Moving to Canada to practise medicine?
You can start planning your mortgage before you arrive. Talk through your Canadian position, U.S. credit, down payment and the province you’re moving to.
We’ll help you understand your options, organise your documents and plan your next steps.
What should you have ready?
Four questions. A checklist for your move. No email needed to see it.
Where are you planning to practise?
What to have ready
You don’t need everything for the first conversation. Open a list to see what may be useful.
Your Canadian practice
- Signed position, employment or practice agreement
- Expected start date and compensation structure
- Provincial registration or licensing progress
- Billing number status, if applicable
Your cross-border finances
- U.S. credit report and recent account statements
- Down payment source and transfer trail
- Current debts, including U.S. mortgages
- Recent U.S. tax returns, pay records and bank statements
Your status and purchase
- Permanent residence, work permit or other legal work authorization
- Canadian identification and address history, when available
- Target province, city and purchase timing
- Property use, occupants and expected closing date
Common questions
Here’s what to know about financing your home in Canada.
Can an American physician get a mortgage in Canada without Canadian credit history?
Yes, a Canadian credit history is not always required. Your U.S. credit report, bank references and other financial records can help establish your creditworthiness. We’ll review those alongside your income, down payment and work status, then confirm the lender’s requirements for your application.
Do I need permanent residence before I can buy?
No, permanent residence is not always required. Eligible work permit holders can buy under an exception to the federal purchase restrictions. That exception requires at least 183 days remaining on your work permit or work authorisation at purchase, and no previous residential property purchase in Canada while the prohibition is in effect. We’ll review the financing with you; your lawyer or notary confirms purchase eligibility and applicable taxes before you commit.
What changes between Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta?
Ontario has a Non-Resident Speculation Tax, and Toronto has a separate municipal tax for certain foreign buyers. British Columbia has an additional property transfer tax for foreign buyers in specified areas. Alberta has foreign-ownership rules for certain land. Exemptions and the property location matter, so get an address-specific review before making an offer. Medical registration is also handled by the regulator for the province or territory where you will practise.
Can I start planning before my first Canadian paycheque?
Yes. A signed Canadian position, expected start date, immigration status, provincial registration and the structure of your future income can all shape the plan. Whether a lender will use that income before it is received is lender-specific.
Will a lender use my U.S. physician income?
The key is whether that income will continue after your move. We’ll review your ongoing U.S. earnings or new Canadian compensation, along with the supporting documents. Before giving you a borrowing estimate, we confirm which income the lender will accept.
What if I will be fee-for-service, a locum or incorporated?
Tell us how you will actually be paid. A salary, fee-for-service billings, locum contract and income from a corporation require different documents. Bring any agreement, start date and payment details you have. We need to confirm the lender’s treatment before estimating borrowing capacity.
Should I rent first or buy when I arrive?
Renting can make sense when the practice location, neighbourhood or licensing timeline is still moving. Buying may make sense when the position and city are settled, the down payment is ready and the mortgage is supportable on your actual cash flow.
Who will help with my mortgage?
Our team will review your plans and connect you with a mortgage professional for the province where you’re buying. We’ll explain what documents are needed and what comes next, so you know where things stand.
Let’s talk about your move.
Tell us where you’re headed and what you have planned so far.
Review my move with the teamSources and scope Checked September 11, 2026
General mortgage information, not a lending decision. Confirm purchase eligibility and taxes with a lawyer or notary, immigration matters with an authorised adviser, and medical registration with the provincial or territorial regulator. Requirements and exemptions depend on your circumstances and can change.