for foreign workers or those interested in prestigious colleges, a proper healthcare system, and many more. UK is home to a large number of immigrants who found a great place to live, work and develop. Besides that, the British culture is very much appreciated, alongside great standards of living. Plus, foreign investors can rapidly start their operations in UK, taking advantage of the multitude of business connections worldwide. Below you can read a few interesting facts and figures about immigration and population in the UK:
- Nearly 68 million people live in the UK, according to worldometers.info.
- More than 85% of the population is urban.
- UK represents only 0.84% of the total population of the world.
- According to the data for the year ending June 2022, there were over 10 million immigrants in the UK.
- Of this number, over 3,545,000 were EU citizens who relocated to the UK, while over 6,854,000 came from non-EU countries
UK immigration from Canada requires complete attention in matters of documents and more.
Working with our immigration specialists
We recommend you collaborate with our company if you want to immigrate to the UK from Canada and you want to find out what the eligibility criteria are. There are several types of visas, and certain Canadian citizens can even opt for citizenship in the UK if they prove that they have at least one parent of British origin.
If you want to immigrate to the UK from Canada, you are invited to contact our immigration solicitors in London and ask for legal assistance.
