03-12-2024, 06:21 AM
Please DO NOT migrate to Canada as of 2023.
If you are planning to opt for the path of higher studies (Master's) to immigrate, that's not fruitful if you don't have the work experience to back it up, to be honest. You end up paying about 3 times the fees than Canadian citizens and while jobhunting, your foreign work experience is mostly neglected by companies. On the other hand, if you plan to come for undergraduate studies to immigrate, it is more effective in terms of landing a job but the course fees are insane (and make sure you make the most of co-op work terms because that goes a LONG way). Nevertheless, these concerns also largely depend on the field of education/work.
Immigration since post-COVID has skyrocketed and it seems like any Tom, Dick and Harry can come over by exploiting loop holes and providing fake documents. Seems like the government prefers quantity rather than quality of immigrants. There are multiple other immigration pathways based on the province (LMIA for instance where most employers milk money out of the candidate just to immigrate - I'm talking 20k-30k Canadian dollars just so they hire you through this pathway).
Cost of living is very high, vehicle insurance is expensive (200–400 CAD per month depending on the province for new drivers based on vehicle year, make and model), mobile network plans are expensive (one of the highest in the world), childcare is expensive, buying a property is very expensive depending on location (especially major cities like Toronto and Vancouver), interest rates are crazy and income tax is very high for high earners (almost 40%-45% if you fall above the 100k annual salary bracket, around 30% for less than 100k annual bracket).
Now you might have heard of the benefits of living in Canada like free healthcare. That's a joke to be blunt - unless it is a life or death situation, you won't get immediate treatment. I know people who have waited over 6 hours in the ER for sprains/fractures. I consulted a doctor for an infection and he referred me to a specialist (however, this was in Newfoundland where there is a shortage of medical staff due to lower pay and higher cost of living than other provinces). The specialist called me to book an appointment over 2 months later, long after the infection subsided (maybe to do a post mortem of the infection lol). Medical care is tenfold better in Asian countries, hands down (mainly due to the ease of access and affordability of private healthcare).
People also say that Canada is a very safe place. Not anymore I'd say. Crime is on the rise throughout the country, probably due to inflation and unaffordable living. From my personal experience of my vehicle being stolen, the cops give priority to more serious crimes (almost like giving a free pass to burglars and thieves).
Let's take a look at the climate. Except very few cities like Vancouver, most other places have extreme winter climate ranging from -5°C to over -45°C for a good part of the year (about 4–5 months with peak climate for about 2 months). Summers are nice as long as it does not go over 27°C-30°C (the sun feels intense when compared to similar temperatures in the Middle East).
These are my observations from over 5 years of my life in Canada. Thinking back, maybe I should have considered other better options.
On the plus side, if you have the willingness to work hard and longer hours, you can get by or even do well. Lots of highly qualified professionals do Uber or food delivery jobs to make a living due to lack of jobs/high competition (myself included). Jobs that are considered menial in other parts of the world (like plumbers, barbers, labourers, truck drivers etc.) pay well (auto mechanics charge around $80-$120 per hour for labour) and every job gets it's own respect. The Canadian people are very welcoming, well-mannered and friendly (there are exceptions obviously as seen in the comments below). Canada is a beautiful place and the people as well as the government go the extra mile to preserve nature in it's pristine state.
EDIT: This answer is solely for the question. Whatever I have shared in my answer is based on my personal experience from where I lived, what I studied, where I moved etc. Obviously all of it is not going to be the universal situation for everyone across Canada. For those of you wondering why I did not move back to where I came from: it would work against my best interests after investing 5–6 years in a country at a young age to try to settle myself and build a career and life (all on my own). I don't wish to waste that time or finances spent, thus I'm working towards making the best of it right now, even considering a career change. It is only natural that you progress in your career and better your life (if you put work into it) over time
If you are planning to opt for the path of higher studies (Master's) to immigrate, that's not fruitful if you don't have the work experience to back it up, to be honest. You end up paying about 3 times the fees than Canadian citizens and while jobhunting, your foreign work experience is mostly neglected by companies. On the other hand, if you plan to come for undergraduate studies to immigrate, it is more effective in terms of landing a job but the course fees are insane (and make sure you make the most of co-op work terms because that goes a LONG way). Nevertheless, these concerns also largely depend on the field of education/work.
Immigration since post-COVID has skyrocketed and it seems like any Tom, Dick and Harry can come over by exploiting loop holes and providing fake documents. Seems like the government prefers quantity rather than quality of immigrants. There are multiple other immigration pathways based on the province (LMIA for instance where most employers milk money out of the candidate just to immigrate - I'm talking 20k-30k Canadian dollars just so they hire you through this pathway).
Cost of living is very high, vehicle insurance is expensive (200–400 CAD per month depending on the province for new drivers based on vehicle year, make and model), mobile network plans are expensive (one of the highest in the world), childcare is expensive, buying a property is very expensive depending on location (especially major cities like Toronto and Vancouver), interest rates are crazy and income tax is very high for high earners (almost 40%-45% if you fall above the 100k annual salary bracket, around 30% for less than 100k annual bracket).
Now you might have heard of the benefits of living in Canada like free healthcare. That's a joke to be blunt - unless it is a life or death situation, you won't get immediate treatment. I know people who have waited over 6 hours in the ER for sprains/fractures. I consulted a doctor for an infection and he referred me to a specialist (however, this was in Newfoundland where there is a shortage of medical staff due to lower pay and higher cost of living than other provinces). The specialist called me to book an appointment over 2 months later, long after the infection subsided (maybe to do a post mortem of the infection lol). Medical care is tenfold better in Asian countries, hands down (mainly due to the ease of access and affordability of private healthcare).
People also say that Canada is a very safe place. Not anymore I'd say. Crime is on the rise throughout the country, probably due to inflation and unaffordable living. From my personal experience of my vehicle being stolen, the cops give priority to more serious crimes (almost like giving a free pass to burglars and thieves).
Let's take a look at the climate. Except very few cities like Vancouver, most other places have extreme winter climate ranging from -5°C to over -45°C for a good part of the year (about 4–5 months with peak climate for about 2 months). Summers are nice as long as it does not go over 27°C-30°C (the sun feels intense when compared to similar temperatures in the Middle East).
These are my observations from over 5 years of my life in Canada. Thinking back, maybe I should have considered other better options.
On the plus side, if you have the willingness to work hard and longer hours, you can get by or even do well. Lots of highly qualified professionals do Uber or food delivery jobs to make a living due to lack of jobs/high competition (myself included). Jobs that are considered menial in other parts of the world (like plumbers, barbers, labourers, truck drivers etc.) pay well (auto mechanics charge around $80-$120 per hour for labour) and every job gets it's own respect. The Canadian people are very welcoming, well-mannered and friendly (there are exceptions obviously as seen in the comments below). Canada is a beautiful place and the people as well as the government go the extra mile to preserve nature in it's pristine state.
EDIT: This answer is solely for the question. Whatever I have shared in my answer is based on my personal experience from where I lived, what I studied, where I moved etc. Obviously all of it is not going to be the universal situation for everyone across Canada. For those of you wondering why I did not move back to where I came from: it would work against my best interests after investing 5–6 years in a country at a young age to try to settle myself and build a career and life (all on my own). I don't wish to waste that time or finances spent, thus I'm working towards making the best of it right now, even considering a career change. It is only natural that you progress in your career and better your life (if you put work into it) over time