Moving to Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world, after Russia. Through the years it has emerged as one of the wealthiest and most highly developed nations in the world. It is the largest trading partner of the United States and vice versa.

Occupying the northern-most region of North America with a total land area of 9.9 million square kilometers, Canada comprises ten provinces and three territories, which are divided in to five regions: The East, The Central Region, The Prairies, The West and The North.

Canada's authenticity in embracing multiculturalism builds lasting relationships between Canadians and expats, foreigners and different ethnic and religious groups. The belief in the equality of all citizens makes the country diverse and strong.

The democratic state is run by a parliamentarian system. The currency is the Canadian Dollar, denoted as C$ or CAD.

The country's capital, Ottawa, is one of the greenest capitals in the world. It is also known to be an affordable city. Ottawa is ranked 18th of 200 in a study by Mercer Human Resources International for the best quality of life throughout the world. Elegance combined with relaxation makes this cosmopolitan city appealing to both its residents and expats.

As for the other cities in Canada, Toronto has been crowned as the party capital with its top-notch attractions. It is the largest and most populated city in Canada, followed by Montreal and Vancouver.

Undeniably, Vancouver will satisfy your craving for shopping or any out of town trips. A glimpse of the city reveals its cultural diversity ranging from its shopping malls to restaurants and pubs.

Canada's population growth is slow, but considerably more competitive than in most industrialized countries. The fertility rate rose to 1.59 in 2006 from 1.54 in 2005. Statistics Canada estimates the population at 34,482,779 as of July 1, 2011. According to the report the population increase is mainly due to immigration.

Potential residents and expats should expect to live in a diverse society. The government understands the challenges of settling in a new home. As such, migrants, expats and visitors can access the government website for assistance at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

As an expat you need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), in order to apply for a bank account and establish your credit before working. You can go to the nearest Service Canada Centre or visit the website at http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/.

New residents must gear up for Canada's weather, with four different seasons in a year: spring - cool to warm, summer - warm to hot, autumn (fall) - cool to cold, and winter - cold.

English and French are the two official languages in the country. English is most prevalent except for in the province of Quebec.

With the influx of immigrants, many will agree that the Canadian Dream is on a par with the American Dream. To apply for citizenship, you have to live in the country for three years (1095 days) during a four-year period in Canada prior to applying. Proficiency in French or English is an important requirement to apply for citizenship.