A move to Canada has to work for the whole household
Partner work, schools, childcare and health cover — clear answers for the whole household before you choose a province or clinic.
Where households start
Four questions every household asks first
Short answers from the same official sources as the full guide. Detail differs by province — compare below, then confirm with the responsible body.
Can my partner work?
Usually yes — but the date on your permit decides it
GPs are NOC 31102 (TEER 1). Spouses of TEER 0/1 workers remain eligible for an open work permit, but your permit must usually stay valid for 16 months after IRCC receives their application.
Permission to work is not permission to practise. Outcomes are case-specific.
What happens with schools and childcare?
Primary and secondary school usually need a study permit; fees are provincial
Children coming from the UK for primary or secondary school normally need a study permit before entering Canada. Kindergarten and programmes of six months or less are exceptions. Children already in Canada with a parent who holds a valid work or study permit may also study without one. Public school is free for most work-permit families, but registration rules and childcare caps differ by province.
Careviv does not secure school or childcare places.
When does provincial health coverage begin?
It depends on the province — not every plan waits three months
Several provinces cover newcomers from arrival or residency. British Columbia and Québec apply a wait of up to about three months. Private gap cover often excludes pre-existing conditions, including pregnancy.
There is no UK–Canada reciprocal healthcare agreement.
What should we budget for the move?
Plan for childcare, housing and a health-cover gap
Costs differ by province. Temporary residents generally need to have lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and hold a valid permit in the 19th month before Canada Child Benefit can apply. Any payment then depends on the number and age of the children and the household’s adjusted family net income, so plan without assuming the benefit will be available.
Careviv does not provide tax or financial advice.
Provincial differences
Compare provinces
Schools, childcare and health coverage are provincial. Scan the headlines across all ten provinces. Full topic guides are included for Careviv doctors after onboarding.
Swipe horizontally to compare childcare and health coverage →
| Province | School entry | Childcare | Health coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC British Columbia | Full-day kindergarten at 5 | No universal cap; $10/day at approved centres only | MSP after the arrival month plus two more |
| AB Alberta | Kindergarten at 4 years 8 months, often half-day | $326.25 a month flat, under kindergarten age | AHCIP from the date you establish residency |
| SK Saskatchewan | Part-day kindergarten; entry age set by division | $10 a day, $217.50 a month, under 6 | Possibly from the day you move — confirm… |
| MB Manitoba | Kindergarten at 5, usually half-day | $10 a day, ages 0 to 12, holidays… | From the date your work permit was issued |
| ON Ontario | Full-day kindergarten from age 4 | $22 a day cap, $19 average | OHIP from your first day, no wait |
| QC Québec | Maternelle at 5, by 30 September | $9.65 a day in a subsidised place | Up to 3 months for adults; children exempt |
| NB New Brunswick | Full-day kindergarten at 5, compulsory to 18 | $19 infant / $16 preschool a day | Possibly from your first day — case by… |
| NS Nova Scotia | Free pre-primary at 4, Grade Primary at 5 | Market fees cut by about half; $10 target… | MSI from the day you arrive |
| PE Prince Edward Island | Kindergarten at 5; free pre-kindergarten at 4 | $10 a day, a set fee | Possibly first day; allow up to 8 weeks |
| NL Newfoundland and Labrador | Full-day kindergarten at 5, class capped at 20 | $10 a day; $4 to $5 after school | MCP from the date you arrive |
Exclusive to Careviv doctors
Comprehensive resources for your family’s move
Careviv provides family relocation resources for the households of Careviv doctors — including the full province-by-province reference, school-year mapping, partner routes and checklists. Included for Careviv doctors after onboarding.
- Detailed guides for all ten provinces
- Full official-source library
- School-year mapping
- Partner regulated-profession routes
- Health coverage and childcare planning
- Relocation preparation checklists
Included for Careviv doctors after onboarding. We’ll follow up to get you access.
Common questions
Questions UK GPs ask about the family move
Often not. Different school-year cut-offs mean autumn-born children are often placed a year higher than a name-for-name match. Boards decide on age and prior schooling.
Usually yes for spouses of TEER 0/1 workers, including GPs. Your permit must typically remain valid for 16 months after IRCC receives their application. Practising a regulated profession still needs a provincial licence.
Children coming from the UK for primary or secondary school normally need a study permit before entering Canada. Kindergarten and programmes of six months or less are exceptions. Children already in Canada with a parent who holds a valid work or study permit may also study without one.
It depends on the province. Several cover newcomers from arrival; British Columbia and Québec apply a wait of up to about three months. Gap insurance often excludes pre-existing conditions.
In some provinces, yes. Elsewhere fees are higher or uncapped. Availability and waitlists still decide what you actually get.
In Canada, the UK State Pension is generally paid but not uprated. Annual increases may resume if you later move to the UK or another country where UK State Pension uprating applies.
This overview is educational and was reviewed on 25 July 2026 against official government sources. Provincial and federal rules change. Careviv does not provide immigration, legal, tax, education-placement or financial advice, and nothing here creates an entitlement. Confirm anything you intend to rely on with the responsible body.
- Privacy information
- Report an out-of-date fact
- Reviewed 25 July 2026