Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Emigrate to Canada

Since the current government came to power a little over 10 years ago, 1.8 million British people have left the UK in search of a new life abroad and one of the countries consistently in the top ten favoured relocation destinations with Brits is Canada.  Britons are aware that the Canadian government is welcoming of skilled immigrants, that the way of life in Canada can be much more laid back and generally attractive to Brits, and that the cost of living can be far more affordable too.

In this special report we will show you everything you need to know to successfully emigrate to Canada – from getting a visa for relocation to setting up your new home and your new life overseas.

Step One – The Visa Application Process

There are five general visa types that you can apply for if you want to live permanently in Canada depending on your status.  The first one is the most popular and it’s the skilled worker and professionals class.  Under this visa class you can apply for a visa if you have a job offer already or if you want to move to work in Canada.  There are certain skills that are very much in demand, for example oil workers are sought after, and on the Canadian immigration website you can find out all the details about which jobs, skills and trades are most in demand.  The more in demand your skills are, the more points you will receive towards your application, the more points you have, the more likely you are to receive a visa!

You can take a quick test on the website to determine whether you are likely to score enough points to be accepted.  The test will rate your language skills, years of experience you have doing your particular job, your age and other factors to see how highly you will score.  If you take this test you can see if you are close to acceptable levels, whether you score highly or fail to achieve enough points.  This can then guide you to either apply for this visa type, get more skills or perhaps seek an alternative visa route into Canada.  One top tip – for those who have a job offer, visas are often easier and quicker to come by, so it may be worth you travelling to Canada on a holiday visa and applying for work and speaking openly to employers about your situation.  You never know your luck, and if you are determined to move to Canada surely it’s a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The other visa types are investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons – this category is for people who will start a business in Canada, employ people and generate revenue for the nation.  Family sponsor – this category is ideal for those who already have family in Canada, they can sponsor your relocation.  Provincial nominees – certain provinces in Canada are actively seeking skilled immigrants more than others, these provinces have their own visas available and so these visa types are well worth considering if you don’t mind where you start off life in Canada.  Finally you have the Quebec-selected skilled workers visa which is like the provincial nominees, but specifically for Quebec where those with French language skills are highly in demand for example.

It’s well worth examining all the visa categories closely to see which one you will rank best under.  The better you rank and score, the higher your chance of acceptance and ultimately, the better your chance of moving to live in Canada!

If you are having difficulty deciding which category to apply under or you’re worried about filling in the application to the best of your ability and therefore standing the best chance of acceptance, there are professional companies out there who specialise in assisting people like yourself with your application and relocation.  They can be worth the investment – but they are not cheap!  You have to personally weigh up the pros and cons of using their services.

General advice about submitting your application for a residency visa is, apply as soon as you possibly can because the process for acceptance can take a long time!  You may well be waiting a year or more to hear whether you can move to live in Canada.  So, as soon as you are sure you want to make the move, you need to apply.  At the moment, on the Canadian immigration website, those who apply for a visa via the London offices of the Canadian consulate can expect to wait between 26 and 36 months for approval for example – so as you can see, you need to apply early and you need to be patient.

Step Two – Preparing to Move to Canada

Because it can take so long to hear whether you will get permission to live in Canada, many people wonder how they can possibly prepare themselves and their family for the relocation.  People wonder whether they should simply do nothing until they get their visa – but the reality is, once a visa decision is made, those who have been successful generally can’t wait to move!  Our advice is, begin the planning as though you will be successful!  There is nothing like a bit of positive thinking to oil the wheels anyway!  We wouldn’t recommend you sell your home, quit your job and pack all your personal belongings, but if you do research into where you want to live in Canada, which schools your children can go to, the paperwork you will need to get them into school, to open a bank account, rent a property, get a mortgage etc., so much the better.  Also, you can begin looking at finances and planning how you will fund your move.  You can make lists of furniture and personal effects you want to take, those you will give away or sell.  You can join forums and interact with others who are going through the visa application process as well as those who have already made the move and who are happily living in Canada already.  The better pre-prepared you are, the swifter you will be able to move to Canada when your visa comes through!

Don’t forget the pets either – when your application is in you need to find out what you have to do to be able to export your prized pets to Canada.  Visit the DEFRA website for full details and double check with the Canadian authorities and your own vet to ensure you have all the right vaccinations and papers in place in good time ahead of your move.

Step Three – Making the Move Abroad

With your visa in hand, now the hard work starts!  You need to decide whether you will sell up in the UK and cut all ties, whether you want to commit to a property purchase in Canada immediately – oh, and you need to tell family, friends and neighbours that you’re off!  In terms of the property question – which can be the largest and most difficult one to answer - the decision is purely personal.  All we will say is that making a move abroad is tough, not everyone likes it and some people do decide to come back home, if you did decide to come back to the UK and you had sold up and cut all ties, how would you manage that?  Additionally, if you buy a house in Canada, how can you be sure that you have bought in the part of this vast nation that you want to call home for the rest of your life?  Why not consider renting in Canada for at least a year while you find your feet? During that time you can have your house in the UK on the market giving you a little extra time to make doubly certain you want to commit to the relocation.

In terms of finding property in Canada to buy or rent, it is far easier done when you are in Canada!  Consider taking a trip a little while before your relocation to scout out properties, and be sure to sign up with multiple realtors (estate agents) who will hopefully help you find a home.

You need to decide whether you are moving lock stock and barrel from the UK or just taking the bare minimum- after all, there are shops in Canada!  You can get quotes for relocation and removal and decide whether it makes more sense to sell everything in the UK and buy new in Canada, or ship everything with you.  And you need to break the news to your friends and family with consideration – whilst you may be bursting with excitement, they may be sad to see you go and therefore their happy feelings for you may be tempered with their own sense of loss.

Step Four – Making Canada Home

Your transition into a new life in Canada will not happen smoothly overnight!  You will go through a lot of tough times on the path to your new life and you will suffer stress and sleepless nights.  But if you remain committed to establishing a new and better life for you and your family, you will overcome any fears and trepidation, any hurdles and pitfalls.  Try and work together as a family so that when one is feeling a little homesick the others pull together to remind everyone why you have made the move.  And get out and make friends as soon as possible!  The sooner you and your family have friends in Canada, the sooner life will be smoother and easier for all.  With friends and acquaintances comes familiarity and support.

Join social groups, get the children enrolled in school and after school activity, find a job – any job if needs be just so you meet new people – be active about meeting people and making your new life in Canada work.  You will be bowled over by the amount of support and help you will get, because people generally are willing to assist, give advice when asked and most Canadians will welcome you to Canada. 

Remember, the day to day stresses of getting utilities connected, finding a car to buy and a grocery store that sells what you want are the type of annoyances that are only a once in a lifetime thing.  Once you have jumped all the hurdles needed to get your life established you will suddenly find you wake up one morning and think, ‘I live in Canada, I’ve done it!’  And that’s when the fun starts – that’ when you can spend all your recreation time exploring this vast and stunning nation that you now call home!