CostYou're a non-resident of Canada — living abroad, without Canadian citizenship or permanent residency — looking to buy property here, which puts you under a distinct set of federal and provincial rules most Canadian buyers never need to think about.
What usually applies
Federal restrictions on foreign buyers purchasing residential property in Canada have been in place, with specific exemptions for certain categories of buyers (including some work permit holders and other exceptions defined in the regulations). Beyond the federal restriction itself, several provinces layer on their own additional taxes specifically targeting non-resident or foreign buyers, on top of standard land transfer tax.
Provincial-level extra taxes
BC and Ontario both apply an additional property transfer tax specifically on foreign buyers, calculated as a meaningful percentage of the purchase price, on top of the regular land transfer tax covered in our province comparison. BC's Speculation and Vacancy Tax, covered in our dedicated guide, also applies at its highest rate tier to foreign owners and satellite families specifically.
Who to ask
This is genuinely an area where the rules are detailed, change periodically, and depend heavily on your specific residency and immigration status — consult a real estate lawyer with specific experience in non-resident transactions before proceeding, rather than relying on general information. An accountant familiar with non-resident taxation can also help navigate the tax filing obligations that come with owning Canadian property while living abroad, which differ from a Canadian resident owner's obligations.
If you do qualify to purchase, budget for the full picture including any applicable non-resident-specific taxes on the closing cost calculator.