Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: How easy is it to emigrate to Canada?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shocked the world (and the Royal Family) by announcing their intention to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family” – and speculation is rife that the couple will move to Canada.

Harry and Meghan shared the news in an Instagram post, revealing: “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.”

Why Canada? Well, the beleaguered Royals just spent a six-week Christmas holiday in Vancouver with Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, and even officially thanked the Canadian High Commissioner Janice Charette “for the warm hospitality during their recent stay in Canada” just one day before their latest announcement.

The pair even emphasised their relationship with the country in an Instagram post, writing: “The Duke and Duchess have a strong connection to Canada. It’s a country The Duke of Sussex has visited many times over the years and it was also home to The Duchess for seven years before she became a member of The Royal Family.”

It’s also a member of the Commonwealth – and, as Queen Elizabeth II is head of this collection of 53 member states, that surely should help grandson Harry bag a visa.

But what about us regular plebs? Here’s everything you need to know about emigrating to Canada.

British citizens can stay in Canada for six months at a time visa-free (although you need to get an ETA before travel), but afterwards will require a more permanent visa.

There are several different kinds of visa you can apply for, depending on your circumstances. Family, spouse and employment visas are the most popular for UK citizens moving to Canada.

If you have a family member who’s a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (or registered under the Canadian Indian Act), they can sponsor your visa, provided they’re over 18.

Most people apply for permanent residency through this programme, which allows people to apply for residency based on future employment success in Canada, applying as a Federal Skilled Worker. Your age, profession, education and language skills – Canada is bilingual, so English or French proficiency is a requirement – are all taken into consideration. Candidates are awarded a score out of 1,200 according to their desirability. The highest-ranking candidates from the pool are invited to apply as a permanent resident through regular “rounds of invitations”.

If you have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific Canadian province or territory, you can also be “sponsored” by that province. Different provinces have their own “streams” (immigration programmes that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a programme stream, provinces and territories may target: students; business people; skilled workers; or semi-skilled workers.

This is for entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in the country. The programme allows entry for innovative entrepreneurs who will employ Canadians and have the potential to compete on a global scale.

The Self-employed Persons Program allows people to immigrate to Canada permanently as a self-employed person if they have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and are willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada. (This could be one for Meghan if she wants to get back into acting…)

You need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) number from an employer in order to apply for a work permit. This proves you have had a job offer and have the qualifications and the skills needed for the role. Applying for a work permit from the UK takes around five weeks. Immigrants also need a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) to get a job.

However, not every role requires a work permit – some roles are exempt.

There’s also the International Mobility Program, which lets employers hire temporary workers without the lengthy paperwork if there are clear economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada.

If you’re aged between 18-30, you can apply for the International Experience Canada programme. Around 5,000 Brits get picked for this scheme each year, which grants participants with a two-year working visa. Successful applicants just need to prove they have C$2,500 (£1,470) in the bank, valid health insurance and return ticket or proof they can afford to return home.

Applicants have to pay three fees: a processing fee for themselves and their family members; right of permanent residence fee; and biometrics fee. This adds up to C$1,125 (£661).