Moving to Phoenix and Scottsdale from Canada: visas, snowbirds and what to know
Phoenix and Scottsdale are among the most popular US destinations for Canadians, whether you're working, investing or spending your winters in the sun. Here's what to know.
Last reviewed: November 2026. General information only, not legal advice.
Why Canadians move to Phoenix and Scottsdale
The Phoenix area, known as the Valley of the Sun, has one of the largest Canadian snowbird communities in the US.
- Winter sun. Mild, dry winters draw Canadians from across the Prairies and BC.
- A growing economy. Semiconductors, healthcare, finance, construction and real estate.
- A low, flat state income tax compared with many states.
- Golf, hiking and resort living in Scottsdale and across the Valley.
Visa options for Canadians moving to Phoenix
Living or working in Phoenix needs the right visa or a green card. Wintering there as a visitor has its own rules.
New to this? Read our complete guide to moving from Canada to the US →
TN visa
For professionals with a US job offer in an eligible profession. Canadians apply at the border or at US preclearance at a Canadian airport, with no petition needed first.
TN visa guide →E-2 investor visa
Buy or start a business. Canada is a treaty country, and there's no fixed minimum investment, but it must be substantial.
E-2 visa guide →L-1 company transfer
Move to a US office of the company you already work for, or open a US office for your Canadian business.
L-1 visa guide →H-1B visa
For degree-level jobs with a sponsoring US employer. Selected by lottery, and a $100,000 fee applies to many new petitions.
H-1B guide →Green cards
Permanent residence through family, a US employer, or investment through the EB-5 program, starting at $800,000.
Green card routes →Retiring or wintering
There's no US retirement visa, but many Canadians spend up to 6 months a year in the US as visitors. Count your days carefully.
Snowbird Day Calculator →Spending winters in Phoenix and Scottsdale
Canadian visitors can usually stay in the US for up to 6 months at a time, but you can't work. Two day-counts matter:
- US immigration: staying too long, or spending most of the year in the US, can lead to problems at the border.
- US tax: the IRS "substantial presence" test uses a 3-year formula with a 183-day threshold. Many snowbirds file Form 8840 (Closer Connection Exception) to show they remain Canadian tax residents.
- Health coverage: each province limits how long you can be away and keep your coverage, so check yours and buy travel medical insurance.
Practical tips for your move to Phoenix
- Driver's licence: once you become an Arizona resident, get an Arizona licence through the MVD.
- Heat: summers are extremely hot. Plan your move, and your car and home cooling, around it.
- Health insurance: there's no public coverage like your provincial plan. Use an employer plan or HealthCare.gov.
- Buying a winter home: owning property in the US doesn't give you the right to live there. Your visitor time limits still apply.
- Social Security number: apply once you arrive with permission to work.
Helpful resources for newcomers to Phoenix
These official sites cover the first practical steps after you arrive.
- Get a Social Security numberApply once you're in the US with permission to work.
- Arizona MVDArizona driver licences and vehicles.
- HealthCare.govThe federal health insurance marketplace, which links to state options.
- IRS Form 8840 (closer connection)For snowbirds who spend long periods in the US but stay Canadian tax residents.
- City of PhoenixOfficial city services.
- City of ScottsdaleOfficial city services.
These are official government and public websites. VisaPlace is not affiliated with them. Links open in a new tab.
Common questions about moving to Phoenix
Can a Canadian move to Phoenix without a visa?
Canadians can visit without a visa, usually for up to 6 months at a time, but visitors can't work or live in the US. To live and work in Phoenix you need a work visa, an investor visa or a green card.
How long can I stay in Phoenix as a snowbird?
Canadian visitors can usually stay up to 6 months at a time. Track your days carefully, because US immigration and the IRS both count them. Our Snowbird Day Calculator helps.
If I buy a home in Scottsdale, can I live there?
Owning US property doesn't give you the right to live or work in the US. You'd still visit under the usual visitor limits, unless you get a visa or green card. Investing in a US business, rather than a home, may qualify you for an E-2 visa.
What's the easiest way for a Canadian to work in Phoenix?
It depends on your situation. With a job offer in an eligible profession, the TN visa is often the fastest. If you're investing in a business, the E-2 is popular. If your employer has a US office, the L-1 may fit. VisaScore shows which may fit you in about 3 minutes.
Can my family come with me?
Most work and investor visas let your spouse and children under 21 come with you. On the E-2 and L-1, your spouse can also work. TN spouses can live in the US but can't work.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Your first consultation with a licensed, independent US immigration lawyer is free, and the lawyer gives you a clear quote before any work begins.
Planning your move to Phoenix?
Answer a few questions and see which US visas may fit you, then talk to a licensed immigration lawyer for free.
VisaPlace Immigration works with licensed and experienced immigration lawyers, who are independent and operate separately from VisaPlace Immigration. VisaPlace Immigration does not provide legal advice. The information on this page is general and is not a guarantee of eligibility. Immigration rules change often, and decisions on visas and permanent residence are made by government authorities.