Can I keep my stocks if I leave Canada?

Adam Fayed
4 min readFeb 20, 2025

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Financial charts with a Canadian touch, symbolizing expats wondering about keeping stocks after leaving Canada

For those into offshore investments, the idea of being able to keep your Canadian stocks while living abroad might sound like quite a good deal.

I’ll mainly explore:

· Can I keep my stocks if I leave Canada?

· Should I keep my stocks or sell?

· Is Canadian equity a good investment?

· Investing outside of Canada

If you are looking to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, which is what I specialize in, you can email me (advice@adamfayed.com) or WhatsApp (+44–7393–450–837).

This includes if you are looking for alternatives or a second opinion.

Some facts might change from the time of writing. For updated guidance, please contact me.

When making an investment offshore, it is particularly imperative to take regulatory regulations and tax consequences into account.

Investors will be more ready to make choices and seize any opportunities if they are aware of such factors.

Investing in Canadian Stock Market

Investing in Canadian equities can present an opportunity for investors who want a more diversified investment basket.

Top players in the oil, finance, and tech industries are among the well-known businesses listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Canada’s largest stock exchange.

But what happens if you’re moving overseas? Will you be permitted to keep your shares?

Can I keep my stocks?

Yes, it’s allowed. Just bear in mind important considerations like taxes.

Capital gains are not levied unless the stocks fall under taxable categories like resource properties or Canadian real estate.

When you cease being a resident of Canada, you become subject to a deemed disposition rule. That means that your assets are deemed to have been offloaded on the day of your departure at fair market value.

If you have assets that you haven’t disposed of but whose worth has improved since you first acquired them, you can be liable to a departure tax on any capital gains you made before leaving.

Some assets might be exempt from this deemed disposition regulation, including tax-free savings accounts, registered retirement savings plans, and other designated investments.

You must disclose on Form T1161 when filing your tax return for the year of leaving Canada if the total fair market value of all your properties at the time of your exit goes over 25,000 dollars.

You can file a request to the Canada Revenue Agency to defer paying the departure tax until after you dispose the assets or go back to Canada.

It’s important to educate yourself with the tax rules in your new country of residence to avoid dual taxation, as some jurisdictions tax offshore investments.

Should I hold my stocks or sell after leaving Canada?

Although you can keep your stocks after you exit Canada, there can be substantial tax implications. Careful financial and tax planning can be quite helpful.

Holding onto your shares could be a smart choice if you believe Canadian industries, like tech, have promising prospects and growth in the long term.

However, managing investments from overseas may provide many challenges, taking into consideration investment platforms and the legal and regulatory backdrop in your new country.

As an alternative, you might consider investing options in markets with more solid growth potential or those more compatible with where you’re moving.

Is Canadian equity a good investment?

Benefits of investing in Canada stocks

· There are numerous benefits to owning Canadian shares, especially in terms of stability. When compared to markets like the US, the Canadian market is known for its better resilience during economic crises.

· A reliable revenue stream is offered by the regular dividends that many Canadian firms offer. Such dividends are levied favorably for investors in Canada.

· An investment basket can be more diversified by exposure to important industries like mining, oil, and materials, owed to Canada’s rich economy.

· Managing investments in Canadian equities is made simpler for investors by their knowledge with the nation’s laws and economy.

Risks of Canadian Stocks

· Canadian stocks have occasionally lagged US stocks too.

· There is also a risk associated with currency fluctuations since they have the potential to affect profit for foreign investors holding Canadian and US currencies.

Investing outside of Canada: Advantages and disadvantages of offshore investments

Purchasing Canadian stocks even if you currently live overseas might still be a wise decision, but there are a few key things to take into account:

Acquiring Canadian equities puts you at risk of exchange rate fluctuations if you’re a Canadian living overseas. Your ownership of these stocks will lose value when converted back to your home currency if the Canadian dollar depreciates relative to it. Your investment choices should be mindful of this risk.

Tax effects might be complicated, as they could be owed in both Canada and your new residence country.

You might only be able to trade Canadian stocks with select Canadian brokerages or pay more for doing so, depending on where you live. It’s important to find out about the charges and restrictions before trading Canadian stocks, albeit certain foreign brokers might OK it.

It is normally recommended to keep a well-diversified portfolio that includes assets in both your home country and other international markets. Such can lead to exposure to more opportunities, while country-specific risks are reduced.

Investing in Canadian stocks might yield benefits so long as you possess a thorough understanding of the country’s economy and stock market.

Making wise investing decisions can be aided not only by your industry knowhow but also with expert guidance.

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Adam Fayed
Adam Fayed

Written by Adam Fayed

Owner - adamfayed.com. Content isn't financial, legal, tax or any other kind of individual advice, nor a solicitation to invest. Educational only for HWNIs

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