UK IEC applications jumped 31% in the last draw cycle. Brits have done the maths. Canada wins.
London average rent: £2,300/month. NHS GP wait: 3 weeks. Montreal rent: $1,600 CAD/month, with free healthcare after 3 months of work. The numbers are not close.
UK nationals are among the top applicants in every IEC draw cycle. The British community in Montreal is well-established.
Why Canada. For United Kingdom.
Three things that change when you get here.
Healthcare that actually works
After 3 months of working in Quebec, you qualify for RAMQ, the provincial health plan. Free GP visits, hospital cover, no premiums. You will not be waiting 3 weeks for a GP appointment. This is the detail that surprises most of our British clients most.
Rent that leaves you money at the end of the month
London average rent cracked £2,300/month in 2025. Montreal median 1-bed: $1,600 CAD. The purchasing power difference is stark enough to materially change your quality of life from month one.
The clearest PR pathway from the English-speaking world
Post-Brexit, the UK Skilled Worker visa requires 5 years before Indefinite Leave to Remain. Canada's Express Entry processes permanent residency in roughly 6 months after invitation. Work 12 months, enter the pool, receive your invitation. Most of our British clients have PR within 3 to 4 years of arrival.
The roadmap
Working Holiday to Permanent Residency.
3 to 4 years. Realistic. Proven.
The IEC is not a gap year. It is the first chapter of a permanent life in Canada. Every step below builds directly on the last.
IEC Working Holiday permit
Open work permit for 24 months. Eligible for United Kingdom nationals aged 18-35. Work for any employer, anywhere in Canada. No job offer needed.
We prepare and verify your application. Most clients receive their permit within 4 to 8 weeks of the invitation.
Arrive, settle, and work in your field
Montreal gives you a bilingual city with a lower cost of living. Toronto gives you sheer volume of English-speaking roles. Both work. You build Canadian experience in your profession from day one.
We advise on neighbourhoods, healthcare cover (RAMQ), and professional licensing where applicable.
12 months of skilled Canadian work experience
After 12 months in a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0 to 3), you are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class. This is the Express Entry stream with the shortest processing time.
English speakers receive CRS bonus points. Bilingual English-French speakers receive significantly more.
Express Entry pool · Invitation to Apply
IRCC runs draws from the pool every two weeks. Once invited, you have 60 days to submit your full permanent residency application.
Average ITA-to-decision: 6 months. You remain in Canada and keep working throughout.
Permanent Residency confirmed
PR card in hand. Live and work anywhere in Canada indefinitely. After 3 years of physical presence in a 5-year window, you can apply for citizenship.
This is the goal. We celebrate every single one of these with our clients.
Why Montreal
More English than you think.
More affordable than anywhere you have lived.
Montreal is a French-speaking city, but 65% of companies do business in English. Tech, finance, and the startup sector run predominantly in English. You will not struggle.
Learning French boosts your Express Entry score, expands your options, and deepens your life here. It is a competitive advantage, not a barrier.
SOS Hub Canada
Here is what we actually do for you.
A Montreal-based relocation and settlement firm. Our MIFI-recognised consultant manages everything from eligibility to PR strategy, in English.
Questions from United Kingdom.
The ones we actually get asked, with honest answers.