Krakow's Main Market Square at night with the Cloth Hall lit up
Guide Poland → Canada · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Poland to Canada

A plain checklist: what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in Canada.

Photo: Pexels
First: can you move?

You need a permit to live and work in Canada

To live and work in Canada you need a work permit, a study permit or permanent residence. The usual routes are a job with a Canadian employer, Express Entry for skilled workers, study, and International Experience Canada (IEC) for young people.

Aged 18 to 35? Polish citizens can take part in IEC (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op): up to 12 months, with at least C$2,500 to start, and up to twice, in a different category each time. The 2026 Working Holiday pool is closed; news on the 2027 season goes on the IEC pages.

Just visiting? Poles flying to Canada need an eTA (electronic travel authorization) and a passport, but no visa. Coming by land or sea, you don't need an eTA.

Which route fits you: canada.ca. We don't give visa advice.

Before you go

Your checklist in Poland

  1. Your work or study permit, or permanent residence, and an eTA for the flight.
  2. A valid passport.
  3. Documents in one folder: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, driving licence.
  4. Money for the start: a deposit, the first rent and a few weeks of living costs. IEC asks for at least C$2,500.
  5. Health insurance: Ontario no longer has a waiting period for OHIP, but in Quebec cover usually does not start for the first three months, so buy private insurance for that time.
  6. Set up Polish TV before you go, so it works from day one (how to watch Polish TV in Canada).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in Canada

Polish TV, ready from day one

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home, your series and the kids' cartoons in Polish make the new flat feel like home faster.

How to watch Polish TV in Canada →
Advertisement: almost 400 Polish channels live with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in Canada

  1. Social Insurance Number (SIN): needed for work and benefits. It is free; if you apply in person, you get it during your visit.
  2. Bank account: with your passport and address.
  3. Phone: prepaid or a contract.
  4. Your province's health card: OHIP in Ontario (you must be in Ontario for at least 153 of your first 183 days), RAMQ in Quebec.
  5. Driving: in Ontario you can drive on your Polish licence for 60 days. Poland is not on Ontario's exchange list, so you take the vision test, the knowledge test and the G2 road test. In Quebec you can drive on a foreign licence for up to six months.
  6. TV fee: Canada has none.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to live in Canada?

You need a permit: to work, to study, or permanent residence. Young Poles (18 to 35) can use IEC. Check your route on canada.ca.

Do I need a visa to visit Canada?

No. Flying to Canada, you need an eTA and a passport; by land or sea, a passport is enough.

What is IEC?

International Experience Canada: a work permit of up to 12 months for people aged 18 to 35, in the Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op categories. Poles can take part twice, in a different category each time.

What is a SIN?

Your Social Insurance Number, the 9-digit number you need for work and benefits. It is free, and you can apply online, by mail or in person.

Can I exchange my Polish driving licence in Ontario?

No. Poland is not on Ontario's exchange list, so after 60 days you need an Ontario licence: the vision test, the knowledge test and the G2 road test. Since July 2026 you can get credit for up to a year of driving experience with a letter that confirms your licence.

Can I watch Polish TV in Canada?

Yes. Our Polish TV in Canada guide shows every option, from the free TVP Polonia app to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Polish people in Canada

Guides for you

Polish TV in CanadaEvery Polish channel, live, and how the official options compare.The Polish community in CanadaHow many, where people live, Polish Mass, festivals and where people meet online.Moving from Poland to CanadaA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
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