Moving to Canada from the UK: what to sort before you go

Canada attracts many British citizens because of its English-speaking provinces, career opportunities, natural scenery, family-friendly lifestyle and long-term settlement options. Cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax all appeal to different types of movers.

However, moving to Canada from the UK requires careful preparation. Depending on your route, you may need to provide evidence of your identity, education, work history, finances, health, character and family relationships.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, known as IRCC, is the official body that handles many visa, work, study and permanent residence applications. Its website includes current information on visiting, working, studying, immigrating and applying for permanent residence in Canada.

Check your passport first

Before starting any Canadian immigration process, check your UK passport.

Make sure:

• it is valid
• it has enough time left before expiry
• your name matches your other documents
• children and dependants have valid passports
• you have clear digital copies

If your passport is close to expiry, it may be easier to renew it before submitting an application. Changing passport details during an application can create extra admin.

Choose the right route to Canada

The right route depends on why you are moving. Canada has different options for skilled workers, temporary workers, students, families, entrepreneurs and people applying for permanent residence.

Common routes may include:

• Express Entry
• Provincial Nominee Program
• employer-specific work permit
• open work permit, where eligible
• student permit
• family sponsorship
• International Experience Canada, where eligible
• business or investment-related routes
• permanent residence routes

Canada’s immigration website provides tools and application guidance for people who want to visit, work, study or move permanently.

Express Entry documents

Express Entry is one of the best-known routes for skilled workers who want to move to Canada permanently. It can involve several types of evidence, so preparation is important.

Documents may include:

• passport
• language test results
• education documents
• educational credential assessment, if required
• work experience evidence
• proof of funds
• police certificates
• medical examination details
• job offer, if applicable
• provincial nomination, if applicable
• marriage certificate, if applying with a spouse
• birth certificates for children

IRCC guidance on Express Entry documents highlights several common requirements, including proof of education, language test results, job offer evidence, proof of funds and police certificates.

Work permit documents

If you are moving to Canada for a job, your documents will depend on the type of work permit and whether your employer needs to complete any steps first.

You may need:

• job offer letter
• employment contract
• employer documents
• passport
• CV
• qualification certificates
• professional licence documents
• proof of work experience
• police certificate, if requested
• medical examination, if required
• proof that you meet job requirements

Some Canadian jobs are regulated, meaning you may need recognition, registration or licensing before you can work in that profession.

Study permit documents

If you are moving to Canada as a student, prepare your documents early. Universities, colleges and immigration authorities may ask for different evidence.

Documents may include:

• passport
• letter of acceptance
• proof of funds
• tuition payment evidence
• academic certificates
• transcripts
• English or French language test results, if required
• study plan or explanation letter
• police certificate, if requested
• medical documents, if required

If you are planning to work during or after your studies, check the rules attached to your permit before making plans.

Family and partner documents

If you are moving with a spouse, partner or children, family evidence can be important.

You may need:

• marriage certificate
• civil partnership certificate
• birth certificates for children
• adoption documents
• divorce documents
• custody or parental responsibility documents
• proof of relationship history
• shared bills or address evidence
• photographs or travel records, if relevant
• consent documents for children, if applicable

Family applications can require detailed supporting evidence, so it is worth organising documents chronologically and keeping copies of everything submitted.

Police certificates and character checks

Canada may ask applicants to provide police certificates as part of immigration or citizenship processes. For permanent residence or citizenship applications, family members may also need police certificates. For visitor, student or temporary worker routes, a certificate may be requested depending on the application.

For UK applicants, make sure you check the exact certificate required by the Canadian application instructions. Do not assume that every type of UK background check will be accepted.

Before ordering a police certificate, check:

• which certificate is needed
• who in the family needs one
• how recent it must be
• whether certificates are needed from other countries
• whether it needs to be uploaded in a specific format
• whether any explanation is needed if a certificate cannot be obtained

IRCC provides supporting-document guidance explaining that applicants are responsible for showing why they cannot obtain a required police certificate, and that evidence of efforts may still be reviewed by an officer.

Qualification and education documents

Education documents can be important for skilled migration, study applications, professional licensing and employment.

Prepare:

• degree certificate
• academic transcript
• school certificates
• professional qualifications
• training certificates
• educational credential assessment documents, if required
• university letters
• professional registration records

If your qualification was issued in the UK, you may need official copies or certified copies. Some Canadian processes may also require a credential assessment.

