Moving to Canada
 

Hi all
New member here who would like some info that I cannot find.
See loads of info regarding visas PR etc but what if one wants to retire to Canada? Not work, just buy a house and enjoy? Obviously there is no such thing as a retirement visa, so what does one do? And can someone recommend companies for currency exchange and moving? Been researching for 2 years now, but would love some help from someone who has been there,done & got the T-shirt!!
Martin

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Unless you have close family here who can sponsor you, I suspect that your only hope is to buy your way in via the entrepreneur or investor routes (both explained on the CIC website).

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Spoke to Canadian immigration lawyers who suggest that taking advantage of the 6 month Canadian visitors (visa) for British residents and then popping over to the US occaisionally and getting another 6 months when one returns is the way to do it.
Any thoughts on this?

Martin

Re: Moving to Canada
 

The only though I have on that is that it would cost you a fortune in private medical insurance.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

OK what is a fortune and do you have to have PR to be accepted for "normal" medical?

Re: Moving to Canada
 

You could just pay cash at the hospital and, in case of a serious ailment, fly home. Hospitals, at least in Toronto, are surprisingly cheap.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Would work for a while, but eventually you would risk rejection at the border. There is a lot of confusion and conflicting advice about how long you would have to be outside canada before coming back in, and there is no guarantee you will get a 6 month visa each time.

Health care insurance as a non resident will be extremely costly, as travel insurance will not cover extended stays. If you have no close family to sponsor you and you have the necessary points to qualify try for skilled worker...nothing says you have to work here once you land. Failing that one of the business / investor classes may be your best bet. YOur immigration lawyers advice sounds a bit ropey. Are you sure they are recognised consultants?

A few reputable lawyers / consultants hang out in the canadian immigration area here, so it might be worth asking there where they really know their stuff.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

$1000 a day is cheap? If you have a car crash, how exactly are you going to fly home for treatment? The medivac alone would cost tens of thousands, and travel insurance will not cover extended stays.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

$200+ per consult. $1000 a night for hospital care...diagnostic tests and medication not included.

Have to be legally resident to qualify for state care (either temp resident, PR, or citizen)

It is estimated that in the US one person is bancrupted by non insured medical expenses every 30 seconds! Dont even consider not being insured, sure cuts and scrapes, the odd cold, even broken bones will not bancrupt you, but a serious injury with hospitalisation for even a week or two could easily wipe out life savings. Heart Attacks, Cancer etc would be a financial as well as a medical nightmare. Dont do it.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

I live with someone who is here as a revolving visitor; six months at a time. She has health insurance as an extension of her US policy, US$1200 for each six months (on top of the premium in the US). We don't claim as, if you do make a health insurance claim, they're apt to cut off the coverage. We're saving the insurance in case of catastrophe. The only hospital visit to date was: "admission severe stomach pain, x-ray, various tests, treated with drugs ; $300".

Re: Moving to Canada
 

As for the second part of your question, I would say almost certainly yes. Even as a PR, you're not eligible for a health card for the first three months and have to take out private insurance.

As for the first part of your question, I don't know. It depends on your age, medical history etc. You certainly do not want to get ill in N. America (especially not in the US) unless you have coverage.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Appreciate your advice on border controls etc but probably the most worrying thing is health care. Does one have to be a PR to qualify for healthcare?

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Compared to the US, $1,000 would be cheap but it doesn't even cost that. I have a TEGH price list somewhere; I recall commenting when I saw it that I'd spent more on a night's hotel in NYC than it cost for a bed and a selection of procedures. If I can't dig it up I'll stop by and pick up another one night this week.

If you have an accident then the cost of medical care will be covered by the insurance carrier for the car. It's not accidents that commonly result in backruptcy but chronic conditions; if you have heart disease or cancer you can go home on a commercial flight.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

I appreciate everyone's reply and thank you all, but I find DBD's logic fascinating. We are, after all, British and we let any Tom,Dick & Harry in (or Pierre/Klause/Abdul etc and give 'em freebies, so why not come home for serious complications. After all a learjet only costs $2,000,000 !!! (secondhand)

Re: Moving to Canada
 

If you have a heart attack you will in all probability be hospitalised whether you like it or not, and wont be flying anywhere soon.

Your friend who has the US insurance that they are saving for emergencies...how much is the premium for that. Its probably a good indication for what to expect for the OP.

My mum ended up in hospital here on a visit, and although there was the suspicion that the hospital was gouging her insurance for all it could, her stay of less then 4 days cost in excess of $5k.

There is also the danger that is the NHS figures out that you are not infact a UK resident anymore, they will not treat you for free anyway. Just not worth the risk IMO. To recieve treatment on the NHS you have to have at least 10 years continuous residence in the UK, and have been abroad for less than 5. However if you normally live abroad, and are receiving a UK state pension, and have lived in the UK in the past for at least ten years then you can get free treatment, but you have to get there, so is it worth it?

Re: Moving to Canada
 

My aged mother (80+ and with a history of heart problems and other fun stuff) is coming to visit me in the summer. I made it very plain to her that she absolutely had to get top-notch medical insurance, or not come.

I believe that her insurance is costing her more than the plane ticket.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

I appreciate everyone's comments but I am probably more confused now due to differing opinions and I want to believe you all!!!

Re: Moving to Canada
 

I appreciate your views on the NHS but I still live here and know what happens and do not want to get into that discussion. As I said, I appreciate eveyone's opinions on living in Canada and just want an informed view on the realities of it.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Not getting treated upon entry the UK is certainly a serious exposure, the rest is just a matter of personal risk tolerance. I, for example, don't have any health insurance beyond OHIP and I'm a frequent visitor to the US; there have been several years in which I've spent more nights there than in Canada. I trust that I'll be able to drag my bleeding body across the border.

My partner gets her health insurance at a discount rate through a group plan. More typical is the family of three with whom we stayed recently, theirs is US$850/month for "crap, minimal coverage with a shitty HMO".

Just to complicate matters, remember that medical care is subject to a tax break in Canada and it's one tax break on which the authorities are quite liberal. One year I claimed, and was allowed, $30,000 under "medical", I suppose less than fifteen was actual doctor's bills but we were allowed cost of travel, cost of accomodation, lots of incidental items. It's no help if you're retired but if you have taxable income in Canada the break can be a big deal.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

I am still getting more confused. Do I come to Canada or not???

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Then ask yourself: (a) why do I want to go to Canada and (b) how much cash do I have available?

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Well, they got rid of the retirement category for a reason. Do you qualify under any of the other categories?

Why Canada anyway? Why move away from a lifetimes worth of friends, family and familiarity?

Re: Moving to Canada
 

Does over 1 million pounds in the bank category count???

Re: Moving to Canada
 

It would probably help.

If you've really got that sort of dosh to hand, the investor route would probably be your best bet. It costs more up front but you eventually get your money back (without interest).

On the other hand, if you're prepared to be a bit more hands-on, the entrpreneur route may be better. You have three years to come up with the goods. I know a couple who did just that. They "retired" until CIC started to lean on them and then simply bought a pub. Their only involvement was doing the books.

Re: Moving to Canada
 

I think I read somewhere that you could retire there but there's a minimum amount you have to bring with you. Not sure though as it does sound similar to the business route.....

Re: Moving to Canada
 

There used to be, but not anymore.

Still dont understand the OPs motivation to leave a lifetime of family and friends behind and start from scratch. Sure the money will go further and you will have a nice big palatial house and a few big cars, but noone to share them with :confused: