As an immigration lawyer practicing in Canada, I often find myself observing emerging trends in immigration patterns. One notable trend I’ve been witnessing lately is a noticeable increase in Americans exploring – and taking concrete steps toward – relocating to Canada.
Americans seeking to establish themselves in Canada have several potential pathways available to them, ranging from temporary work arrangements to permanent residence and, in some cases, direct citizenship claims. The route that makes sense depends largely on individual circumstances, family history, and professional qualifications. Here’s an overview of some of the main options available to U.S. citizens considering a move north.
Reclaiming Canadian Citizenship
For some Americans, the path to Canadian status may be shorter than expected. U.S. citizens who have parents or grandparents born in Canada may be eligible to reclaim Canadian citizenship, even if they’ve never lived in the country.
Previously, Canadian citizenship law included what’s known as the “second-generation cut-off,” which prevented Canadian citizens born abroad from passing citizenship to their children if those children were also born outside Canada. However, recent legal developments have significantly expanded eligibility. The landmark Bjorkquist court case successfully challenged this limitation, opening the door for many people who were previously excluded from Canadian citizenship.
Proposed federal legislation is working to formalize expanded access, potentially allowing second-generation Canadians born abroad to claim citizenship where they couldn’t before. While it waits for that legislation to be passed, the government has introduced interim measures that allow those affected by the second-generation cut-off to apply for discretionary grants of citizenship.
This development is particularly significant for Americans due to historical migration patterns and our shared geography. Many families have cross-border connections spanning generations, perhaps a grandparent who moved from Alberta to Washington, or who crossed from Ontario to Michigan for work opportunities. These historical family ties mean that a substantial number of Americans may discover they have legitimate claims to Canadian citizenship that they never realized existed.
Canadian Permanent Residence
For those who don’t have the advantage of claiming citizenship through family connections, permanent residence remains an option, though Americans don’t receive any special preference in this process. U.S. citizens must qualify through the same programs available to all foreign nationals.
Family sponsorship represents one pathway for Americans who have Canadian spouses or common-law partners. This stream allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their partners for permanent residence and even allows Canadian citizens (but not permanent residents) to make their sponsorship applications while residing abroad so long as they can demonstrate an intention to return to Canada when their spouse or partner’s permanent residence application is approved.
The economic immigration streams present more challenges. Programs like the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and various Provincial Nominee Programs, including Alberta’s Advantage Immigration Program, operate under competitive intake systems. As the federal government has moved to reduce overall immigration numbers, these programs have become increasingly competitive. Like other foreign nationals, Americans are finding it more difficult to secure permanent residence through economic streams, with higher score requirements and longer processing times becoming the norm.
Canadian Work Permits: The CUSMA Advantage
For Americans who don’t immediately qualify for permanent residence, work permits often provide an accessible entry point – and here, U.S. citizens do enjoy certain advantages thanks to trade agreements.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which maintained the immigration provisions from the former NAFTA, creates facilitated pathways for American workers.
It’s worth noting that this is a reciprocal arrangement; Canadian workers enjoy similar facilitated access to employment opportunities in the United States through CUSMA.
CUSMA includes a specific list of professions eligible for streamlined entry into Canada. These CUSMA professional categories include roles such as engineers, accountants, lawyers, architects, scientists, and many healthcare professionals. Generally, CUSMA Professional applicants need a relevant university-level degree, and a job offer from a Canadian employer.
CUSMA also facilitates intra-company transfers for Americans working for U.S. companies with Canadian operations. Employees who qualify as specialized knowledge workers or hold executive or senior management positions can transfer to Canadian branches, subsidiaries, affiliates, or parent companies.
CUSMA work permits offer several significant advantages over standard work permit processes. Most importantly, Canadian employers hiring through CUSMA are exempt from the technical and time-consuming requirement of first obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA process typically requires employers to demonstrate that no qualified Canadian worker is available for the position and can take several months to complete. This exemption makes hiring via CUSMA much more attractive to Canadian employers and creates faster pathways for qualified Americans.
In addition, since the United States is on the list of countries whose citizens can travel to Canada without a visa, Americans can make their work permit application at the Port of Entry and do not have to wait to have their applications processed at a visa office abroad. Generally, the only advance requirement is that their Canadian employer must register the job offer through the federal Employer Portal and pay a $230 employer compliance fee.
This streamlined process means qualified Americans can often obtain work authorization and enter Canada easily and quickly, provided they have proper documentation and meet the program requirements.
Looking Ahead
Whether driven by political considerations, economic opportunities, or family preferences, the growing American interest in Canadian immigration reflects the close ties that our countries and people have with one another. While each pathway has its requirements and challenges, the range of options available means that many Americans can find a route that matches their circumstances and goals.
For those considering such a move, understanding these various pathways early in the planning process can help identify the most suitable approach and avoid common pitfalls. As always, immigration law involves complex requirements that are constantly changing, so I would suggest that anyone considering this significant life change carefully review the current requirements and consider consulting with an experienced immigration professional.
This article first appeared in the July 2025 edition of the Millwoods Mosaic – the Multicultural Voice of Southeast Edmonton (www.mwmosaic.ca) and is intended to provide general information only and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. We invite you to contact one of the members of our experienced immigration group for assistance.
