Ah, Canada. Beautiful nature, countless lakes, endless forests and numerous animals that roam that gorgeous landscape. And if some of them injure you, hey! Free healthcare! What’s not to love? But before you start your maple syrup diet, here are a few things to know before moving to Canada.
Licenses and paperwork
Check eligibility
Before making Canada your home, be sure that the state of Canada will accept you. Being eligible for living in Canada is not hard, but some of the things you should look out for are:
- Criminal record
- Health
- Financial reasons
- Non-compliance with IRPA(Immigration Refugee Protection Act)
- Human or international rights violation
- Misrepresentation
When checking for eligibility, consider what kind of residency you would like to have while in Canada so you will know for which one you should apply. Some of them are:
Business Start-up or investor.
Are you an entrepreneur who wants to move his business to the Canadian market? Then consider applying for this residency. Just be mindful, if you would like to apply as an investor, you will need a net worth of at least 10 million Canadian dollars.
Family-sponsored
Do you have family members in Canada? Great! Half of your troubles just went away. If they are nice, maybe even more. Apply for a Family sponsored Canadian residency and Canada can agree to sponsor your immigration.
Self-employed
If you are working for yourself, you can also apply for a Self-Employed visa. You will need to prove that you have a yearly income of at least $40.000 and that you will make as much when you move to Canada.
Filling applications
Choosing the proper residency is vital because the required application papers differ depending on the type of residency. Moving as a caregiver requires different papers than moving as an entrepreneur. Get yourself informed about necessary paperwork at least a couple of months before your planned date of moving to Canada. Application fees can be expensive, around $550 if you are moving alone. Therefore, it also financially smart to get proper paperwork and send your application on time, so you can avoid unnecessary expenses.
Prepare the paperwork
Get Health insurance
Although Canada is famous for its free health insurance for residents and citizens, for the first three months of your stay, you will need private insurance. After three months you should be issued a government health insurance card, at which point the government takes over. But until then you are on your own.
Study Canada
Researching a place before moving to it is always a good idea. Looking it up online is a given, but if possible, consider visiting it as a tourist before moving to Canada for a long period of time. Some of the things to look into are:
Cost of living
Depending on the country you are moving from, Canada can be expensive. As in all places, the cost of living can differ a lot depending on the city, so be sure to study the economic situation before moving to a place. Prices for food, utilities and rent should be taken into account when figuring out how much will you need to live in Canada. The financial strain of the move will be hard, so expect a couple of months of living on a tight budget when you start living in Canada. You should also get informed on the Canadian taxes especially if you are moving or staring a business. You might find out that that free health insurance isn’t so “free” after all.
Culture
Another famous thing about Canada, everybody is nice. Besides that, there is a rich history from the settlement of former European empires to the Canadian involvement in The Second World War for you to explore. Try to figure out how that history has shaped today’s Canadians and their society.
Language
Being settled by both the French and British empire, Canada has two national languages. French and English. The dominance of a specific language depends on o the area, so it would be a good idea to look into what is the dominant language used in the area you are moving to.
Weather
Canada is the second largest country in the world, and as such has considerable weather differences depending on the region. Find out the average weather of the area you will be living in. It will prepare you for your life there and it will also help you with your moving plans. Moving in winter and moving in summer can be quite different ordeals and its good to plan ahead.
Get prepared for moving
You know where you want to go, and you have the necessary papers to go there. Great! Now put every financial expense to paper. Calculating your move is vital if you wish to reduce your expenses. Next, plan your move to Canada.
Packing
Moving such long distances can be expensive, and every item that you don’t pack can save you a lot of money. Consider throwing out the stuff that you don’t need, to avoid loading yourself with unnecessary items. A good rule of thumb is that if you are not sure weather you should throw something away or not, throw it away. If you really need it, you will know you need it. Pack everything carefully, and label it. Labels are less for you, and more for the people who will help you unload your things. It is very useful to know that there is something fragile or heavy in the box, before you start manipulating it. And remember to take your time with packing. You should rush when doing it. Be thorough.
Pack carefully when moving to Canada
Hiring movers
When hiring a moving company, consider what kind of move you are doing. Try looking for a international moving company. It’s also a smart idea to find a company that does both moving and packing. And if you are also moving your office, try organizing so that one company can move all your items. It will turn out much cheaper, than hiring different companies for each segment of the move.
Do you see yourself here?
Before starting your Canadian adventure consider a few things:
- Why are you moving to Canada?
- What keeps you in Canada?
- How long will it take you to be sure that Canada is right for you?
Having these questions figured out will help you be in the right mindset to discover Canada fully.