Looking for Canadian Expats in India?

Is India a good move for Canadians? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2024 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what Canadian expats in India wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• Your money goes much further. Low living costs are a big draw, and 69% of expats in India rate the general cost of living positively, against a global average of 40%.

• Life is easygoing and services are quick. Canadians describe a relaxed, inexpensive daily life with help and services easy to arrange.

• People are warm and English gets you far. 54% say making local friends is easy (vs. 38% globally) and 62% get by fine without the local language.

• There's room to grow. Business and career growth come up often, and healthcare is affordable (68% rate it positively).

• Air pollution is a serious concern. Just 16% of expats in India rate air quality positively, against 64% globally.

• Bureaucracy and shifting rules frustrate. Only 20% find it easy to deal with local authorities, and constantly changing rules wear people down.

• Getting around is hard. Public transport rates 46% and getting around on foot or by bike just 37%, with roads and traffic a common complaint.

• Work-life balance and wages can disappoint. Only 51% are happy with their work-life balance, and low local wages come up.

For Canadians, India offers an affordable, easygoing life with warm people and room to build a business or career. The trade-offs are the air, the bureaucracy, and the infrastructure. It rewards those who came for the opportunity and the experience.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our Canadian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

Of course, expat living in India is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Canadians is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Indian way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Canadians in India, residing in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Canadians in New Delhi or Canadians in Mumbai.

If you ever wish to have a chat in your native language, discover where to shop for Canadian food or discuss your favorite sports team's latest match, become a member of the Indian InterNations Community:

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from Canada in India.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our India Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get maple pancakes in Mumbai.
• Search the InterNations Places database for India to get information on institutions from your home country, including the Canadian embassy.

From the National Capital Territory around Delhi to southern states like Kerala, Goa or Tamil Nadu, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly Canadian expats in India.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in India. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Indian bhakri, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in New Delhi’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see the country's most vibrant and biggest city as well as other beautiful landmarks in India.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from Canada and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Canadians living in India!