Emigrating to Canada
Do you dream about moving to Canada? You are not alone in that: around 500,000 people around the world decide to start a new life in Canada every year. In this article, we share a few pointers about what living in Canada might look like and what you need to stay there permanently.
Why emigrate to Canada?
You probably know why you want to live in Canada. Here are a few of the things that make Canada so fascinating, beautiful and liveable.
Landscapes
Canada boasts luscious nature, with mountains, forests and lakes making up almost 70 per cent of its surface. It also has some fascinating wildlife, including black bears, polar bears, grizzlies, reindeer, cougars, wolves, bison and lots more. Plus, the surrounding oceans are perfect for whale-watching (see if you can spot an orca!). Canada’s climate ranges from polar in the north to continental and maritime on the west coast.
Low population density
Area-wise, Canada is the second largest country in the world. Taking up almost as much space as Europe, it accounts for 41 per cent of North America. But only around 39 million people live in this enormous area. This is why Canada is (still) so largely made up of nature. A great reason for nature lovers to move to Canada!
General information and similarities to Germany
Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Its official languages are English and French, and its currency is the Canadian dollar. Despite its proximity to the USA, Canadians use the metric system – just like the Germans do. Distances are measured in kilometres and speeds in km/h (kilometres per hour). Most Germans live in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta – and in the cities of Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Like Germany, Canada is considered safe, and the unemployment rate is low. The country also has an above-average healthcare system similar to the German one. Canada is also known for its excellent education system, which is said to be particularly integrative for immigrants. You can read more about that in our article “Living in Canada”.
Things to consider before moving to Canada
Moving country is always a big step, and getting a permanent visa for Canada is no easy feat. Here are a few things you should consider before taking that leap:
- Do I have the financial means to make a fresh start?
- Do I speak English and even some French?
- Do my children speak English?
- Can I afford to live in Canada?
- How long do I want to stay?
- How likely am I to get a permanent visa?
- Which Canadian province or territory would I like to live in?
- Which school can my children go to? And do they need to start in a lower grade?
- Am I familiar with all the risks and challenges of emigrating?
You should consider all these questions carefully before moving to Canada. We can help you with that!
Preparing for your move to Canada
The Canadian government advises immigrants to:
“Find a job, get your credentials assessed, improve your English and French, and find out what to expect when you get to Canada—financially, socially and culturally.”
That sums up your action plan quite well. Take some time to research what to expect from living in Canada and which visa you need. Then you can reconsider or move forward with your decision.
1. Research: What is it really like to live in Canada?
Before you decide to move to Canada, there are a few things you should know about living there, including: What is Canada’s health and education system like? Which province do you want to move to? How much does it cost to live in Canada? How much will you be earning? Where do you want to live?
2. Finding a job: Working in Canada
To be able to move to Canada and apply for the right visa, you need to look for a job in Canada first. This article tells you everything you need to know about
2. Applying for a visa
Obtaining a permanent visa to live and work in Canada is not that easy. However, your chances increase if you are a specialist in your field or if you plan to found a start-up business. You also have the option of staying in Canada for a limited period of time.
Solid language skills
If you are thinking about emigrating to Canada, you should have excellent English skills with French as a bonus. Here are a few tips on how you can improve your language skills:
- Attend a language course (for children)
- Read English/French books
- Watch films and TV series in English/French
Do you have friends who speak English or French? Why not ask them to speak to you in English/French from now on? In any case, make sure you are well prepared!
Do you already know that emigrating to Canada is your next step and need certified translations for your visa application? We can help you with that!
Translation of your documents
for emigrating to Canada
Author
Katharina Weckend, Content & SEO Manager
Katharina joined lingoking as a Content and SEO Manager in 2024. She handles our content and SEO strategy and writes texts for our website, guide and other lingoking media. “I am happy I get to pass on knowledge in our lingoking guide and help break down language barriers.”
Translation
Belinda Grace
Belinda has been working with the lingoking marketing team since early 2022. She’s in charge of translating blogs and guides as well as writing social media posts. Her motto: “Begin each day as if it were on purpose”.
