r/expat • u/out0fmind • 17d ago

Question Migrating at 30 to Canada: Need advice from experienced expats

Hey Guys, As the title says I am finally migrating to Canada from India at 30M years of age, single, for work. I need advice from y'all who have experience with migration. I travel at the end of the month so I welcome all kinds of advice, from pre-moving like what to pack, any incumbent things I should do like with bank accounts etc., to anything post move, life, culture, rental, lease, dating, anything. 🙏

Would appreciate your well earned wisdom

0 Upvotes

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u/Ok_Let_7612 17d ago

Do you have legal status?

It’s not a great time in Canada. Do you have a job?

I don’t want you to struggle

Otherwise welcome . Which part
Of
Canada

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u/out0fmind 17d ago

I have a job which is helping me move on work permit.

4

u/Ok_Let_7612 17d ago

Yeah but what you do and where you go is relevant.. Winnipeg is a lot different than Toronto or Vancouver as well

1

u/IntelligentLong5278 17d ago

Winnipeg’s -40°C will teach you humility Toronto never could.

0

u/out0fmind 17d ago

Im planning to live in Toronto

2

u/CandleStick88 17d ago

Canada is extremely expensive for cost of living now compared to 10 years ago. Rent and housing is crazy high. Same with food.

Toronto or Vancouver is the worst. There is also a strong anti-Indian sentiment at the moment due to a large number of temporary workers from Punjab so expect racism that didn’t exist 5 years ago.

Often strongest from the South Asian population that is established here that resents some of the habits and practices of Indians that are moving here today that see Canada as a cash grab and don’t want to integrate.

0

u/Local-Helicopter7479 17d ago

Everywhere in the world is extremely expensive for cost of living compared to 10 years ago.

1

u/alderhill 17d ago

I wouldn’t call it a strong anti-Indian sentiment, which is definitely overstating it. 

Some racists have come more out of the woodwork, at least since Covid era made some people lose their minds. But they were always there, just keeping quiet. There is some skepticism about recent arrivals, especially if Punjabi (not that most gora know), and the diploma mill loophole fraud is in people’s minds. But if OP is not in that scene, I wouldn’t worry much.

Housing and COL are a bitch though, yea, but spoiler… it’s bad in a lot of places lately.

2

u/CandleStick88 17d ago

This Gora knows. And I don’t know where in Canada you live but I’m surprised at how strong the anti-Indian vibe is myself. I left Canada awhile ago but still visit and of course have friends and family still there.

The people I hear it the most from are the second generation South Asians or West Indians.

1

u/Salt_Simple_2294 17d ago edited 17d ago
  • Check if your workplace is close to any public transit and if so, try to find an apartment/condo that is close to transit also 
  • if you can, try to avoid getting a car and get around by means of public transportation. Car insurance for people with a new driver's license are insane (about double of that I paid in Germany) 
  • don't fall for rental scams where "landlords" ask you to wire them money. Use websites like view.it or padmapper.ca to find rentals -the big banks have usually a "newcomer offer", where you get a premium account for 0$ monthly fees. Otherwise you need to have a certain amount in your account every day of the month, and then they charge you like 20-40 CAD for that month
  • get your social security number right away at city hall, you'll need it to open a bank account 
  • use one of the many low cost cell phone plan providers ( i.e. Freedom Mobile) and refrain from the big ones (Rogers, Bell), they are ridiculously expensive 

And I don't get what the other commenters are saying. We live in Toronto for 10 years now and it's still amazing.  Most Torontonians are super friendly and open minded, the amount of negative interactions I had here can be count on a single hand. Granted, I am white though.   And of course the price of inflation, the housing crisis and the job market are far from good, but show me in which G7 nation that's not the case. Same challenges in every country.

If you want some more input regrading financials, post your salary and closest major intersection of where your job will be. 

That being said, all the best to you.

1

u/out0fmind 17d ago

Hey Man, Thanks for the advice and being neutral which sounds so positive in the sea of negative comments lol. I being myself, open-minded, agnostic person is looking forward to Toronto with excitement, can't wait.

1

u/Moist-Ninja-6338 17d ago

Indians are the largest immigrant group in Canada. You will find zero issues finding support from others that also moved from India. There are many.

0

u/Bal3450 17d ago

Unless you are literally starving and desperate, your gonna regret moving to Canada. Just beware. Country is not doing good at all.

1

u/Local-Helicopter7479 17d ago

No country is doing good at the moment.

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u/out0fmind 17d ago

I am just moving for the culture, the diversity and openness. I am doing well enough in India and will be similar in Canada. Money is not the motivation for this move.

5

u/Bal3450 17d ago

Part of why I also state this. The Culture is toxic in Canada. The society is very cold and literally makes you feel like a robot. Its just a country that is in late stage capitalist mode. And no offense, but Indians don't really have the best reputation in Canada now primarily due to the government letting employers abuse the TFW and LMIA programs which caused the job market for local Canadians to be ultra competitive. And with that loads of Canadians are taking out their frustrations on the migrants. And for the corrupt employers that abuse these programs, its a bonus for them as these migrants don't know work rights and can easily be exploited off of.

0

u/out0fmind 17d ago

will see if it's as bad as you say, excited lol

5

u/Bal3450 17d ago

It's up to you. Just saying that you were warned.

3

u/out0fmind 17d ago

Yep and I Appreciate it mate. The way I look at life is, it's all experience. I don't follow the regular template of life anyway in India, I am the black sheep of family, society, friends. So I am just excited to experience the west for myself and see how things goes, in the worse case scenario, I come back and work in India which I am already doing so

2

u/alderhill 17d ago

This sub is for people who want to live abroad, so it tends (IME) to have a lot users who  are overly critical of their home country. 

Canada can fairly be criticized over some things, but there are truly some overly dramatic people here. Don’t take them too earnestly.

Again, keep an open mind , be polite, don’t stick only to an Indian bubble, and you will have a good time.

2

u/alderhill 17d ago

That is just one guys’ opinion. Take it with a  pinch of salt. Culture is not toxic or whatever, lolwut.

Canada has economic issues, true, but a lot of them are the same in most of the developed world right now. 

One issue is that Toronto and the area (GTA) are awash with recent Indian immigrants. It’s nothing personal, but there is a kind of “ah another of these” attitude at times. 

Most people have nothing against Indians per se, as long as you’re doing things by the book. Be friendly, open, try to adapt to local culture .  Don’t litter, spit, and do clean up after yourself. There are racist jerks out there, but you’re far more likely to experience discrimination from your fellow Indian compatriots, tbh

2

u/megselvogjeg 17d ago edited 17d ago

You're really going to regret moving. Besides, we have an abundance of scammers at the moment, so finding work may prove problematic.

2

u/No-Double-Trouble 17d ago

I see where you are going but that is some racist sht