Things to Know About Immigrating to Canada as a Social Worker
Authored August, 2025. This page will continue to grow and evolve.
"How can I move to Canada as a social worker?" is in the top 3 questions I get on my TikTok - and I'm sharing my go to-answers.
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While I have compiled many links and resources, none of this should be taken as advice - please check with regulators, lawyers and the government for official decisions.
First things first, you don't just choose to move to Canada: social work is provincially regulated, so you must choose a province first.
Every province has their own regulatory body and requirements to practice social work: there is no federal standard when it comes to coming to Canada as a social worker. For more on this, this page has a list and links to each provincial regulator.
Second, it is incredibly difficult to move to Canada as the federal government is cracking down on immigration into the country.
The Canadian government has cracked down on immigration in the last few years (2023 - present) in response to other issues within the country. It was already difficult to come to Canada, but now it is harder. The Canadian government is letting in less people and requiring more (like educational credentials, money, family in Canada, etc.). Please keep this in mind when exploring immigrating to Canada for a career in social work.
Now, once you've chosen which province you want to move to, and have accepted how difficult it may be, you have to figure out how your educational credentials back home transfer to Canada.
This is where things get funny.
You should first know that the Canadian Association of Social Workers is my go-to source for this: check out their FAQ page and then their page on assessment of international credentials.
For the most part, if you are coming from the US, your educational credentials need to be checked and transferred as they automatically do (translation: it's a lot easier to Americans to immigrate to Canada in this respect than other countries).
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Now, at this point you will go through Government of Canada channels to explore immigration. Options include
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Special measures (ex: Gaza, Ukraine)
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Work based programs, like
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skilled workers (ex: doctors) ​
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tradespeople
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caregivers
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Regional programs
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Family based programs
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It is up to you to find the most accurate program to apply to. If you're unsure, consider contacting an immigration lawyer, consultant or MP's office.
What if you want to immigrate to Canada to study social work, for either the BSW or MSW?
In this instance, you will follow the protocol for a study permit, where the primary purpose of coming to Canada is to study.
A part of Canada's modern history (discussed above in point 2) that's important to note with study permits is that you are applying to study in Canada - and nothing else. Many people came to Canada for many reasons and from many causes thinking they would absolutely secure a job: this is not true. A study permit does guarantee employment, so keep that in mind.