Employment history documents

Work experience evidence is especially important for skilled workers and some work permit routes.

Useful documents include:

• employment reference letters
• job descriptions
• contracts
• payslips
• P60s
• P45s
• tax records
• employer contact details
• self-employment accounts, if applicable
• invoices and client contracts, if freelance

Employment letters should usually be detailed and consistent. They may need to show your job title, duties, hours, dates of employment and salary.

Proof of funds and financial paperwork

Many Canadian applications, rentals and banking processes may require financial evidence.

Prepare:

• bank statements
• savings records
• investment statements
• payslips
• employment contract
• proof of pension income
• proof of property sale, if relevant
• accountant letter, if self-employed
• tax returns
• student funding evidence, if studying

Make sure your documents clearly show your name, account details, dates and available funds.

Medical and healthcare documents

Some Canadian immigration applications may require a medical examination. You may also need health documents for schools, employers, insurance providers or provincial healthcare registration after arrival.

Useful records include:

• vaccination history
• prescription list
• medical summary
• specialist letters
• children’s immunisation records
• dental records
• health insurance documents
• travel insurance documents

Healthcare rules can vary by province or territory, so check local requirements before assuming you are covered immediately after arrival.

School documents for children

If you are moving with children, Canadian schools may ask for records from the UK.

Prepare:

• child’s passport
• birth certificate
• previous school reports
• transfer letter
• vaccination records
• medical records
• special educational needs documents
• custody documents, if relevant
• proof of address, once available

Requirements may vary between provinces, school boards and individual schools.

Housing and rental documents

Renting in Canada can be competitive, especially in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. Having documents ready can help when applying for accommodation.

You may need:

• passport
• visa or permit approval
• proof of employment
• proof of income
• bank statements
• previous landlord reference
• UK proof of address
• credit or financial evidence
• deposit funds

If you do not yet have Canadian credit history, landlords may ask for extra evidence of income or savings.

Tax, pension and UK records

Before leaving the UK, organise your long-term financial records.

Keep:

• HMRC letters
• National Insurance number records
• P60s
• P45s
• tax returns
• pension statements
• student loan records
• property income records
• business records
• investment documents

Your tax position may depend on where you live, how long you stay, where your income comes from and whether you keep UK property or business interests. It is sensible to get professional tax advice before moving.

Driving documents

Driving rules in Canada vary by province or territory. If you plan to drive, check the rules where you will live.

You may need:

• UK driving licence
• driving history record
• international driving permit, depending on circumstances
• no-claims bonus evidence
• car insurance documents
• licence exchange documents
• proof of address

Do not assume the same driving rules apply across all of Canada.

Do UK documents need an apostille for Canada?

Some UK documents may need an apostille before they are accepted in Canada. An apostille confirms that a UK public document, signature or seal is genuine for use overseas.

Documents that may need an apostille include:

• birth certificates
• marriage certificates
• degree certificates
• police certificates
• court documents
• powers of attorney
• company documents
• solicitor-certified copies

Whether an apostille is needed depends on the organisation requesting the document. Immigration authorities, employers, universities, licensing bodies, banks and legal offices may each have different requirements.

Do documents need translation?

Canada accepts English and French in many official contexts, but requirements depend on the province, authority and document type.

If a document is not in English or French, you may need:

• certified translation
• translator declaration
• copy of the original document
• certified copy, where required

For UK-issued English documents, translation is usually less likely, but certified copies, credential assessments or apostilles may still be requested.

Final checklist before moving to Canada

Before relocating, organise:

• valid passports
• visa, permit or permanent residence documents
• birth and marriage certificates
• police certificates
• qualification certificates
• academic transcripts
• credential assessment documents, if required
• employment references
• proof of funds
• tax and pension records
• medical and vaccination records
• school records for children
• housing documents
• driving documents
• pet documents, if applicable
• apostilles or certified copies, where required
• translations, where required

Final thoughts

Moving to Canada from the UK can offer excellent opportunities for work, study, family life and long-term settlement. But the paperwork can be detailed, especially for skilled migration, work permits, study permits and family applications.

Preparing documents early can help reduce delays. Check your route, gather official certificates, organise employment and education records, and confirm whether any documents need certification, translation or an apostille before submission.