How to Move to Another Province With No Money in Canada
By Martynas Pupkevicius | Published on 03 Apr 2023
Table of Contents
Do you want to know how to move to another province with no money, but don’t know where to start? It can be difficult to move between provinces in Canada without money. Fortunately, with the tips and advices in this article, you can turn the odds in your favour.
You’ll see that it’s possible to move and find accommodation with a limited budget, and in some cases for free. Also, we share background information on Canadian provinces to help you decide where to move.
Top Things to Consider When Moving Province With No Money
It’s important to make the correct strategic decisions when moving provinces in Canada with no money. This will make things easier and allow you to make the most of a small budget. With these tips you can successfully move without spending a penny.
Couch Surfing
You could consider couch surfing while you’re looking for work in the new province. This means you can live rent-free to reduce your living expenses while job hunting. Couchsurfing works by staying with another homeowner without paying rent. You may have to sleep on their couch or get a spare room if you’re lucky.
You should start looking for a place to couch surf with friends and family. However, if that doesn’t work, there are many different couch surfing websites where you can request short-term stays. This allows you to meet new people, and they may even be able to help you land a new job, or start a side hustle to earn money.
Hitch Hiking
Don’t have money to travel to a new province? Then you could hitch hike, which would reduce the cost to zero. Getting to your destination might take a while, and you may need to catch several rides, but it’s a viable choice if you have no money.
However, practice hitch hiking safety tips to ensure you get to the destination without problems. For example, text the vehicle licence plate to your friend and let the driver know, ask what route the driver is taking, and hitch hike with another person if possible.
Borrow a Friend’s Car
You could ask a friend for their car to move your personal belongings between provinces. This will be cheaper than hiring a rental company, and your friend may even pay for the gas to help you out.
Ideally, your friend’s car will have enough space to complete the move in one go to keep gas costs to a minimum. Hence, it makes sense to start asking friends with a truck or SUV.
Move With a Roommate
You can live with a roommate in the new province to save money on living expenses and move with them too. Furthermore, you can ask the roommate to handle the accommodation costs for the first few months while you get a job.
The familiarity of moving with someone you can trust is a great idea. That’s because you need people you can depend on while you have no money and are trying to get on your feet.
Consider a Hostel
Hostels offer cheap accommodation allowing you to make the most of a limited budget. Search for a hostel in the new place where you’d like to live and pay attention to the reviews. This allows you to determine the kind of people that visit the hostel and the quality of amenities.
Have you never been to a hostel? They are not the quietest places, since each room has bunk beds and you might be sleeping with up to 8-12 other people. However, the low cost means it’s a good option if you’re on a low budget.
Home-Sharing Arrangements
You may get lucky and find a home-sharing arrangement that allows you to live for free or low rent. These types of schemes usually pair up elderly people that require assistance with younger individuals who need a cheap place to stay.
The type of help that the homeowner needs varies. In some cases, it may simply be companionship if the elderly person doesn’t have friends or family to visit them.
Overview of Canadian Provinces
To help you make the right choice when selecting what Canadian province you should move to, we have created a table to provide an overview. This includes vital information such as the average salary and the monthly accommodation cost.
| Province | Population | Monthly accommodation cost | Average salary(Annual) |
| Alberta | 4,543,111 | $1,500-$2,100 | $120,762 |
| British Columbia | 5,286,528 | $1,700-$2,200 | $92,795 |
| Manitoba | 1,390,249 | $950-$1,250 | $86,561 |
| New Brunswick | 794,300 | $2,224 | $73,061 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 525,972 | $882 | $109,294 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,002,586 | $1,273 | $74,603 |
| Ontario | 14,951825 | $1,810 | $85,798 |
| Prince Edward Island | 170,688 | $1,205 | $64,030 |
| Quebec | 8,487,624 | $1,045 | $78,267 |
| Saskatchewan | 1,194,803 | $988 | $99,611 |
Secure Funding For Moving to Another Province
Moving to another province with no money can be challenging, so increasing your funds is important. Read on for a few strategies to access additional money.
Get a Loan
You may be eligible to apply for a loan with your bank, or an organisation that helps people who have no money. However, you should understand the loan terms and conditions, including the repayment schedule, interest rate and other details.
Also, you may need to provide collateral to receive the loan or have a good credit rating. It can be challenging to meet the criteria when you have no money. However, you can ask friends and family to be a guarantor to ensure the loan application will be successful.
