What documents do I need to move to Canada as a United States citizen?

Typical pathway: Express Entry

Last verified: September 22, 2026

Valid U.S. passport (biographical page scan for e-APR) (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
Your unexpired U.S. passport is the primary identity document for your Express Entry profile and e-APR; upload the page showing passport number, issue/expiry dates, photo, name and place of birth. It must remain valid through processing and landing. As a U.S. citizen you do not need a visitor visa or eTA to enter Canada, but the passport is still required at the port of entry for landing.
Approved English or French language test results (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IELTS General Training or CELPIP-General for English (TEF Canada / TCF Canada for French). Results are needed to create the profile and must still be less than 2 years old on the date the e-APR is submitted — a common failure point for U.S. applicants who sit in the pool for months.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for U.S. degrees (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
A U.S. high school diploma or college/university degree must be assessed for Canadian equivalency by an IRCC-designated organization (e.g. WES, ICAS, CES, IQAS, ICES). Required for Federal Skilled Worker eligibility and for education CRS points; not required if you are claiming only Canadian credentials.
Employer reference letters for claimed work experience (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Letters on company letterhead from each U.S. (or other) employer whose experience you claim, showing job title, dates, hours per week, annual salary/hourly wage, and a list of duties that matches the claimed NOC code. Officers assess duties rather than job titles, so vague HR verification-of-employment letters are frequently rejected.
Proof of funds bank letter (settlement funds) or written exemption letter (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-funds.html
For Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants: official letters on each U.S. bank's letterhead listing account numbers, date opened, current balance and 6-month average balance, plus outstanding debts. Home equity and borrowed money are not accepted. The required CAD amount is set by family size and updated by IRCC — verify the current figure on canada.ca before submitting. If invited under the Canadian Experience Class or exempt via a valid job offer, upload a short letter explaining the exemption instead, because the upload slot still appears.
FBI Identity History Summary (U.S. federal police certificate) (before) — Source: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks
The federal-level FBI Identity History Summary from the CJIS Division is the police certificate IRCC accepts for time lived in the United States; state or city police clearances are not accepted on their own. Required for you and each accompanying family member aged 18+ for every country lived in 6+ consecutive months since age 18. Request it as soon as you enter the pool — fingerprinting plus processing and mail transit can consume much of the 60-day post-ITA window.
U.S. state-issued marriage certificate, divorce decree or separation agreement (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Required only if applicable: a certified marriage certificate if married, or the final divorce decree / legal separation agreement if previously married or separated. Marital status affects CRS scoring and dependant eligibility, so the document must match what is declared in the profile.
Form IMM 5406 – Additional Family Information (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IRCC form listing your parents, siblings, spouse/partner and children, whether or not they accompany you. Must be completed for the principal applicant and (where required) the spouse and dependants aged 18+, and uploaded with the e-APR.
Digital photograph meeting IRCC photo specifications (before) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html
A digital photo of the applicant (and each family member) uploaded with the e-APR or to the Permanent Residence Portal; IRCC uses the photo attached to the Confirmation of Permanent Residence to produce your first PR card. This is distinct from the passport scan and from biometric fingerprints.
Biometrics (ten fingerprints and photo) collection receipt (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
After the e-APR is submitted you receive a Biometric Instruction Letter and must attend a designated collection site — for U.S.-based applicants these are Application Support Centers / authorized service points in the United States. Keep the biometrics receipt; biometrics are generally valid 10 years.
Immigration medical examination results from an IRCC panel physician (before) — Source: IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
You no longer complete an upfront medical exam before submitting the e-APR; upload a placeholder in the medical field and wait for IRCC instructions, then attend a panel physician in the U.S. who transmits results directly to IRCC. Verify the current upfront-medical policy on canada.ca, as IRCC has been operating this under a temporary public policy.
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (paper COPR or eCOPR) (during) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/status.html
Issued on approval and validated at landing. If you are outside Canada it arrives as a paper COPR you present to a CBSA officer at the airport or land border; if you are inside Canada it is issued electronically through the Permanent Residence Portal. It is your only proof of PR status until the PR card arrives — keep it permanently for future citizenship or sponsorship files.
CBSA Form BSF186 – Personal Effects Accounting Document (goods accompanying you) (during) — Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
A typed list, in duplicate with values in Canadian dollars, of the household and personal goods you bring with you at the moment of landing, submitted to CBSA to claim duty- and tax-free settler's-effects entry. Particularly relevant for U.S. applicants driving their belongings across a land border.
CBSA Form BSF186A – List of Goods to Follow (during) — Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Separate list of goods (including any vehicle or shipment arriving later) that will follow you after landing; it must be presented at first entry, because items omitted from it can later attract duty and taxes. Distinct from BSF186, which covers only goods physically with you at landing.
Canadian mailing address notification for PR card issuance (during) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html
Give a Canadian mailing address to the CBSA officer at landing, or submit it through IRCC's online address notification tool within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. Missing this window means the first PR card is cancelled and you must apply and pay again.
Social Insurance Number (SIN) issued by Service Canada (during) — Source: Service Canada
Apply in person at a Service Canada Centre with your signed COPR/eCOPR and passport, or online with your eCOPR; the SIN is required to work legally, be paid, file Canadian taxes and open registered accounts. No fee, and plastic cards are no longer issued — you receive a confirmation of the 9-digit number.
Provincial/territorial health insurance card registration (during) — Source: Provincial/territorial ministry of health (e.g. Ontario Ministry of Health – OHIP)
Register with the health plan of your province of residence (e.g. OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, RAMQ in Quebec) using your COPR/eCOPR, photo ID and proof of address. Some provinces impose a waiting period of up to three months, so private interim coverage may be needed — confirm the rule with your specific provincial ministry of health.
Permanent Resident (PR) card (after) — Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents/card/apply.html
Mailed automatically to the Canadian address you provided, generally valid five years; you do not apply for the first card. It is the document required to board a commercial flight, train, bus or boat back into Canada — note that the COPR itself is not a valid travel document for that purpose, which matters for frequent U.S.–Canada travel.
Provincial driver's licence exchange using U.S. licence and certified driving record (after) — Source: Provincial/territorial driver licensing authority (e.g. ServiceOntario, ICBC, SAAQ)
Most provinces have reciprocal exchange agreements with many U.S. states, allowing you to trade a valid state licence for a provincial licence, usually within a set period after becoming a resident (often 60–90 days). Bring the state licence plus an official state-issued driving record/abstract showing years of experience; eligibility and required documents vary by province and by issuing state — verify with the provincial licensing authority.
Ongoing U.S. federal tax filings (Form 1040 and FBAR/FinCEN 114) (after) — Source: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) / Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
U.S. citizenship-based taxation continues after you become a Canadian permanent resident: you must keep filing U.S. returns and, once your aggregate Canadian financial accounts exceed the reporting threshold, file the FBAR. Canadian residency also creates CRA filing duties; the Canada–U.S. tax treaty governs relief. Retain these filings as proof of continuous compliance and of Canadian residency for future PR renewal or citizenship applications.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

Want a personalized plan? Start free →