Life in Canada vs Europe:
Must-Read Before Immigration
If you’re living in Europe and thinking of immigration to Canada, to be one of them, here’s a comparison of the main aspects of life in Europe and in Canada that might help you decide!
Table of Contents
🏥 Healthcare
Europe
One of the main conditions for obtaining a residence permit or citizenship in most European countries is the purchase of a medical insurance policy.
There are 4 categories of health insurance in Europe:
- Additional
- Substituting
- Duplicate
- Mandatory
The first three categories are voluntary, but all four can be private or public (social). Each person pays for insurance independently of their budget.
Several states establish a contribution in the form of a certain amount, while in other countries citizens pay a percentage of their income.
The main advantage of insurance is that the policy opens the doors for you to the best clinics (public and private) in Europe while allowing you to significantly save on treatment costs.
Health care delivery systems (and the percentage of free services provided) also vary significantly across countries.
However, in any case, having insurance, you receive the highest quality medical services, and pay much less for them (in some cases, do not pay at all).
Canada
Life expectancy is 82 years.
In a poll conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 89% of Canadians said they consider themselves perfectly healthy, a record figure.
There is unified medical insurance – Medicare.
However, each province and territory issues its health card, which can only be used within the administrative unit.
Of course, in another province, they will not refuse help, but you will have to pay for it entirely out of your pocket.
The only exceptions are emergencies with a direct threat to life – then money will not be taken even from an immigrant without insurance.
📊 Economy Comparison
In the midst of the coronavirus, it is difficult to compare the economic situation of different countries, but let’s take the most general indicators and compare the data for 2019.
Check the slideshow below to compare economic development of Canada, Italy and the average for EU countries.
🏡 Living Quality Comparison
The World Happiness Report is an annual publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
It contains articles and rankings of national happiness that ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be.
Click on the country name below, to discover its ranking.
Canada
11th Place
Italy
30th Place
Poland
43rd Place
Serbia
60th Place
🏫 Education Comparison
The level of education is all-important if you are moving and want to continue your studies or if you are moving with children.
The advantage of Canadian school education is diversity and freedom: the child himself adds most of the subjects to his schedule.
The Secondary School Diploma is issued after passing a certain number of compulsory subjects and elective disciplines.
You can get higher education in from a college or university.
The college provides mostly practical skills. Students study for 2, 3, or 4 years, after which they receive an applied bachelor’s degree.
Universities provide a classic academic education and offer great opportunities for research and development.
European universities are the second most popular destination for international students after the United States.
In some universities in the UK, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, the proportion of foreign students is about 10-25%, and this figure is constantly growing.
The top popular specialties are:
- business and management,
- engineering,
- programming,
- sociology,
- medicine (Top Universities, 2018).
In European universities, education is conducted according to the Bologna system:
- 3-4 years of bachelor’s degree
- 1 year of master’s degree.
Masters can continue their studies in graduate school and receive a Ph.D.
As a rule, in Europe, they try to give the maximum amount of knowledge in a short period so that the student can start working faster.
💼 Work Opportunities for Foreigners
We are one of the largest industrialized countries in the world, in which production is expanding from year to year and its economy has been in constant growth for decades.
High growth in Canadian manufacturing and construction has led to a shortage of professional labor in the local labor market.
To meet the labor market requirements, our government has approved the Foreign Labor Hire Bill, which allows major Canadian employers to hire foreign workers in a variety of manufacturing and service industries.
There are many in-demand jobs in Canada for foreigners in all provinces. Provinces with the greatest skills shortages are Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Every year thousands of foreign workers from all over the world receive work visas. One of the most popular choices of immigrants is getting healthcare jobs in Canada: nurses, doctors, therapists and so on.
There is a shortage of specialists in this area in many Canadian provinces. Therefore, foreigners with a nursing education have a wonderful work and immigration opportunity.
Foreign nurses can move with their families. Children will attend a Canadian kindergarten, school, or college. The spouse will receive a work visa and will be able to legally work here.
In the past few years, many nurses have immigrated from Europe, in particular from Serbia. The monthly salary of a medical worker in Italy is approximately 2000 euros before taxes. So you can calculate where it would be more profitable for you to work in your specialization.
🛤️ Immigration Routes to Canada For Europeans
Canada, known for its welcoming environment and diverse opportunities, is a popular destination for individuals seeking a new life abroad.
For Europeans contemplating a move to the Great White North, there are various immigration routes tailored to accommodate diverse backgrounds and aspirations.
Whether you are a skilled professional, entrepreneur, or a family seeking a fresh start, Canada offers avenues to make your relocation dreams a reality.
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