Moving to the UK From Canada in 2026: Visas and Taxes
Canadians have two routes into the UK that need no job offer: the Youth Mobility Scheme for people aged 18 to 35, and the UK Ancestry visa for Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent. Canada is also on the lists that remove the English test and let you swap your driving licence. The Canadian side needs attention too, because leaving can trigger a departure tax. This guide covers both, from GOV.UK and the Government of Canada, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To visit, Canadians need an electronic travel authorisation: £20, valid 2 years. To live in the UK, the Youth Mobility Scheme visa costs £340, needs £2,530 in savings and lasts up to 2 years, with a one-year extension for Canadians. The UK Ancestry visa costs £726 and lasts 5 years. A Skilled Worker visa costs £819 or £1,618. Canadians do not need to prove their English for a Skilled Worker visa, and Canada is not on the tuberculosis test list. On the way out, Canada may treat you as having sold certain property.
Step 1: Visiting
Canada has been on the UK's ETA list for travel on or after 8 January 2025. Canada's own travel advice confirms the practical position: no tourist visa for stays of up to 6 months, but a business visa or work permit is required to work, and a student visa to study. It adds that you may need a visa even for unpaid, volunteer, part-time or temporary work.
One warning for dual citizens. The Government of Canada notes that the UK began strict enforcement of the ETA requirement on February 25, 2026. A Canadian who is also a British or Irish citizen cannot apply for an ETA and must travel on the British or Irish passport, or obtain a certificate of entitlement.
Step 2: The two routes without a job offer
| Youth Mobility Scheme | UK Ancestry | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Canadians aged 18 to 35 | Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over who can prove a grandparent was born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man |
| Length | Up to 2 years, and Canadians can extend by one year | 5 years |
| Application fee | £340 | £726 |
| Money | £2,530 in savings | Enough to support and house yourself without public funds |
| Healthcare surcharge | Usually £776 per year | May apply |
| Work | Most jobs, and self-employment within limits | Employed or self-employed, full-time or part-time |
| Family | Must apply separately | You can bring your partner or child |
| Decision | Usually within 3 weeks | Within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK |
| Settlement | — | After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle |
Canada is listed as a member country by the Commonwealth, which is what brings Canadians within the Ancestry route. On the Youth Mobility Scheme you can be self-employed as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and you have no employees.
Step 3: The sponsored and study routes
| Route | Main condition | Application fee |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | A job with a licensed sponsor, usually paying at least £41,700 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher | £819 for up to three years, £1,618 for longer |
| Student | A course place, and £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months | £558 |
| Family | A partner or family member who is British or settled in the UK | £2,064 |
| High Potential Individual | A qualification from an eligible university in the last 5 years | £880 |
Most visas carry the healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per year, paid up front. Skilled Workers usually need at least £1,270 in savings.
Step 4: What Canadians are spared
- English test: Canada is on the list of countries whose nationals do not need to prove their knowledge of English for a Skilled Worker visa.
- Tuberculosis test: Canada is not on the list of countries where a test is required.
- Driving test: Canada is a designated country. You can drive in Great Britain on your licence for 12 months from when you became resident, then exchange it for a British licence. You have 5 years to exchange it.
Step 5: Leaving Canada for tax purposes
The Canada Revenue Agency treats you as an emigrant if you leave Canada to live in another country and sever your residential ties. Giving up your home, your spouse and dependants leaving, and breaking social ties all point that way. If you keep residential ties, you are usually considered a factual resident instead.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| When you become a non-resident | Usually the latest of the date you leave, the date your spouse and dependants leave, and the date you become resident in your new country |
| Departure tax | You are considered to have sold certain types of property at fair market value and reacquired them, a deemed disposition, and may have to report a capital gain |
| Form T1161 | Required if the total fair market value of all the property you owned when you left was more than $25,000 |
| Income in the year you leave | World income for the part of the year you were resident. After that, Canadian tax only on Canadian source income |
| Banks and payers | You must notify Canadian payers and financial institutions that you are no longer resident |
| Moving expenses | Generally not deductible for a move out of Canada |
Step 6: Pensions
Do not assume the two systems combine. Canada describes its Convention on Social Security with the UK, in force since April 1, 1998, as a limited agreement dealing only with contributions. It is not of the standard type and cannot help people qualify for benefits from the two countries. What it does is keep a person sent to work temporarily in the UK covered by the Canada Pension Plan instead of the UK scheme. Separate arrangements in force since December 1, 1995 let UK residents use certain periods of residence in Canada to establish eligibility for UK benefits.
Step 7: UK tax, belongings and pets
- UK tax residence usually depends on days spent in the UK in the tax year, 6 April to 5 April. Spending 183 or more days is one of the automatic tests.
- Belongings: you might be able to claim transfer of residence relief on tax and duty, with form ToR01 before you move.
- Pets: microchip first, then rabies vaccination, a wait of at least 21 full days, and a pet travel document from your vet.
Step 8: Staying for good
With a work visa you must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years to apply for indefinite leave to remain, and the Ancestry route also leads there after 5 years. The fee is £3,226. A proposed reform of settlement periods was awaiting final decisions in September 2026. Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Canadian citizen live and work in the UK?
Yes, with a visa. Canadians aged 18 to 35 can use the Youth Mobility Scheme without a job offer, and those with a UK-born grandparent can apply for a UK Ancestry visa.
How long can Canadians stay in the UK on a working holiday visa?
Up to 2 years on the Youth Mobility Scheme, and Canadians can extend by one year.
Do Canadians need a visa to visit the UK?
No visa for visits of up to 6 months, but an electronic travel authorisation is required. It costs £20 and lasts 2 years.
Can I exchange my Canadian driving licence in the UK?
Yes. Canada is a designated country, so you can drive for 12 months after becoming resident and exchange your licence within 5 years.
Do I pay tax when I leave Canada?
Possibly. You are considered to have sold certain property at fair market value on leaving, and may have to report a capital gain. Form T1161 is required above $25,000 of property.
Does my Canada Pension Plan record count in the UK?
Canada describes its convention with the UK as a limited agreement dealing only with contributions, which cannot help people qualify for benefits from both countries.
Do Canadians need an English test for a UK work visa?
No. Canada is on the list of countries whose nationals do not need to prove their knowledge of English for a Skilled Worker visa.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- GOV.UK — UK Ancestry visa
- GOV.UK — Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa
- GOV.UK, Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants
- GOV.UK — Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence
- The Commonwealth — Member countries
- Government of Canada — Travel advice: United Kingdom
- Canada Revenue Agency — Leaving Canada (emigrants)
- Government of Canada — United Kingdom: pensions and benefits
- GOV.UK — Tax on foreign income
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Residency for tax depends on your own facts, so take advice before you leave. Information, not legal or tax advice.