A benefit a lot of Canadian PR holders don’t know about their residence card is that it can provide you visa-free access to a lot of countries!

Canadian PR Card Travel Countries

Here is a list of countries you can travel to visa-free if you have a Canadian PR Card!

• All Dutch Caribbean territories (90 days)
• Anguilla (maximum 3 months)
• Bahamas (maximum 3 months)
• Bermuda (maximum 6 months)
• British Virgin Islands (maximum 6 months)
• Cayman Islands (2 months max) – Must arrive directly from Canada/US
• Costa Rica (maximum 1 month) – Financial proof required
• Cuba (maximum 1 month)
• Dominican Republic (maximum 2 months)
• El Salvador (does not apply to all nationalities)
• Georgia (maximum 6 months)
• Guatemala (does not apply to all nationalities)
• Honduras (does not apply to all nationalities)
• Jamaica (maximum 6 months)
• Kosovo (maximum 15 days)
• Mexico (maximum 6 months)
• Nicaragua (maximum 6 months, does not apply to all nationalities)
• Panama (1 month or 6 months)
• Peru (maximum 6 months for Indian and Chinese nationals)
• Philippines (maximum 1 month)
• Qatar (maximum 1 month)
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon (maximum 3 months)
• South Korea (maximum 1 month when in transit, does not apply to all nationalities)
• Singapore (maximum 3 days visa-free transit, Chinese and Indian citizens only)
• Sint Maarten, Netherlands (maximum 3 months)
• Taiwan (maximum 1 month, online registration mandatory, does not apply to all nationalities)
• Turks and Caicos Islands (maximum 3 months)

Legal Disclaimer – Please note that this list is not comprehensive and is subject to change!

If you are not sure if you can travel visa-free to a country using your Canadian PR card, you should check with the country’s immigration website for the latest information and if any additional requirements need to be met before your travel.

Travel Eligibility Requirements

Before you travel make sure you have the following –

• Valid Passport with more than 6 months validity
• Valid Canadian PR card
• Proof to fund your travel
• Round-trip ticket

You must be able to satisfy the immigration officers that you plan to return to your country of residence within the period or they might deny your entry.

Issues Using PR Card

It’s important to note that Airport Employees usually won’t be familiar with immigration laws, so do not take their advice but instead follow the guidance only by an immigration officer regarding the rules of their country.

When I visited the UK, I had an instance where the airport employee was giving me wrong information about using PR card for transit but I had no issue with the UK Border Agency for using my PR Card to be eligible for a single day transit.

Have you run into any issues while using your PR card for travel? Feel free to share your experience.

If you have never been to or lived in Canada before, It can be quite tricky to decide which city you should be moving to in Canada, so I decided to compile a list of factors to consider as well as potential cities to make your decision easier.

Here are some of the factors to consider the right city for you –

Canadian Cities for Early Career Job Opportunities

If your reason for moving to Canada is primarily due to better career prospects, and you are a recent graduate, then the ideal cities to move to for skilled labor would be –

• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Montreal
• Calgary

The reason being not only are most job postings in the country represented by those three cities, but also there will be a ton of other opportunities if you want to go for a career change or just go up the ladder!

If you are wondering where I got the job numbers from, I got them by looking them up on Indeed Canada which is one of the major job sites in the country.

Top Industries For Toronto

• Finance/Banking
• Technology
• Healthcare/Life Sciences
• Film and Entertainment

Top Industries For Vancouver

• Film and TV
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Technology
• Tourism

Top Industries For Montreal

• Aerospace
• Information Technology
• Finance
• Creative Industries (Arts, Video Games, Film)

Top Industries For Calgary

• Oil and Gas
• Financial Services
• Agriculture
• Technology

Job Prospects In Small Cities
If you decide to go to a smaller city early in your career then just make a note that there are not going to be a lot of job postings or even companies willing to hire you!

Smaller cities also tend to have jobs in specific industries so make sure before moving to a smaller city that there are jobs in your industry.

