Moving to Canada is so exciting that it’s hard not to be excited about it. It is beautiful, and the people are known for being nice. For breakfast, you eat a bowl of maple syrup. You ski to work and say “sorry” to everyone you meet. Keep an eye out for bears. We will tell you five things you need to know about moving to Canada. So, keep reading!

1. Weather

Sun or snow? Why not both?

As long as you don’t live on the coast of British Columbia or in some parts of Southern Ontario, you’re almost sure to have cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers, with short transitional seasons in between.

If you live in a warm or mild place, the bitter cold of a Canadian winter is going to shock you. At -25°C, it’s tough to put into words how cold it is. But don’t worry, you can come prepared with the right clothes and attitude. People in Canada don’t take summer for granted, and they know how to make the most of it when it’s there.

2. There are different visas available in Canada

The main ways to move to Canada are through the Express Entry System, Provincial Nominee Programs, and Immigration Pilots. Each of these has a lot of different immigration programs, streams, and visa types. There are short-term working holiday visa programs, family sponsorship programs, student visa programs, and, of course, the tourist visa, which allows people to visit the country.

The IRCC is in charge of immigration in Canada. Provincial governments and even individual communities can help immigrants become permanent residents and make their move to Canada permanent if they are valuable to their local economy to stay in Canada for good. It’s essential to know your options when applying for permanent leave to remain, so you don’t waste money and time on the wrong program.

3. Canada is huge

After Russia, Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It’s almost 10 million square miles. That might not mean anything to you, but think about this: you could fit the United Kingdom into Canada more than 40 times. The coast of it would take you more than four years to walk! St. John’s on Newfoundland’s east coast is closer to London than Vancouver is to St. John’s on the west coast. When it comes to Wood Buffalo Park, it’s bigger than the Netherlands. There are ten provinces and three territories in Canada. To make things easier, they’ve been broken up into thirteen parts. Take the country piece by piece.

4. Two official languages

The Canadians didn’t want to have just one official language, so English and French have the same status as they do in the United States. That sounds hard, but what if you were living in Singapore (four official languages) or India (several languages) (sixteen official languages). Unless you are in the eastern province of Quebec, where people are working very hard to keep things as French as possible, you don’t notice that the country is French-like. There are rules set by the OQLF, which is like the language police, to make sure everyone speaks enough French. If a shop doesn’t put French on its signs and say hello to customers in French, it’s in trouble.

5. Credit score

There are a lot of North American countries that have credit-based economies, like the United States and Canada, and they are known for that. This means that people use their credit cards to buy things and then pay back the whole amount at the end of their credit card billing cycle or in installments. After getting your first one, it’s essential to pay off your credit card balance in full by the end of the billing cycle. You can start by paying your phone bill or grocery bill. This way, you will build up your credit over time.

It’s good to keep in mind that credit cards have limits and do not give you free money. They can have very high-interest rates, so you should keep your balance under control and pay it off as soon as possible. This will help you maintain a good credit rating.

Canadians need credit ratings or credit scores to live in the country, and having one is very important for living there. Some situations where you might be asked for a credit report are when you rent a place, apply for a job, or get a loan from the bank.

Bottom line

You should find a Canadian immigration specialist to make your immigration easy and seamless. Then, you can enjoy all the good things in Canada without fear.