One of the most common refrains this election season — and every election season, really — is people swearing they'll move to Canada, a land where healthcare is free, people are friendly, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explains quantum computing just for laughs.
But to actually become a Canadian citizen, you'll first need to go through several steps, like living in the country for at least six years, staying on your best behavior, and knowing a thing or two about the country you'll soon call home.
For those who actually want to head up north, here's how you move to Canada.
SEE ALSO: How to move to Sweden and live in the future
Preface: Make sure you're not already a Canadian citizen.
Before you go through the hassle of applying for citizenship, take a short quiz to see if you may already be Canadian.
The government outlines several caveats for being a citizen even if you weren't born there, many of which depend on your parents' citizenship. Maybe you secretly inherited their status at some point along the way.
Be at least 18 years old.
If you're not a legal adult, you've got an uphill climb ahead of you.
Minors need their parent or legal guardian to fill out the application for them; they need to be permanent residents in Canada (more on that later); and the parent must either be a citizen or applying to become one at the same time.
Or enter the pool for skilled immigrants.
Canada has a fast-track system for immigration called Express Entry. It's how skilled workers transition into a role in the country.
All applicants into Express Entry are given specific scores based on their specific talents and job prospects and then ranked with other applicants. Those at the top of the rankings are invited to become permanent residents.
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