What happens to your credit if you move to Canada?
Isabella Turner
Updated on February 11, 2026
Unfortunately, your U.S. credit history will not transfer to Canadian credit reporting companies when you move. Each country has its own credit reporting system, with unique systems and different laws regulating them, so the information isn’t shared across borders.
Can I move to Canada if I have credit card debt?
There are just a few things you might want to know about your credit history first, eh. In Canada, we treat credit just a smidge differently than the USA does. If you have awful credit, the good news is that successfully immigrating to Canada will mean you leave it behind, but it doesn’t absolve you of your debts.
Does credit score matter in Canada?
Canadians typically cannot borrow money or receive credit of any kind unless they have a solid credit score. Canada’s two national credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, create credit scores and credit reports based on the information they receive about each borrower from their lenders.
How can I build credit in the US while living in Canada?
In this article, we explain how you can get started.
- Open a U.S. bank account.
- Establish your U.S. address.
- Obtain an ITIN or an SSN.
- Use Nova Credit and your Canadian credit history.
- Look into other credit cards for U.S. newcomers.
- Use your card to build your credit history.
Can you get free healthcare if you move to Canada?
So is there free healthcare in Canada? Essentially, yes. Canadian residents pay for Medicare through their taxes, but the medical services are free at the point of use.
Can I get free health care if I move to Canada?
If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may apply for public health insurance. All provinces and territories will provide free emergency medical services, even if you don’t have a government health card. There may be restrictions depending on your immigration status.
What happens if you move to Canada from the US?
If you move to Canada from the US all your essential healthcare needs will be covered under Canada’s Medicare System no matter your level of income or age. If you want to get any additional coverage for things such as optometry or dentistry you’ll spend 5 times less for private premiums than you currently are, according to OECD.
How much does it cost to import a car from the US to Canada?
There are a few fees you’ll need to pay in order to import a car from the US to Canada. The Canadian Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) charges an import fee of $195 USD plus a Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 5% of the value of the car.
How is Canadian credit related to u.s.credit?
Your U.S credit not connected to Canadian credit vice versa. If you don’t pay back your credit in Canada collection agencies will attempt to collect your debt. If you maintain any assets they may attempt to collect your debt against your assets or obtain judgment against you. Enforcing canadian judgment almost impossible in U.S.
What happens to my credit when I leave Canada?
According to Experian, you cannot transfer your credit history from Canada to the United States. In order to establish credit in the U.S. , you would basically start over and obtain a credit account and build your credit with a positive repayment history or a secured account, much like you never had credit before.