So you’re moving to Canada, eh? The country is both strong and yet friendly. And, it serves two predominant roles in North America. It’s the place where Americans often threaten to move if things go south in the U.S. But, it’s also an incredibly friendly place – one of the friendliest in the entire world.
Everyone seems to love this country which is ranked 76.6 by the Reputation Institute as one of the greatest countries in the world. It even ousted Sweden. Canadians also ranked themselves as some of the happiest people on Earth.
Vancouver
Image by Evan Leeson via Flickr
A recent study by OECD’s Better Living asked 36 countries to rank happiness on a scale of 1 to 10. Canadians consistently ranked themselves 7.6. If you’re itching to get into this country and roll around in the bliss, here’s how to do it.
Saguenay, Quebec
Image by Normand Gaudreault via Flickr
Visit Canada To Get a Feel For the Culture
Before you make any firm decisions to move here, check the place out first. There are 10 different provinces in Canada, and each of them has a slightly different “feel” to them, with the outlier being Quebec, which is decidedly French.
Depending on your job skills, you may not have much of a choice where you live. So, for example, if you gain entry into the country under a special Quebec work program, you must live in that province.
Blue Mountain Village, Collingwood
Image by Jeff S. PhotoArt via Flickr
Determine Where You Will Work
Aside from the Quebec-selected skilled workers program, there are several other ways to gain entry into Canada. You may have family here, you can be accepted under several work visas, including the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, the Express Entry for Skilled Immigrants, the Start-Up Visa, the Self-Employed Visa, and Caregiver Visa.
Once you’ve found work, it’s time to decide how you will live.
Ottawa, Ontario
Image by Stuart Williams via Flickr
Determine How You Will Live
Most people drive in Canada, unless you live in a major city with public transit. But, assuming you won’t have consistent access to that, you will need a vehicle. This isn’t terribly difficult. You can apply for a car loan like everyone else and purchase a vehicle either from a private seller or from a car dealership.
For living space, you have a few choices. You can either rent or you can purchase a home. A few websites, like Newhomelistingservice.com, make this process pretty painless. You’ll need a real estate agent, and a down payment, for your new home.
Quadra Island, British Columbia
If you’re renting, you’ll typically need references, first and last month’s rent, and a rental agreement signed.
Print The Application and Turn It In
The application for citizenship is surprisingly straightforward. Fill it out, turn it in, and pay the fee to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The government will process your application and let you know if it needs any additional information.
There are a limited number of work visas in each category, so don’t wait too long to turn in your application. Generally, the earlier on in the year that you can apply, the better.
Humber Bay, Toronto, Ontario
Casa Lomo, Toronto, Ontario
Author bio
Jenna Miller has several years of real estate sales experience under her hat. An avid writer, she likes to share her insights by posting on the web. Her articles can be found on many real estate, property investing and home buying websites and blogs.
