How can Santa Fe Relocation help my move to Canada?
Alongside our global network, we have been transforming moving journeys for over 120 years. We utilise the local knowledge of our 96 offices in 47 countries to deliver seamless moving experiences. We also provide moving services, many of which can be tailored according to your own personal preferences. If you’re wondering how much a move to Canada might cost, why not fill in our free quote form? You can also get in touch with our friendly team now for more information on how we can help your Canada relocation.
Canada moving services
As a team of experienced moving specialists, we fully understand how daunting a relocation can be. That is why we offer you a range of moving services to choose from, because we believe it makes your move that little bit easier. Take our international school search for example; we can help connect your children with the schools that meet their educational requirements. Our school searching experts will conduct needs analysis, arrange interviews and assist with the application process.
If you’re moving to Canada but haven’t yet found a home, we can arrange a temporary housing solution. For us, even a short-term stay should feel like home, so we produce a list of temporary properties based on your needs. Another benefit is the obvious one of avoiding costly hotels!
To put your mind at ease, we also offer excellent shipment protection plans. They are designed by our shipment experts to cover your belongings against any unforeseen circumstances. Shipping is never a clear-cut process and sometimes the unexpected happens. With shipment protection from Santa Fe Relocation, you get cover that works.
Canada highlights
- Excellent health care system
- Immigrant friendly
- Some of the world’s top institutions for higher education
- Globally recognised for exceptional quality of life
- Huge, diverse jobs market
Immigration to Canada, how do I do it?
Making the decision to migrate to Canada isn’t an easy one, especially when you consider the potentially lengthy application process. Whether you view Canada as a temporary or permanent home, we have a few key pointers for you to consider.
Permanent residence
Most people around the world looking to migrate to Canada can gain access within just a few months of the initial application. This is made possible by the Express Entry immigration system, which has become the main contributor of economic immigration to Canada. It is also one of world’s most popular immigration systems.
Started in 2015 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Express Entry is a way for skilled candidates to gain fast, permanent residency. It is designed for people looking to work in Canada permanently, for people who have already worked in Canada and for experienced tradespeople. To begin the process, you must first prove that you are eligible for the above criteria.
Then what?
Once you’ve proven eligibility, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), which will be assessed by specialists who will then issue a ranking score to you. This score is based on the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS), which assigns candidates a point tally out of a possible 1,200. Once you’ve received the initial CRS, our advice to you is not rest on your laurels! There are always ways to improve your overall score and it’s never a good idea to assume your initial CRS is enough to guarantee residence. Here are few things that can improve you score, some by as little as 15 points, some by as much as 600.
Sibling in Canada
Having a brother or sister waiting for you in Canada can give you an easy 15 points, although of course you need to be able to prove your relationship. This can be through blood, marriage, adoption or common-law partnership.
Education
If you applied under either the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), you wouldn’t have had to have provided and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). This is a mistake, because you could be missing out on as much as 200 CRS points. On its own, education is worth a whopping 150 points and you can improve this by up to 50 additional points if you combine it with Canadian work experience and/or language ability.
Language ability
Language is currently the single highest valued human capital factor under the CRS system, making it an important aspect to consider. With a potential points haul of 260 for individuals and 270 for couples, improving your language ability is a great way to add to our CRS. It is also something than can be improved incrementally; each time you improve your language test results, you add more points. There are multiple different factors when it comes to adding additional points, such as your French language ability, proficiency in writing and your reading comprehension.
Canada history
Canadian history begins with the early movements of Paleo-Indians, who crossed from Siberia into northwest North America. A huge ice sheet prevented further expansion into Canada until around 16,000 years ago, when the glacial melt allowed people to move by land. Over thousands of years these early indigenous peoples remained as nomadic hunter gatherers, until definitive cultures started to emerge. This is known as the Woodland cultural period, where pottery was made and trade routes spread from Canada to much of the rest of North America.
Canada and by extension the whole of America, remained isolated from the rest of the world until around AD 1,000. The first contact between the Old and New worlds was not made by Columbus, as many had believed for hundreds of years. Instead it was the seafaring Vikings and their long ships that landed on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland. They didn’t stay too long, due in part to the harsh environment and lack of game available to hunt in the winter.
Europeans arrived in Canada in the late 15th century, although the first, successful permanent settlement didn’t appear until 1608 at what is now Québec City. The rapid colonisation of Canada displaced many of the indigenous people, as settlements along the east coast became more populous. Conflicts erupted between the French and the English in the early 1700s, causing further rifts between the two colonial powers. The English maintained a foothold until the advent of the American Revolution, which resulted in the Canadian and North American borders becoming officially demarcated.
Today, Canada’s strong cultural heritage of a people forged by the harsh winters is still widely apparent. They also represent a progressive people committed to the values of freedom, liberty and equal rights for all.
Where to live in Canada
Deciding where to live in Canada certainly isn’t a decision to make lightly. You should think long and hard about what you’re looking for in your move to Canada. Do you want a simple life spent in the Canadian countryside? Or are urban comforts and better job opportunities essential to a successful relocation? Budget is another thing to factor, though it’s worth mentioning that salaries are great in Canada and rent is low in most of the cities (with the exception of Toronto).
For those looking for a rural home, much of the province of Ontario is either blanketed by trees or dotted with quaint villages offering a quieter side to Canadian life. Toronto is the capital of Ontario and it’s a great option for people already settled into city life.
Canada environment
Despite what many people think, Canada isn’t a universally frozen landscape broken up by occasional maple trees. Alright so it is pretty cold sometimes and maple trees do indeed dominate the landscape, but Canada is still a hugely diverse country. Summer months transform the country into an array of colours, with wild flowers blanketing the many open plains (biting insects are common near large bodies of water, you have been warned). Temperatures are decent as well, hitting above 20° C comfortably. Autumn sees the iconic red leaves of the maple trees fill the forest; when seen from the sky it’s as if the very surface of the Earth is blushing!
Whatever you need for the perfect move to Canada, we have the expertise and the global reach to make it a reality. We are Santa Fe Relocation, we make moving home easy for you.
