Leaving Canada for more than a year generally triggers a change in your residency status for tax purposes to a non-resident or deemed non-resident, resulting in the loss of provincial health coverage (like OHIP) and a "departure tax" on certain assets. While you remain a citizen, you may stop receiving CCB benefits and must report worldwide income only up to your departure date.
In actual fact, you can be absent from Canada as long as you want. The Canadian government recognizes that citizens may travel extensively, work or study abroad. You will always maintain your Canadian citizenship. What absentia may affect is your Canadian health care coverage and income tax.
Canada's 183-day rule is a key factor in determining tax residency: if you stay in Canada for 183 days or more in a calendar year, you're generally considered a resident for tax purposes for that entire year (a "deemed resident"), even if you don't have strong ties, subjecting your worldwide income to Canadian tax. However, this rule works alongside Canada's complex residency tests and tax treaties, meaning you might become a resident sooner with significant ties (like family or property) or avoid it if a treaty designates you a resident of another country.
To remain eligible for your Canadian provincial/territorial government health insurance, you cannot travel outside your province/territory of residence for a total of more than 7 months (212 days) within a year, or 6 months (183 days) if you live in Quebec, PEI or Nunavut. This includes travel within Canada.
There Is No “Six-Months-Per-Year Rule” for Canadians. Many Canadians mistakenly believe they may only spend six months each year in the United States. The truth: There is no U.S. rule limiting Canadians to six months total per year.
You can leave and come back to Canada multiple times as long as your visitor visa has not expired.
What Happens If You Overstay? The moment your visa or permit expires, you no longer have legal status in Canada. This means you are in the country unlawfully, which can lead to enforcement actions such as a departure order that requires you to leave the country within 30 days.
Because CPP is a "member-contributed plan" it will always be yours, regardless of where you live in the world. If you paid in at least 1 CPP contribution, you are entitled to a benefit. OAS, on the other hand, comes out of the general tax revenues.
As a Canadian citizen, you can get a Canadian passport. You can travel abroad for as long as you like and you will not lose your citizenship status, unlike Permanent Residents (PR). If you are a PR, you must stay in Canada for 730 days (2 years) in any 5-year period to keep your PR status.
Therefore, provided you have severed primary residential ties to Canada, it is possible to maintain certain secondary ties to Canada such as maintaining a bank account, investment account or credit card. The date you become a resident of the new country you are immigrating to.
It's important that you tell the CRA the date you leave Canada. Generally, as a non-resident, you are not eligible to receive: the GST/HST credit. the Canada child benefit (CCB) (including those payments from certain related provincial or territorial programs)
Unlike the U.S., Canada doesn't tax based on citizenship, but if you live and earn income there, you'll be paying Canadian taxes. That includes both federal income tax and provincial or territorial tax, which together determine your total rate. (Yes, even the province you move to affects your tax bill.)
The Government of Canada collects biographic entry information on all travellers entering the country, but currently has no reliable way of knowing when and where they leave the country.
The short answer: civil debts like credit cards, student loans, bank loans, and even unpaid CRA tax debts will not get you detained at the border.
You may leave Canada for more than 6 months, as long you meet the residency requirements stated above. However, it is recommended that you wait to do so until you have your Permanent Resident (PR) Card. Your PR Card is your proof of residency in Canada.
A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to their U.S. citizenship. U.S. dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country (or countries, if they are nationals of more than one).
As a Canadian expat living, working or traveling overseas, you will not have access to many government-funded healthcare services. Therefore, you need extra health care insurance to bridge the gap. A comprehensive global health plan can help you get access to these medical services.
Leaving or returning to Canada
Your Old Age Security (and Guaranteed Income Supplement) may stop if you're away for more than 6 months and don't qualify for receiving your payments while outside Canada.
Introducing an exit tax of 35% on all household net worth over $10 million upon renouncing Canadian tax residency, effective July 1st, 2025.
Services Australia outlines the following: If you're overseas for up to 6 weeks — Generally, your pension payments will continue as normal if you're travelling for less than 6 weeks. If you're overseas for more than 6 weeks — Once you reach 6 weeks, your pension supplement will drop to the basic rate.
Visa Overstay Forgiveness is a critical provision under U.S. immigration law that allows certain individuals to avoid penalties for remaining in the U.S. beyond their authorized visa period. Normally, overstaying can lead to bars on re-entry, visa denials, and difficulties in adjusting status.
Canada's public healthcare system, known as Medicare, offers free healthcare services, but only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. For foreigners, healthcare coverage is not automatically available.