Hi,

I'm sure the answer to this question is written somewhere, but I'm getting really confused!!!

Is it possible to go to Alberta as a visitor (say 6 or 12 months), find a job and apply for a work permit whilst out there, then once established apply for residency through PNP?

Has anyone done this?

The answer is yes, you'll still have to get a positive LMO and then will have to re-enter the country to get the WP. If you set your expectations that you'll have a decent holiday and possibly get a job/WP/residency then that'd be a good win-win prospect.

British citizens usually are allowed to enter Canada as visitors for six months. If they want to stay longer, still as visitors, they can apply for an extension.

I saw in one of your other threads that you have kids.

Some complications are that kids who are in Canada as visitors aren't entitle to free education in public (state) schools, your family wouldn't be eligible for provincial health care insurance (something like NHS), you wouldn't be entitled to a provincial driving licence (and you'd be allowed to drive on your UK licence for only a finite length of time -- I don't know the exact period).

So, while it's theoretically possible to do what you propose, and some members of this forum have done it, there are obstacles.

I've added a Wiki article called Living in Canada as a VISITOR.

I think the normal length of time you can drive with a UK license is three months, but it may vary province to province.

Your other option is to get an International Driving Permit from the AA or RAC, which is valid for a year.

In either case you may find you have difficulty with insurance if you want to buy your own car out here and do not have a provincial license.

I am not sure if you can get a Canadian provincial driver's license if you are not a permanent resident. I think Judy is right on that. And if you do swop your uk license for a provincial one they often insist you hand over your UK one. {though some have got around that by dint of argument or obtaining a second UK license (claiming to have lost the original!)}

Yeh I have come accross quite a few who have done it this way. With whole families like yourself. Sold up (house the lot), packed up, gone for the 6 months hoping to find work which will allow them to gain PR.

One family I spoke to a while ago did it this way to.....New Zealand....now that's balls. It worked out for them though. Just alot more stressful I would think then there is the other stuff people have mentioned, schools, driving etc. Once you find a job though the LMO should be through quite quickly if your employer knows the score and service Canada agree.

Good luck whatever you decide..... you only live once.

Yes you can as the guys going over as Truck Drivers surrender their UK licence for the provincial one when emmigrating via - TWP > PNP > PR

Yep as above

Yes some do this.......don't know why though as you can drive on your Canadian licence in UK....unless they intend coming back for a long period of time.

Yes, you can do it on TWP. But you can't do it as a visitor, which I think is relevant since the OP was asking about moving to Canada as a visitor initially.

But then, as Morwenna rightly pointed out, a visitor could drive in Canada for a year if they took the precaution of getting an International Driver's licence before they left the UK.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't have the balls to move to Canada as a visitor if I had kids.

A while ago there was a thread by someone who had done that, and things had gone seriously pear shaped.

Anything is possible if you have the dream, the drive and more importantly the money.

But beware there is no safety net for you here if it goes bad.

Things went bad for me and my family in 2003, I ended up spending my life savings supporting 5 Dependants for 7 months in Canada. No employer, No healthcare, No free education & No fun.

Take my advice go the TFWP it opens a lot of doors that would remain locked otherwise.

Thanks so much for the advice, it's good to know all possibilities.

If we do decide to go down this route, we figure it will leave our options a little more open with regards to location, careers etc. Neither of my boys are at school age yet, so we have got a breif window to have an adventure, an explore and hopefully make the right life changing decision!

Thanks Again