The day finally arrived. After months of paperwork and interviews, my family and I were approved to move to Canada. We were excited and nervous all at the same time.
The process of getting a visa was long and tedious, but it was worth it. We arrived in Toronto with high hopes for our new life.
We quickly made friends with other newcomers and started learning about our new home. The people in Canada are so friendly and welcoming, we felt right at home.
I never imagined that I would be a stay-at-home mom in Canada, but I am happy that we made this journey together. My husband got a great job opportunity as an electrician and our 2 kids made new friends at school in the 1st month!
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Realistically Speaking – What Are the Risks of Moving to Canada?
Moving to Canada may seem like a dream come true for some people. After all, the country is known for its clean air, beautiful scenery, and friendly people. These are some of the reasons that drove us to move to Canada too.
However, there are also some drawbacks to living in Canada. For instance, the cost of living is relatively high, especially in major cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. In addition, the weather can be quite cold and snowy in many parts of the country, which can make it difficult to get around during the winter months. Finally, Canada is a very large country, which means that distance can be a factor when it comes to travelling or visiting family and friends who live elsewhere. Overall, there are both pros and cons to moving to Canada. It is important to weigh all of these factors before making the decision to relocate.
Free Education for Kids
When we decided to move to Canada, one of the main factors that influenced our decision was the availability of free education for our kids. Aside from the financial benefit, we strongly believe that everyone deserves access to quality education, and we were impressed by the commitment of the Canadian government to provide this basic right for all its citizens. We appreciate the fact that we don’t have to worry about the financial burden of tuition fees. We are proud to say that free education has made a positive impact on our lives, and we are grateful to live in a country where it is available for all.
Monthly Allowance
Up until the age of 18, your kids can receive approximately 500 Canadian dollars a month based on your family’s annual income. As a family who didn’t come from a lot of money, and who struggled to make ends meet, this is another huge benefit for us. It also gave us some reassurance in case my husband’s job offer didn’t pan out.
Please keep in mind that as your family’s income increases, the amount of allowance goes down. However, it’s actually not a bad thing at all! It just means that your family is earning more money now.
Subsidized Health Care
All Canadian citizens and permanent residents are entitled to subsidized health care through the government-run Medicare system. This means that we don’t have to pay for most medical services, such as hospital stays, doctor’s visits, and prescribed drugs.
And just a fun fact: the Canadian health care system is more efficient and cost-effective than private insurance systems in most countries!
Getting Citizenship is Easier
Canada is the only country that allows you to apply for citizenship after living as a permanent resident for three (3) of the past five (5) years. This could enable you to travel to many countries without the need for a visa in addition to being able to vote. It’s absolutely amazing!
If you choose not to apply for citizenship – that’s okay too! Just be sure to renew your PR ID every five years. Education and healthcare will still be available to you as a permanent resident.
Sponsor Your Family
While we don’t have any family to sponsor, perhaps this could be helpful for you. As a Canadian permanent resident, you can sponsor clos relatives (such as parents or grandparents) to come live with you. There many different immigration streams that you can look up through a quick Google search.
Enjoy a High Standard of Living
In our experience, Canada is a place you can live very comfortably. You can buy a home for a reasonable cost, travel to beautiful locations, and offer an amazing future to yourself and your family.
Conclusion
Migrating to Canada has other benefits, especially for families, but for us, these are the top six.
Most people get (understandably) discouraged at the idea of losing their career or leaving a familiar life for something new and unknown. At the end of the day, we all want the best lives for our families, and we have to weigh our options.
If you ask me, immigrating to Canada was indeed the scariest, yet best decision we ever made. Hiring an immigration company to help us sort out the process and documentation was also hugely beneficial.
If you earn a lot of money in Ireland (or wherever you are now) and aren’t ready to give that up yet, then that’s okay. We might have considered staying back if we were able to afford a future for our kids. However, that wasn’t the case for us. And if you are exactly the same, why not apply for a PR visa and change your life?
Thinking about moving to Canada? Read our post about the Top 10 Canada Visa Mistakes to Avoid.
Interested in more in-depth information about getting permanent residency in Canada? Book a free consultation with us today to learn about your options!
