Canada

Digital Nomad Policy

Canada does not have a standalone digital nomad visa. Instead, under the Tech Talent Strategy announced in June 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) formally recognized that foreign nationals who work remotely for employers or clients located outside Canada may enter and reside in the country for up to six months under standard visitor status, without needing a work permit. The policy is based on the existing visitor framework under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which does not require a work permit for activities that do not constitute entering the Canadian labour market. As a policy clarification rather than a new visa category, there is no dedicated application form, no minimum income threshold, and no additional fees beyond standard visitor entry requirements.

• Must work remotely for an employer or client located outside Canada
• Valid travel document (passport)
• No criminal inadmissibility
• Sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay
• Intent to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay
• Must not enter the Canadian labour market (no work for Canadian employers)
• No specific educational, professional, or certification requirements

For eTA (visa-exempt nationals):

• Valid passport
• Email address
• Credit or debit card for the CAD 7 fee

For Temporary Resident Visa (visa-required nationals):

• Valid passport
• Completed application form (IMM 5257)
• Two passport-style photos
• Proof of financial support (bank statements, employment letter, proof of remote income)
• Travel itinerary or statement of purpose of visit
• Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, rental agreement, or letter of invitation)
• Biometrics (collected at a designated visa application centre)

For Visitor Record (extension):

• Application form
• Copy of passport
• Proof of continued financial means

Visitor status is granted for up to 6 months from the date of entry. If no passport stamp is given by the border officer, the default authorized period is six months. To extend your stay, you must apply for a Visitor Record at least 30 days before your current status expires. The extension fee is CAD 100 per person. Extension approval is discretionary. While the extension application is being processed, you maintain "implied status" and may remain in Canada.

Family members (spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children) may accompany the digital nomad under their own visitor status, subject to the same eTA or TRV requirements. Each family member must independently meet visitor admissibility criteria. There is no special family rate, though the standard TRV fee is capped at CAD 500 for families of five or more applying together. Family members who wish to work in Canada need their own work permit, and those who wish to study in programs longer than six months require a study permit.

There is no special tax exemption for digital nomads in Canada. Individuals physically present in Canada for 183 days or more in a calendar year may be deemed tax residents under the Income Tax Act (sojourner rule), which would require filing a Canadian income tax return on worldwide income. Tax treaty provisions between Canada and your home country may apply. The Canada Revenue Agency also assesses residential ties (dwelling, family, social, and economic connections) to determine tax residency, which can apply even below 183 days. Professional tax advice is strongly recommended.

eTA-eligible nationals:

1. Complete the online eTA application form on the IRCC website
2. Pay the CAD 7 fee
3. Receive the eTA electronically linked to your passport (typically within minutes)
4. Travel to Canada; the border officer determines the length of your authorized stay

TRV-required nationals:

1. Create an IRCC online account
2. Complete the application form (IMM 5257) and upload supporting documents
3. Pay CAD 100 plus CAD 85 for biometrics
4. Provide biometrics at a designated visa application centre
5. Await processing (times vary by visa office and country)
6. Upon arrival, the CBSA officer at the port of entry determines the authorized stay period

No additional documentation beyond standard visitor requirements is needed. At the border, officers may ask about the purpose of your visit, length of stay, ties to your home country, and financial resources.

Visitors are not covered by Canada's publicly funded health care system. IRCC strongly recommends obtaining private health insurance before travelling to Canada. All medical costs during your stay are your responsibility.

Digital nomads may only perform remote work for employers or clients located outside Canada. Any work for a Canadian employer requires a separate work permit. The policy does not provide a direct path to permanent residence, though digital nomads who find a Canadian employer may apply for a work permit and subsequently pursue permanent residence through programs such as Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs.

• eTA: CAD 7 per person
• Temporary Resident Visa (TRV): CAD 100 per person (max CAD 500 for families of 5+)
• Biometrics: CAD 85 per individual (max CAD 170 for families of 2+)
• Visitor Record extension: CAD 100 per person

Links

• https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/transparency/committees/cimm-nov-07-2023/tech-talent-strategy-digital-nomads.html
• https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/06/canadas-tech-talent-strategy.html
• https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html
• https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

Other Digital Nomad Visas in North America