How Hard Would It Be To Emigrate to Canada?

Every four years, you hear it from both sides of the aisle: "If my candidate doesn't win, I'm moving to Canada." The ratio of those who have said it compared to those who have actually done it is ridiculously lopsided. Primarily because it's not as easy as moving from Quincy to Hannibal. You don't just pack up your things, call your buddy with the truck, and promise them pizza and beer if they help you move your sofa.

Nations all over the world have suggested they'd welcome people across their borders, from New Zealand, to Canada, to Ireland, to Sweden. I personally know several teachers who have traveled abroad to teach English as a Second Language who went on to make long-term or permanent homes of China, Japan and the Czech Republic.

But what is the process like? Is it difficult? Can it be done? According to my friend in China, it's as easy as having a degree (any degree) and TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certification. In Ireland, it's as easy as a literal grandfather clause. If you have a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was born an Irish citizen, you can apply for Irish citizenship.

Now, I myself have previously applied for radio work in the Cayman Islands and the U.A.E. They were looking for English speaking radio DJs and I wanted to travel. These would have been on temporary work visas, as I had no plans to make permanent moves.

That right there is the easiest path emigration: skilled labor. Much like the ESL teachers, the easiest path to set up roots in a new country is by way of a particular set of skills they need, and are at a lack of in their home country. It makes the visa application easier, and if the employer sponsors the application, it can be quicker. In some nations (including Ireland), you can go on a tourist visa to look for work, then reapply for a work visa if you secure employment. But it's not customer service gigs you'll be able to get through on. It has to be a skilled trade.

Australia releases an annual "Skilled Occupations List" which you can read here. Canada has a wealth of resources if you're looking to relocate to the Great White North, which is the favored destination of people since it's right there next to us. To the point that the site crashed last night. I used to live right up next to Canada would frequently visit our upstairs neighbors. It's a beautiful country, with a lot to offer. Even if you don't have eyes on moving there, I do recommend it for a vacation. Pro-tip: The official sport of Canada is curling, not hockey.

Personally, I'm tweeting like crazy to Elon Musk to see if he'll step up his Mars Colonization plan. That has less to do with the outcome of the election and more to do with "Duh and/or hello, it's Mars!" I'm a lifelong Star Trek fan so space travel is the dream.