Canadian Cities for Experienced Professionals

Being an experienced person can open a lot more options apart from just Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal. You can start considering other Canadian cities like –

• Edmonton
• Ottawa
• Victoria
• Winnipeg
• Halifax
• London
• Quebec City

While these cities have relatively fewer jobs, there are still good prospects for experienced folks. I do recommend you to do a search for jobs in your field before making a move!

Before you apply for jobs, it would be ideal to prepare your resume.

Remote Jobs in Canada
If you are in tech/business/marketing industry, then it might be possible to secure a remote job in Canada and then live in a small affordable Canadian town.

Top Canadian Cities for Higher Education

If getting an education from a top institute is your priority then Toronto comes out at the top since the University of Toronto is based there.

You can also consider Vancouver/Kelowna, where the University of British Columbia is based.

Francophone Education
Montreal would be an ideal choice if you are a French speaker as it hosts McGill University as well as the University of Montreal. While McGill is an English language institute, the Montreal itself is officially a French speaking city.

Other cities and universities to consider for top tier education –

• Edmonton – University of Alberta
• Calgary – University of Calgary
• Ottawa – University of Ottawa (Bilingual University)
• Waterloo – University of Waterloo
• Halifax – Dalhousie University

Canadian Cities for French Speakers in Canada

Canada has two official languages – English and French. While the majority of the country’s population speaks English, you will find French to be more prevalent in Quebec and in the Western part of New Brunswick.

If French is your sole language, and you are looking for opportunities then the best cities to move to in Canada would be –

• Montreal
• Quebec City
• Ottawa-Gatineau

Both Ottawa and Montreal have many people that are bilingual in both English and French. If you are looking to get exposure to English, then both cities would be an ideal fit.

Preferred Provinces For Francophones
The majority of French-speaking immigrants move to either Quebec or Ontario not only because of the opportunities but also because Ontario offers a lot of support to French speakers for them to succeed.

Best Canadian Cities for a Vibrant Social Life

If you are looking for a city with a ton of events happening throughout the year then you will have to move to

• Montreal
• Toronto
• Vancouver

Something important to note here is that your Social Life will depend on what you like to do and how fast you are able to make friends after your move. Some people are not able to make any friends despite moving to these big cities!

This doesn’t mean that the smaller cities don’t have much to do but you will find less variety in terms of things to do. Culture in the bigger cities can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another.

Top Canadian Cities with a Lower Cost of Living

If you are looking for an affordable city to live in, forget Toronto/Vancouver! Instead, consider one of these cities –

• Quebec City
• Winnipeg
• London
• Moncton
• Saskatoon
• Windsor
• Thunder Bay
• Halifax
• Gatineau
• Calgary
• Edmonton

where the cost of living is significantly lower than Toronto/Vancouver!

Best Canadian Cities for Mild Weather

A few Canadian cities have a much warmer climate than the rest of Canada.

If you are looking for nice weather in the Eastern parts of Canada, cities to consider moving to would be

• Halifax (Nova Scotia)
• St Johns (Newfoundland)

Cities in Western Canada that have milder weather –

• Victoria (British Columbia)
• Vancouver (British Columbia)

While Toronto does get quite cold in winter, if you are living in the downtown area you would have zero issues due to winter as the roads and walkways are always kept clear of snow!

Canadian Cities With Cultural Diversity

If you enjoy the western lifestyle then you are looking moving either to Alberta or Saskatchewan. Cities to consider in that case would be Edmonton, Calgary, Regina or Saskatoon!

Cowboy Lifestyle In Quebec
Certain parts of Quebec also offer western life (including rodeos and music!) Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, and Montreal are not too from Saint-Tite which is where one of the largest rodeo events in North America is held! Yes, it’s in French!

South Asian Population In Canada
Brampton, which is part of the Greater Toronto Area, has a significant South Asian population, and you will be able to find all sorts of South Asian cuisines. However, note that the crime rate in Brampton is higher than in other Canadian cities. It might just be ideal for you to move to Toronto.

Cities With Chinese Population
Vancouver (Richmond) comes out at the top with the most people of Chinese descent. Other cities being Montreal and Toronto where a lot of people moved specifically from Hong Kong and other Chinese territories.

