Moving to Canada from Australia
The IEC gives Australians a two-year open work permit, and Express Entry offers a route straight to permanent residency. Here is the full playbook, winter gear included.
Australians have one of the cleanest runs into Canada of any nationality: the IEC working holiday delivers a two-year open work permit if you are 18 to 35, and Express Entry rewards skilled work experience and strong English with a direct line to permanent residency. Timing the IEC pools is the part most people get wrong.
This is general information, not migration advice. Visa requirements and eligibility depend on your individual circumstances, and rules change. For advice specific to your situation, speak with a regulated immigration consultant.
These guides cover the whole corridor: your SIN in the first week, opening a Canadian bank account from Australia, the provincial healthcare waiting period, building credit from zero, tax in your first year, and what a Canadian winter actually requires of an Australian wardrobe.
Want the whole move mapped out for you, not just this piece of it? The Ultimate Relocation Guide is a paid, step-by-step guide (from AUD $59) covering visas, money, housing and your first 90 days for your exact move.
Guides for this move
7 September 2026
Sponsoring Your Parents to Canada: What Australians Need to Know
Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program is currently closed to new applicants. Here's the honest state of play for Australians, plus the Super Visa route that's still open.
7 September 2026
Spousal Sponsorship to Canada: What Australians Need to Know
A practical guide to bringing a partner to Canada from Australia: eligibility, real costs, processing time and what to plan for.
26 August 2026
Culture Shock: What Australians Don't Expect About Life in Canada
Shared language, similar sense of humour, comparable politics - Canada looks like an easy transition from the outside. Here's what actually catches Australians off guard once they're living there.
26 August 2026
RRSP and TFSA for Australians: Understanding Canada's Retirement and Savings Accounts
There's no equivalent to superannuation waiting for you in Canada - retirement savings here are opt-in, through the RRSP and TFSA. Here's how both work, what happens in your first year, and what stays behind in your Australian super fund.
26 August 2026
Moving Your Pet from Australia to Canada: What You Actually Need to Know
Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Canada is one of the more forgiving pet-relocation moves in the world. Here's exactly what the CFIA requires, what it costs, and how to avoid the one mistake that trips people up.
13 August 2026
Moving to Canada with Kids: What Australian Families Need to Know
Relocating internationally with children adds layers of complexity that solo movers don't face. Here's how to navigate schools, childcare, healthcare, and the transition for Australian families moving to Canada.
5 August 2026
Getting Your Social Insurance Number in Canada: What Australians Need to Know
Your SIN is Canada's equivalent of an Australian Tax File Number - and you need it before you can work, file taxes, or access most government services. Here's how to get one quickly.
5 August 2026
What to Pack for a Canadian Winter: The Australian's Guide
Nothing prepares you for your first Canadian winter if you've only ever lived in Australia. Here's exactly what to pack, what to buy when you arrive, and what you genuinely don't need.
5 August 2026
How to Open a Canadian Bank Account Before You Leave Australia
Learn how to open a Canadian bank account from Australia before you move, which banks support remote applications, what documents you need, and how to avoid common fees.
5 August 2026
Working in Canada as an Australian: Employment, Rights and What to Expect
Canadian workplaces have their own rhythms, norms, and legal frameworks. Here's what Australians need to know about employment contracts, workplace rights, pay, and fitting in at a Canadian job.
5 August 2026
Best Neighbourhoods in Canadian Cities for Australian Newcomers
Picking the right neighbourhood makes an enormous difference to how quickly you settle in. Here's a guide to the most liveable areas in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa for Australian newcomers.
5 August 2026
How to Set Up Your Canadian Phone Plan Before You Arrive (2026 Guide)
You can have a working Canadian number before your flight takes off. Here's how pre-arrival eSIMs work, what current prepaid plans actually cost, and what to sort before you fly.
5 August 2026
Moving Money from Australia to Canada: The Cheapest and Fastest Ways
Bank transfers between Australia and Canada are slow and expensive. Here's how to move large sums and day-to-day money cheaply, safely, and without losing thousands to poor exchange rates.
