A Little Introduction to… Emigrating to Canada

O Canada!

Land of the moose (the plural is unfortunately moose, not meese), the majestic beaver, free health care, the murmur of ‘sorry’ on the wind, and abundance, for Canada is a land of relative prosperity.

There are many reasons why people are flooding to Canada (aside from apparent protests against US President Donald Trump). If you like the thought of discovering all the nation has to offer, check out our little introduction to escaping to Canada.

Why would I want to move to Canada?

Emigrating is scary. It costs money, and there’s no guarantee that you, or your family (should you be bringing one) won’t end up wistfully dreaming of the land you left behind. But the reverse could also be true. If you don’t take the plunge and move to Canada, you could end up always regretting it. Canada boasts an extremely high standard of living; performing brilliantly in indexes that take into consideration a huge range of factors. On the OECD Better life index, Canada consistently ranks above the United Kingdom in housing, income, jobs, community, education, health and safety – I could go on. Besides this, Canada is beautiful. From sprawling expanses of stunning mountain ranges to towering pine forests and even sunny beaches, Canada truly boasts a diversity of landscapes and activity choices you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere. If you’re one for the outdoors there’s plenty for you (it’s the second largest country in the world, after all) so whether you love camping, golfing, canoeing, mountain biking, fishing, or just taking in the sights hiking, Canada provides.

If you’re more interested in the urban wonderland, Canada’s cities are notoriously well regarded. In 2015 The Economist ranked Toronto as the best city in the world, with factors like cost of living, personal safety, and ‘liveability’ being deciders. Other Canadian cities like Vancouver consistently rank highly in the Mercer quality of living indexes. As of 2017, Vancouver was ranked 5^th best city to live in in the world, with Toronto 16^th, Ottawa at 18^th and Montreal, 23^rd. Both Toronto and Vancouver are well known for having an active nightlife, award-winning culinary pedigrees, and plenty of events; think Celebration of Light – Vancouver, or the Toronto Film Festival.

 

If you’re concerned about the of cost of living, Canada currently ranks 27^th in Numbeo’s 2017 cost of living index, that’s cheaper than Sweden, the United States, France, Italy, Australia, Ireland and a host of other western nations, but slightly more expensive than the United Kingdom, which is currently ranked 29^th. Of course, it should also be remembered that the cost of living can vary significantly depending on which city you decide to emigrate to.

In respect to unemployment rates, as of April 2017 the level of joblessness in Canada was 6.5% – the lowest it’s been since October of 2008. Whilst higher than the UK’s, Canada’s unemployment rates have historically presented a relatively consistent downward trend since 2010.

How can I emigrate to Canada?

So, if you decide Canada is where you want to be, what are your options? What are the immigration laws? Canada currently has one of the highest immigration rates in the world (per capita), and immigrants have a number of options. One of the best and quickest way of determining which option is right for you is to visit the Canadian Immigration Authority’s ‘Come to Canada’ Wizard. It will ask you a small amount of questions about your background and then you’ll be presented with your eligibility options, which can vary between the following:

• The Skilled Worker Programs
• Family Class Sponsorships
• Investor and Entrepreneur Programs
• Canadian and Experience Class
• Quebec Experience Class
• Provincial Nominee

There’s actually over 60 avenues for immigration – which can make the process appear a little daunting. However, things like having a post-secondary education or one year of skilled work experience goes far to promote you in their point based ranking system. The complete list of in-demand jobs features careers including fire chiefs, construction managers, and library, archive, museum and art gallery managers. The full list can be accessed here.

Can I move to Canada temporarily?

You can stay. For a bit. They won’t kick you out for 6 months – but this can be assessed and extended. If you’re a British citizen then you’re in something of a good position. You shouldn’t need a visa to visit Canada temporarily, however you will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before you go. This is easily purchasable for a very small fee. Find out more about it here.

Key takeaways

• Visitors can stay for 6 months, but require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
• There are some 60 ways you can emigrate, though your chances of success are increased by a number of factors like qualifications and if your career type/skillset is in demand. Check your eligibility here.
• Canada consistently ranks very high in standard of living, with a number of its cities holding their own in the top 20 (even top 5) cities to live in in the world.
• The views won’t disappoint. The landscape and wildlife is phenomenal.
• There’s plenty to keep you occupied. Ski in the morning, laze around on the beach in the afternoon, run away from a bear in the evening. Canada (particularly Vancouver) has plenty to offer.

Category Emigrating

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