You will be able to find people from all over the world in Vancouver/Montreal/Toronto. If you want to experience multicultural cities then those cities would be a good place to start!

Top Canadian Cities for Raising a Family

If you are planning to have a family then whichever city you choose, you will most likely be looking at living in the suburbs (away from downtown) as the houses are usually much more affordable than in the downtown core.

If you want your kids to be in a bilingual environment then you would need to either be in Ottawa/Gatineau or Montreal metro. There are other cities that you can consider as well, like Winnipeg, Sherbrooke where there is a significant bilingual population.

If you know of a place that I did not cover then feel free to share that through comments!

While you might have heard a lot about the benefits of living in Canada and how Canadian cities always show up in the best places to live in North America, you should also know about things that you might not like about Canada. It’s definitely something to consider if you are planning to migrate to Canada.

Here are some reasons why you should not move to Canada! –

Harsh Winter Weather in Canada

Winters can be really harsh in Canada. Temperatures can drop as low as -30C depending on which city you are residing in. If you are not used to the cold weather, it might make you stay indoors and not enjoy going out for a few months every year!

My Personal Experience With Winters In Canada
I got used to the weather pretty quick as I had been living in Midwest US before moving to Toronto, Canada where the weather gets as cold. But I remember that when I had moved to the UK from India, it took me a while to get adjusted to the cold weather there.

Winter Clothing Tips
Here is my recommendation on what to wear during Canadian winters –

• A well insulated winter jacket
• A light jacket – layering jackets helps a lot
• A winter hat – beanie or trapper hat
• Snow boots – with good grip
• Wool based socks – keep your feet warm
• Thermal pants – inner wear for legs
• Wind/water resistant pants or lined jeans
• Winter gloves – great if wind resistant
• Wool based top (innerwear)

Driving Tips for Winters
Since it snows quite a lot during winters, driving can be quite challenging. It is no surprise that it is recommended to equip your car with winter tires or even snow chains in some of the regions.

Some provinces like Quebec legally require you to have winter tires. It might be beneficial to carry a snow brush with you as well.

If you enjoy warmer weather, that will leave you to either go for Vancouver or Victoria as your preferred destination since they experience milder winters than the rest of the country.

High Cost of Living in Canada’s Major Cities

The lack of housing supply and money laundering in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal has caused real estate prices to go way beyond the yearly inflation rate while the same thing can’t be said about the salary that an average Canadian makes.

Not only do you have to pay a lot of money for housing in those cities, but also the quality of the unit tends to be poor. If you are planning to get housing, make sure that you inspect the unit before you submit your housing application.

Where To Live For Cheap In Canada?
Here are some cities that have a relatively lower cost of living (rent) compared to the major cities but note that they might not have ample job opportunities –

• Red Deer, Alberta
• Sherbrooke, Quebec
• Quebec City, Quebec
• Saint John, New Brunswick
• Regina, Saskatchewan

Relatively Poor Wages and High Taxes in Canada

In general, wages in Canada lag way behind wages in the United States. There is a reason why a lot of Canadians decide to move south of the border and get a skilled job there as there is potential of making a lot more money in the US when you take into consideration stock options and bonuses that the American companies handout to their employees. This is despite the federal minimum wage being much higher in Canada than in the US.

Not only are the average wages lower in Canada, but also the taxes are higher, meaning after tax deductions and paying living expenses, you will have very little or no savings at all while living in major Canadian cities.

I remember when I had just moved to Canada, I used to get calls from Canadian companies and many of them were paying less than half of what I was making before moving to Canada. I just had to reject such jobs outright as they barely would have covered my monthly living expenses and it would just have been too stressful for me.

How To Find High Paying Jobs In Canada?
Jobs in specific industries can pay you very competitive salaries. Those jobs usually tend to be in Healthcare, IT or Finance if you are looking in the service industry. But you will also find high paying jobs in the Resource/Energy industry and manufacturing to a certain extent.

To secure such jobs you must have good academic credentials or professional experience. Sometimes those credentials can be supplemented with any additional educational courses or certifications that you might have completed. Make sure to have an impressive resume before you even apply for jobs.

