How to Move to Vancouver or Toronto for Film Work: Budget, Visas & Job Strategy
I put my ideas into practice. That may be the reason people hate me.
–Emir Kusturica
How to Move to Vancouver or Toronto for Film Work: Budget, Visas & Job Strategy
Moving cities for film work is exciting, and it can also be a money and momentum trap if you show up without a plan. This guide walks you through realistic budgeting, the basics of working legally, and a job strategy that helps you land your first calls faster.
Reality check:
Vancouver often has a stronger concentration of studio and service production. It is also one of the most expensive rental markets in Canada.
Toronto is a huge production hub and can be slightly less brutal on rent depending on the month and neighbourhood.
If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you generally need a work permit to work on film or TV productions in Canada.
Who this guide is for:
Crew and creatives looking for steadier sets, more networking, and better long term career growth
People moving within Canada, and newcomers trying to work legally
Beginners who need a concrete plan, not vague advice
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Choosing between Vancouver and Toronto
Pick Vancouver if you want
A heavy service production environment and strong pathways into union departments
A film culture where “who you know” spreads fast once you are on a few sets
You can handle higher rent or you have roommates lined up
Pick Toronto if you want
A wide mix: commercial, TV, features, unscripted, and a deep indie scene
Easier access to work across the GTA if you are willing to commute
A big network that rewards consistent follow up and showing up to events
If you are undecided, choose based on your best near term advantage:
You already know people in one city
You have affordable housing in one city
You have a clear entry point department in one city
Housing usually decides the winner anyway.
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Budgeting for the move
Film careers hate cash flow surprises. Build a runway so you can say yes to last minute calls.
Target runway
Minimum: 2 months of living costs
Better: 3 to 4 months
Best: 6 months if you are new and have no in city network yet
Rent benchmarks you can sanity check against
For recent national rent reporting, Vancouver and Toronto have both seen year over year declines in asking rents in recent months, but they remain among the most expensive major markets.
For purpose built rental stats by market, CMHC publishes vacancy and average rent metrics by major centre.
Sample monthly budgets (CAD)
These are planning numbers. Your actual rent can swing a lot by neighbourhood and roommates.
A) Lean starter budget (roommates, transit, simple food)
Rent + utilities: 1,200 to 1,800
Transit: 120 to 170
Groceries: 350 to 500
Phone: 50 to 80
Basic health and insurance buffer: 100 to 200
Misc: 200 to 350
Total: 2,020 to 3,100
B) Sustainable budget (one bedroom or nicer shared place)
Rent + utilities: 2,200 to 3,200
Transit: 120 to 200
Groceries: 450 to 650
Phone: 50 to 90
Insurance and medical buffer: 150 to 300
Misc: 300 to 600
Total: 3,270 to 5,040
One time move costs people forget
First month rent + deposit
Furniture basics, workwear, rain gear, set kit items
Union or permit application fees and required safety tickets
A few Uber rides when call times are not transit friendly
Emergency fund for slow weeks between gigs
Visas and working legally in Canada
If you already have the right to work in Canada, skip to the job strategy section. If you do not, this part matters.
If you are not a Canadian citizen or PR
The Canadian government is explicit: film or television workers need a work permit to work on productions in Canada.
There is also a specific pathway where some film and TV roles may qualify for an employer specific work permit that is LMIA exempt if you meet the criteria listed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
On the employer side, the International Mobility Program is the framework that allows certain LMIA exempt hires.
Practical translation:
You usually need a real production company to support your work permit
This is not the same as “I moved here and I am looking for gigs”
If you are deciding between cities and your legal ability to work is uncertain, do not guess. Start from the government pages above and work backward from your situation.
Health coverage timing
In British Columbia, new residents may have a wait period that is the balance of the month you arrive plus two months before provincial coverage begins.
In Ontario, the province states there is no longer a waiting period for OHIP coverage if you are eligible.
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How film hiring actually works in these cities
Most entry level work happens through:
1st and 2nd degree connections
department lists and daily availability
someone needing a last minute swing
being known as reliable and easy to work with
So your goal is not “apply to 100 things.” Your goal is “get into the flow of calls.”
The job strategy: a 30 day plan that works
Step 1: Pick your entry department
Choose one primary lane for the first 60 to 90 days:
Production assistant, locations, art, grip, electric, costume, props, hair and makeup, set dec, office, post support
Do not try to be everything. People hire specialists they can trust.
Step 2: Build a one page crew profile
Keep it simple:
Role target
Credits or transferable experience
Your availability and city
Two references
Links: IMDb, portfolio, LinkedIn, short reel if relevant
Step 3: Get your basic safety tickets
Many departments expect certain certifications and kit. For example, IATSE Local 873 and IATSE 891 both reference department specific requirements and certifications for applicants and permittees.
Step 4: Do targeted outreach the right way
Daily for 2 weeks, send 5 to 10 short messages:
Department coordinators
Keys, best boys, assistants
Production offices for PA style roles
Your message should be:
4 to 6 lines
Clear role target
“Available for day calls”
One link
One sentence of credibility
Step 5: Turn your first call into your next 10 calls
On set, your goal is not to impress people with ambition. Your goal is:
be early
take notes
confirm tasks
stay off your phone
ask for feedback once, near wrap
get permission to follow up
Then follow up within 48 hours.
Union and guild pathways
You do not need to be union to start, but you should understand how the pipeline works.
Vancouver pathways
IATSE 891: applicants can become permittees if qualified, and membership applications are typically tied to days worked under agreement and department requirements.
Directors Guild of Canada BC: provides guidance for getting started and notes that people legally eligible to work in Canada can work as helper production assistants in BC.
Toronto pathways
IATSE Local 873: start by applying to become a permit in a department, and the local references a minimum days worked before applying for membership.
Directors Guild of Canada Ontario: outlines membership categories and pathways, including apprenticeship programs.
ACTRA Toronto: has an apprentice program and notes that background permits do not count as credits for joining in the way principal categories do.
If you are new, think of this as a two step game:
Get enough days and references to be consistently rehired
Use those days to qualify for the next tier
Where to find work without wasting your time
Use a mix of:
Local Facebook groups for crew calls
Production office availability lists
Student film communities for credits and referrals
Your own network with consistent follow ups
Also, if you are using FilmLocal, treat it like an engine:
Save searches
Apply quickly
Track who replies
Build a list of contacts by department
A practical moving checklist
4 to 6 weeks before
Choose city and department focus
Build your crew profile
Price housing and lock a temporary place for 2 to 4 weeks
Start outreach from your current city
2 weeks before
Book transport and initial essentials
Schedule coffee chats for your first 10 days
Confirm your availability and keep your calendar open
First 14 days in the city
Treat it like a job: 2 hours networking daily
Do 5 to 10 targeted messages daily
Attend at least 2 industry events
Say yes to day calls even if they are not perfect
Days 15 to 30
Follow up with everyone you met
Ask for one referral per week
Tighten your role focus based on where calls are actually coming from
FAQs
If you are working on a film or television production and you are not already authorized to work in Canada, the government states you need a work permit.
British Columbia can have a wait period for MSP coverage for new residents. Ontario states there is no longer a waiting period for OHIP if you are eligible.
You can, but it is much riskier. Film work is feast or famine. Moving with 3 months runway and a 30 day outreach plan is the difference between “I broke in” and “I had to leave.”
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