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A Comprehensive Guide on Moving to Canada

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  • Andrey Vasilyev

    When moving to a huge city such as Vancouver, InterNations made it easy for me to find fellow expats and the network that I needed.

Are you wondering how to organize an international move to Canada? Both your home country and the country you are currently living in will determine how hard or easy it is for you to enter the Great White North. Canada offers an Express Entry System into the country for skilled workers. In this useful guide, you will quickly discover why moving here is very popular among expats. For starters, there are many great benefits to residing in Canada apart from great work opportunities.

Canada’s top cities consistently rank in the top 50 of the Mercer Quality of Living Survey with Vancouver scoring third place. On the InterNations Expat Insider 2019 survey, the country ranked number 11 under Quality of Life, and number 10 under Safety and Security. This, along with many other reasons, is what makes Canada such a wonderful country to live in. What else do you need to convince you to move to Canada?

Even though Canada sounds like heaven on earth, the process of relocating there as not always straightforward. This guide outlines essential things expats need to know when moving to Canada, such as information on the relocation process, visas and work permits, housing, healthcare, banks and taxes, education, work, and living.

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A Practical Guide to the Way of Life in Canada

Is living in Canada expensive? The answer is yes, it can be moderately costly to live in the Great White North. Although there are many pros to living in the Great White North, the high cost of living is definitely one of the cons.  Be aware that the most expensive cities are Toronto and Vancouver, however wages are higher. To find our more read our cost of living articles about Toronto and Vancouver.

In this section, we discuss the benefits (healthcare and nature) and the disadvantages (cost of living, strict immigration rules) of living in Canada, so you can approach a possible move there with your eyes wide open.

Along with this, you will find information on cultural and social etiquette to help you avoid an embarrassing social faux pas, plus information on driving and public transportation in Canada. Did you know that Vancouver does not have highways within city limits? Be prepared to be stuck in traffic a lot.

Read our complete guide on relocating to Canada

Your Guide on Jobs and Finding Work in Canada

If you have been wondering what it would be like to work in Canada, then this section, filled with career and job search tips, is for you. From how to get a job in Canada to self-employment, you will find every information you will need to land a job or set up shop.

Engineers looking for new opportunities will be happy to know their salary will be among the highest in the country. The average salary varies across Canada depending on the sector you work in and even the region in which you live. While engineers earn on average 73,410 CAD (54,710 USD), people working in healthcare and social services only earn on average 58,840 CAD (43,850).

 This section gives information on the most in-demand jobs in the country along with salary details and an overview of the Canadian social security, business culture, and job market. The latter has been experiencing an upward trend. If you are a skilled worker, look for jobs in the IT, manufacturing, service, real estate, or communications sectors. These are all important industries to Canada and have been growing in the past years.

Read our complete guide on finding a job in Canada

A Comprehensive Guide About the Education System and International Schools

International schools in Canada are abundant. Expat parents wishing to enroll their kids in one need look no further. This section provides a list of some of the best schools in the country including international schools, primary schools, secondary schools, universities—even language schools!

After reading this section, you will have a better understanding of the diverse education and school system in Canada.

If the question is, whether to enroll your children in a public or private school? The major difference will be school costs. While public schools are funded by the government and free, private education can cost you anywhere between 4,000 CAD (3,000 USD) to 26,000 CAD (19,550 USD) in tuition fees annually.

Read our complete guide on education & international schools in Canada

A Comprehensive Guide about Opening a Bank Account and Managing Your Taxes

Opening a bank account in Canada is a necessity in this day and age, and it will undoubtedly make your everyday life as an expat much easier. Thankfully it is very easy—even for non-residents and expats! This section gives an overview of the documents you will need, especially if you are a non-resident, to successfully open a bank account. Typically, you will require your passport, immigration papers, a second piece of identification, and Social Insurance Number.

This section also goes over the best banks in Canada for non-residents and the country’s tax system. Are you already wondering how much your tax rate would be? The good news about Canada is that it has tax treaties with a number of countries around the world so, as an expat, you avoid double taxation.

Read our complete guide on banking & taxes in Canada

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Discover our welcoming community of expats! You’ll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new friends. Attend online and in-person events that bring global minds together.

Mar 19, 2024, 9:00 PM
4 attendees
Hello Everyone, Let's meet at the (...) Protected content (...) in Yaletown for coffee and walk along the seawall for about an hour. If the weather turns out to be rainy, we will stay in the coff
Mar 21, 2024, 10:50 PM
4 attendees
*** Purchase tickets @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brave-space-third-space-tickets-853632657257?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1 The panel will feature a conversation from leadership of two brave spa
Mar 22, 2024, 2:30 AM
10 attendees
Untitled in a sweet spot downtown that features Jazz on Thursday nights. Please Note: if you sign up and can't make it after all, please CANCEL your attendance on this page (you'll see the button af
Mar 22, 2024, 1:30 PM
14 attendees
Once more with feeling! Come and enjoy a fun night of drinks, live music and get together with friends. With three acts ranging from acoustic rock set, world music and a full band performing amazing

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