You could try looking for a US based company and work remotely for them from Canada as American companies tend to pay a lot more than Canadian companies however it will require a lot of effort on your part to secure such job.

Tips For Reducing Taxes
To reduce your personal income taxes, you could setup an RRSP account (retirement savings) with your bank or another financial service provider. I had setup my RRSP and TFSA account, immediately after moving to Canada and I would recommend you to do the same.

Poor Public Transit System in Canada

While you will often hear how Canadian cities like Toronto have the best public transit system in North America, it is still generations behind European/Japanese cities. In a lot of areas throughout the country, public transport is almost non-existent.

You will find that the public transit system is always overcapacity during peak hours and breakdowns happen quite often meaning your commutes are delayed and what was supposed to be a 15-minute commute becomes more than 2 hours! Not only that, but during peak hours it reeks of sweat and you will often end up having interaction with crazy people on the transit on a regular basis who can sometimes get aggressive for absolutely no reason.

While I was living in Toronto, I decided to live at a walking distance from my workplace and it worked out great as I didn’t have to take public transport even during winters. This helped me avoid public transport completely.

Should You Get A Car In Toronto?
It can be really expensive to own a car in Toronto. Insurance rates are usually very high, parking is expensive and traffic is one of the worst in North America. Only go with a vehicle if you really need it. If you have a family and need to take your kid around, yes go get yourself a car. But if you can live without a car, that’s what I would recommend especially if you are living in downtown Toronto.

Broken Healthcare System

While Canada does have a public healthcare system, it can be really hard to find a family doctor. Millions of Canadians are on waitlist to have a family doctor assigned to them, and it can take months or even years before you get a family doctor.

The healthcare system has been overburdened for years and delays in treatment can cost someone’s life. While, these issues are very well known, there is very little effort by the Federal/Provincial Government to resolve issues around delays in healthcare and many Canadians now prefer to go and see a private doctor instead of waiting months to be seen.

What To Do If You Cannot Find A Family Doctor?
In case you need to see a doctor but have been on a waitlist, I recommend that you try for a walk-in clinic. Even though the name ‘walk-in clinic’ suggests you do not need an appointment, you should call them before your arrival to see if they would be able to see you. In case of any serious issue, you should just go to the Hospital or call an ambulance.

Driving in Canadian Cities Can Be Frustrating

Unlike American cities, Canadian cities do not have a downtown loop (connecting highways) meaning if you have to enter or leave the city, you will have to stick to the narrow city roads with signals every then and now. Driving in Canadian cities can be a really tiring experience, especially during peak hours.

While the population in cities has gone up drastically in the last decade, there has been very little effort by the provincial and federal government to build the necessary transportation infrastructure that supports growth.

Driving Tips
Here are some of my tips to avoid traffic –

• Avoid driving during peak hours if possible
• Use Google Maps to avoid construction zones
• Consider public transit (if it’s more convenient)

Noise Pollution in Canadian Cities

This one might not apply to all major Canadian cities but something I really hated about living in Toronto’s city center was that it was just too noisy. Construction would start up early in the morning and would disrupt my sleep. While you can complain to the city about the issue, they would be very unwilling to do much about it since real-estate contributes a big portion to the economy.

Another thing that might bother you while living downtown is the constant sound of vehicles. Most of the apartments and condos in the downtown area have poor sound insulation and you will hear almost everything that goes around your block even if you are living on the high level floors.

How To Minimize Noise Pollution?
It might be worth considering the following to have a peaceful living environment

• You can try using ear plugs or noise canceling headphones
• Add noise insulation for the walls
• Add soundproof curtains for windows
• White noise machines can be beneficial for sleep
• Seal gaps or cracks in windows/doors/walls

Is Canada Still a Good Place to Move To?

While you can avoid the high cost of living, and traffic issues by moving to a small city, there might not be a lot to do in those cities and the smaller cities might be lacking on infrastructure like transport and healthcare.

It would be good to ask yourself what kind of lifestyle do you really want?