Did you know that you can work remotely in Canada for up to six months?
According to current Canadian laws, travelers with a tourist visa can work from the country and stay for up to 6 months.
There’s been a new update issued on June 27th this year to remind foreign visitors that this is a possibility. The current migration document states:
“Under current Canadian immigration rules, a digital nomad only needs visitor status to relocate to Canada for up to six months at a time while they perform their job remotely for a foreign employer.”
Foreign visitors will not be required to meet income requirements as they can enter just as tourists.
The Canadian government is also working on new strategies to attract high-skilled workers, find paths for them to stay longer, and encourage the development of the STEM sector.
In the meantime, digital nomads can take advantage of the current workation possibilities to explore Canada’s amazing national parks and fascinating cities and enjoy local culture.
Is Canada Issuing A New Digital Nomad Visa?
While other countries like Uruguay and Malaysia have recently issued new digital nomad visas, there’s no new digital nomad visa in Canada at the moment.
What currently exists is the possibility to stay and work in Canada for up to six months with a regular visitor visa.
However, according to the information shared on the Canadian network Global News, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said that the government wants to attract more talent to work for Canadian tech companies and that they will be working on a digital nomad strategy.
They will allow remote workers to stay longer if they get a job offer in the country. And they plan to improve the current startup visa.
Best Cities To Work Remote
Canada has a few of the best cities to live in the world, according to a recent report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2023.
Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto ranked among the top 10 cities, and Montreal made it to 25th place.
These metropolises offer digital nomads better internet connection, more cafés, libraries, and coworking spaces, and more activities and entertainment options.
According to Nomadlist, even though they can be expensive, the best cities in Canada for digital nomads are:
- Toronto: Average internet speed is 19 Mbps, and the average cost of living for a digital nomad is $4,488 per month.
- Vancouver: Average internet speed is 16 Mbps, and the average cost of living for a digital nomad is $5,712 per month.
- Victoria: Average internet speed is 17 Mbps, and the average cost of living for a digital nomad is $5,350 per month.
Canadian cities do not rank among the top destinations for digital nomads, but not having clear information about the current legal possibilities could have also had an impact.
Now that remote workers know that they can stay in Canada for up to six months legally and that there’s no income restriction, more people might consider this country as an option for a unique workation experience.
Best Times To Explore Canada
Of course, we know that Canada gets cold, maybe too cold, especially during winter.
So unless you love freezing weather or are a digital snowmad, winter is not the best time to visit.
Instead, digital nomads can arrive in Canada during spring and stay through fall to get the most out of this fascinating country.
During their workation, remote workers can visit the 7 most popular national parks in Canada, like the famous Banff National Park or the fascinating Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec.
Staying for months allows the possibility to plan ahead and reserve days for tech detox and connection with nature.
Canada is the perfect destination to explore beautiful forests, go on a wildlife holiday, enjoy lakes, and admire impressive landscapes.