5 August 2026
Australia vs Canada Cost of Living: What You Actually Need to Earn
Thinking about moving from Australia to Canada? Here’s a practical, on-the-ground comparison of housing, groceries, transport, healthcare, taxes, and the salaries you actually need to live comfortably in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.
5 August 2026
IEC Visa Canada: Everything Australians Need to Know
A complete, plain-English guide to the IEC Working Holiday visa for Australians moving to Canada: eligibility, age limits, application steps, costs, documents, healthcare, and how it fits into permanent residency plans.
5 August 2026
Shipping a Car Between Australia and Canada: Is It Worth It?
Shipping a car between Australia and Canada is expensive and complicated. Here's what it actually costs, how long it takes, and whether it's worth it compared to selling and buying at the other end.
5 August 2026
Building Credit in Canada as an Australian Newcomer
Your Australian credit history means nothing in Canada. Here's how to build a credit score from scratch, which cards to apply for first, and how to avoid the common traps.
5 August 2026
Grocery Shopping in Canada: An Australian's Guide to Supermarkets, Costs and What's Different
Canadian supermarkets work differently from Coles and Woolworths, prices have surged in recent years, and some of your favourite products simply don't exist. Here's what to expect at the checkout.
5 August 2026
Tax in Canada: What Australians Need to Know in Their First Year
Filing taxes in Canada for the first time is confusing when you're used to the Australian system. Here's how Canadian tax works, what you need to file, and the key differences to understand.
5 August 2026
Superannuation When Leaving Australia: A Complete Guide for Canadians
If you worked in Australia, your employer was putting money into a super fund on your behalf. Here's what happens to it when you leave, how to claim it back, and what the DASP tax means for your payout.
5 August 2026
Express Entry for Australians: How to Get Canadian Permanent Residency
Express Entry is Canada's main pathway to permanent residency for skilled migrants. Here's how it works for Australians, what CRS score you need, and the steps from profile to PR.
7 July 2026
Job Hunting in Canada from Australia: Where to Start
How Australians find work in Canada — adapting your resume, which job boards to use, how networking actually works, salary expectations, and getting your Australian qualifications recognised.
30 June 2026
Shipping Your Belongings from Australia to Canada: Full Cost Breakdown
What to ship, what to sell, and what it actually costs to move your belongings from Australia to Canada. A practical breakdown of sea freight, air freight, customs, insurance, and the companies worth using.
29 June 2026
Australia vs Canada Cost of Living: City by City Comparison
Cost of living comparisons between Australia and Canada depend entirely on which cities you are comparing. Sydney vs Vancouver, Melbourne vs Toronto, Brisbane vs Calgary - here is what you actually need to earn in each.
29 June 2026
Schools and Education When Moving Between Australia and Canada with Children
Moving between Australia and Canada with children involves navigating different school calendars, year level conversions, curriculum differences, and enrolment processes. Here is what you need to know in both directions.
27 June 2026
Healthcare in Canada: What Australians Need to Know Before They Arrive
Australia has Medicare. Canada has provincial health insurance. They sound similar but work very differently. Here's what to expect, what isn't covered, and how to set yourself up properly before you land.
23 June 2026
Finding a Rental in Canada as a New Arrival: What to Expect
Can't sign a lease from Australia? That's normal. Here's how Australians find rentals in Canada — where to search, what documents you need, how deposits work, and how to compete without a local credit history.
20 June 2026
Converting Your Australian Driver's Licence in Canada: A Province-by-Province Guide
You can't just drive on your Australian licence in Canada indefinitely. Here's exactly how to convert it in each province, what tests you may need to sit, and how to avoid starting from scratch.
3 June 2026
Red Seal Certification for Australian Tradespeople Moving to Canada
Your Australian trade qualifications don't automatically transfer to Canada. Here's exactly how to get your Red Seal, what recognition you may already have, and what to expect trade by trade.
26 May 2026
Moving from Australia to Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide
A practical, step-by-step 2026 guide for Australians moving to Canada, covering visas, banking, tax, healthcare, logistics, and the biggest mistakes to avoid.