The Expatify Blog
Guides for Canadians moving abroad—residency and visas, cost of living, healthcare, schools, estate planning, and the money side of leaving.
FeaturedWhy Spain Is Increasingly Popular with Canadian Expats
Everything Canadians need to know about relocating to Spain — visas, cost of living, healthcare, the Ibero-American citizenship fast-track, how IRPF varies by region, and avoiding costly departure-tax mistakes.
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Your Canadian Money Is Not Tax-Free After You Leave (And Withholding Isn't Your Only Option)
Three myths about Canadian tax after you become a non-resident: that Canadian income is tax-free, that 25% withholding is unavoidable, and that nothing happens when you tell your bank you've left. Here's how Part XIII, section 217, and Form NR5 actually work.
Your Driver's Licence, Passport, and PR Card Don't Work the Way You Think They Do Abroad
Canadians obsess over departure tax and visas, then get blindsided by their own ID. The reciprocity trap that voids your driving record, the one-year passport renewal window, and the PR residency rule that's stricter than you think.
Wills, Trusts, and Probate for Canadian Expats: Protecting Your Estate Across Borders
Cross-border estate planning for Canadians living abroad. Learn how forced heirship, multiple wills, and international probate affect your assets in Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and beyond.
Top 10 Mistakes Canadians Make When Leaving Canada (And How to Avoid Them)
106,134 Canadians left in 2024—many making expensive mistakes. Learn the ten most common and costly errors, from departure tax surprises to frozen brokerage accounts, and how to avoid them.
Leaving Canada With Kids: RESPs, Schools, and What Parents Actually Need to Know
Your RESP doesn't disappear when you leave—but the rules change. Here's what happens to education savings, how to pick schools abroad, and why kids aged 8-12 have the hardest time adjusting.
Trading Canadian Winters for Thai Smiles — What It Actually Costs
Everything Canadians need to know about relocating to Thailand, from visas and cost of living to healthcare, taxes, and avoiding costly departure tax mistakes.
Portugal Without the NHR: What's Left for Canadian Expats?
Everything Canadians need to know about relocating to Portugal, from visas and cost of living to healthcare, taxes, and avoiding costly departure tax mistakes.
The Philippines' Little-Known Path to Permanent Residency for Canadians
What retiring to the Philippines actually costs Canadians—and what you save. SRRV residency, zero tax on foreign pensions, cost of living by region, and the Canadian exit decisions that matter most.
How Panama Became the World's #1 Expat Destination for Retirees
Everything Canadians need to know about relocating to Panama, from visas and cost of living to healthcare, taxes, and avoiding costly departure tax mistakes.
50,000 Canadians Call Mexico Home — Here's How They Got There
A comprehensive guide to relocating from Canada to Mexico, covering visas, taxes, cost of living, healthcare, and the departure tax implications Canadians often overlook.
Malaysia Won't Tax Your Canadian Pension — Until 2036
A comprehensive guide to relocating from Canada to Malaysia, covering visas, taxes, cost of living, healthcare, and the departure tax implications Canadians often overlook.
Greece Offers 7% Tax on All Foreign Income for 15 Years — Here's the Fine Print
A comprehensive guide to relocating from Canada to Greece, covering visas, taxes, cost of living, healthcare, and the departure tax implications Canadians often overlook.
Colombia's $1,100/Month Retirement Visa and Tax-Free Pensions
A comprehensive guide to relocating from Canada to Colombia, covering visas, taxes, cost of living, healthcare, and the departure tax implications Canadians often overlook.
The Real Cost of 'Pura Vida': Costa Rica for Canadian Retirees
A comprehensive guide to relocating from Canada to Costa Rica, covering visas, taxes, cost of living, healthcare, and the departure tax implications Canadians often overlook.