Ask Friends and Family
You can borrow money from friends and family during the move. This is advantageous because you may not have to pay interest and return the money at your own pace. The success of this will depend on your social circle.
Get a Credit Card
Credit cards provide a quick cash injection, which could provide the required funds for a successful move between Canadian provinces. However, you should apply for a low interest credit card to reduce the amount of money you pay in fees. Also, your credit rating will determine the likelihood of receiving a credit card and the spending limit.
Checklist to Complete When Moving to Another Province in Canada
During your move between Canadian provinces there are some steps you must complete. This ensures the move is official and you are set up for life in the new province. The following checklist is not an exhaustive list but a big step in the right direction.
Acquire a New Health Card
Canada’s public healthcare system is provided separately by each province. Therefore, you’ll need to apply for a new health card in the new province you’re moving to, which can take several weeks. Therefore, starting the process sooner rather than later is the best approach.
Also, you should hold onto your healthcare insurance for the old province during the transition. In case of emergencies you’ll be covered, allowing you to go back for treatments and prescription drugs.
Get a New Driver’s Licence
Every Canadian province requires a separate driving licence, which means you’ll need to apply for a new one. However, you’ll receive a 60-90 days grace period where a licence from a different province will be valid until you acquire the new one.
Furthermore, in provinces like British Columbia or Saskatchewan, you can receive governmental insurance policies that will save you money. These can help you make the most of a limited budget.
Address update
Don’t forget to update your address in your new province to ensure you don’t miss important mail. You may want to update the address a few weeks before the move to ensure that relevant mail arrives at the new address instead of the old one.
Gather Your Personal Papers
Gathering and organizing personal papers during the move is essential to ensure nothing is lost. This includes birth certificates, insurance documents, and anything important. Make sure to store them in a safe folder during the move to avoid damage.
Cancel Home Services
You must cancel your home services with providers in the old province to avoid getting charged for services you no longer use. This includes home services like electricity, water, TV, and internet. It’s an important step since you have limited to no funds.
Moving to Another Province With No Money: Final Thoughts
To conclude, this article on how to move to another province with no money shared practical tips. Now, you have an idea of how to secure extra funding, move for free, and the type of accommodation you can secure. Also, the background information on each province will help you choose the right one.
Moving with no money is about being resourceful and making the best strategic decisions for your budget. With the practical tips in this article, you’ll have an easier time completing the process.
FAQs About Moving to Another Province With No Money
Individuals with a permanent resident of Canada status have the right to move from one province to another. There is no need to apply for the move with the authorities – you can simply pick up and go. However, it’s important to make some preparations when moving between provinces. This includes applying for a new driver’s licence and healthcare coverage.
The parent with the child of a joint custody agreement who wants to move to another province needs an agreement or court order, and provides 60 days notice to the other guardian. However, receiving approval to move to another province with joint custody is usually difficult unless both parents want to move. That’s because it’s considered that spending time with both parents is in the child’s best interests.
Yes, as a Canadian permanent resident status holder you have the right to move between provinces as you please. There is no need to apply for the move or inform the Canadian government.
However, if you have acquired permanent residency through the Provincial Nominee Program, you were approved because of the skills you bring to the selected province. Therefore, you may not have the option to move to other provinces.
Quebec is the largest Canadian province with a land area of 485.8 km² – around a 6th of the country. Also, the province has a population of 8,487,624. However, Ontario has the highest population at 14,951825.
You can get a job in another province by searching local job advertisement websites or messaging potential employers directly. Some websites allow you to filter job offers based on the area, which is a good strategy when looking for work in a specific province. It can take many job applications and a long time to secure employment. Therefore, you should start sending applications a few weeks before the move.
Alberta is the Canadian province with the lowest taxes. That’s because provincial taxes are in the range of 10% to 15%, whereas the combined federal and provincial tax rate is between 25% and 48%. However, the province has a large population and higher individual income compared to other provinces. The higher average personal income levels are why Alberta’s tax rates are lower. Also, Alberta residents are only taxed once they earn at least $19,369. The other Canadian provinces with the lowest taxes include Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Ontario is the richest province in Canada with 38.3% of the country’s population. It’s Canada’s financial centre with most head offices in Toronto. Also, Ontario has a 38.12% share of the national GDP.
