A great place
to call home.
Wondering if Newfoundland and Labrador is right for you?
If you crave more time and space, access to nature, health and education supports, beautiful scenery and the opportunity to thrive, we are ready to welcome you and your family.
These are just a few of the reasons to consider living and working here!
Freedom to be yourself
Our communities are safe places to live, practice your religion and spirituality, embrace your language and culture and form deep bonds with your neighbours.
As we continue to grow, we have welcomed new and diverse businesses, restaurants, cultural associations, events and grocers – so it has never been easier to live comfortably and freely, your way.
Access to services
Residents have access to free, universal provincial health care coverage through the Medical Care Plan (MCP), which covers the cost of insured physician services and medical services provided in the hospitals, including costs related to childbirth.
We also offer free services and supports for individuals and families by settlement service providers like:
These providers can assist you with language training, community building, support for your children and other services that will help you as you settle into your new home.
Safe, affordable housing
Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the best places in Canada to rent or purchase a home.
If you are looking to buy, the cost to purchase a home is one of the lowest in the country. And we also have one of the most affordable rental markets in Canada. (Sources: Canadian Real Estate Agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)
Realtor.ca is a great place to start your search, or learn more about the types of houses on the market.
Settlement services provide support to find housing.
A great place to raise a family
From education to recreation, Newfoundland and Labrador has so much to offer families, including:
- Free, high-quality public education for students aged 5-18.
- World-class post-secondary institutions: College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Access to early learning and education for children aged 1-5.
- Families may also benefit from $10-a-day regulated child care.
- Residents benefit from up to 12 or 18 months of parental leave for newborn or newly adopted children.
- Safe, clean family-friendly spaces like parks, recreation areas, sports venues and cultural centres.
The Early Learning Gateway is an online platform to help improve access to early learning and child care in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Unparalleled natural beauty
Newfoundland and Labrador is famous for its landscapes – from rugged cliffs to colourful cities. And the best part? With shorter commute times and greater access to nature, you won’t need to sit in traffic. Imagine if your daily commute was measured in minutes, instead of hours! With more time for extra activities, you can spend more time with family and friends, explore the outdoors or enjoy a new hobby.
Enjoy the beauty of icebergs, the thrill of spotting a whale, moose or puffin, and easy access to water – from our coastal cities to our interior towns, you are never far from the ocean or a river, lake, or waterfall!
Ways to get around
Public transportation – especially in rural areas – can be limited. So, most people in the province use cars as their primary means of transportation.
Anyone aged 16+ can obtain a driver’s license by:
- Presenting the required documents
- Completing written, vision and road tests, and
- Taking part in the Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador may also allow you to exchange your license, depending on where it was issued.
People with a United Kingdom drivers license (and other select countries) can exchange their existing license for a Newfoundland and Labrador driver’s license without taking a written, vision or road test. For more information, please visit the Motor Registration Division.
In St. John’s and the surrounding metro area, you’ll also have access to Metrobus and ridesharing apps, including Uber. Taxis are another option for getting around in many towns across the province.
If you’re traveling between towns, DRL-LR offers a daily bus service across the island of Newfoundland, connecting major centres.
Airlines offer flights within the province, to other destinations in Canada and internationally. Many flights – particularly to locations outside of Newfoundland and Labrador – depart from St. John’s International Airport (YYT), but you’ll also find airports in Gander, Deer Lake, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Wabush.
If you’re travelling from the United Kingdom, WestJet offers a direct flight from St. John’s and London this spring until October 25, 2024, with flights taking off three times a week between St. John’s and London’s Gatwick airport.
Ready to
get started?
If Newfoundland and Labrador sounds like the right place to call home, you can learn more about eligibility and pathways to immigration.
Immigration