Moving from Canada to Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a small Western European country that lures Canadians to leave their busy North American lifestyle and settle down in one of many Belgium castles. Whether you consider moving to Belgium from Canada to explore new job opportunities or retire in Europe, you will not be disappointed.
Moving from Canada to Belgium can become one of the reasons for you to fall in love with life again. Here you will be surrounded by beautiful houses and cottages, manicured fields, and friendly strangers, the spirit of Belgium is contagious!
Canada vs. Belgium
Prior to initiating the immigration process, have a look at the following important facets to figure out whether moving to Belgium from Canada is suitable in the long perspective.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
The total territory of Canada is well over 9,9 million km2, taking 40% of the North American Continent. The only land bordering the country is the US, the rest of the land is washed by the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Canada is divided into 3 territories and 10. The capital city is Ottawa located in Ontario province.
Canada is a cold country. More than half of the land is uninhabitable due to the harsh winter climate. Almost 87% of the population lives near Canada and the US border. The west coast is temperate and rainy, the east is continental. The average temperature in summer is +23 and -17 degrees Celsius.
Canada is an extremely ethnically diverse country. As of August 2022, there are over 38 million people and more than 250 ethnic origins, according to the census of 2016. Over 32% of the population identify as Canadians and about 4.9% as indegenous groups. The next biggest ethnic groups are from England, Scotland, France, Germany, China, India, etc.
The vast majority of the believing population practices Christianity. Other minor groups practice Islam, Sikhism, Buddism, Hinduism and others. The 2 official langauges in Canada are English and French, which will make it easier for Canadians to move from Canada to Belgium.
A typical Canadian would never miss a family thanksgiving dinner and their favourite hockey or baseball team game. Canadians are not only outgoing but embrace their cultural traditions and religious beliefs. Throughout the year you can witness each community bringing their festivals and celebrations that are shared and enjoyed by all.
Sometimes the stereotypes do not lie and that is the case with Canadian politeness. You would easily recognize an American in a social gathering, but a Canadian will not be as easily recognized. Canadians are focused on building their careers and finding life goals.
Canada offers high-quality education that is recognized and respected globally. In Canada, each province is responsible for providing and monitoring school curriculums, which might slightly differ from one another. Public education is free for citizens and PR holders, and international students are required to attend private schools.
Higher education in Canada has been ranked among the top best countries for international students. The most known universities are in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal. Upon graduation, students receive a 3-year post-graduate work permit that allows them to live and work in Canada legally.
Canada is a fairly expensive country to live in, although, if working for a minimum wage at a full-time position, you would be able to provide for yourself. The average salary in Canada is about $54,630 CAD per year. Some of the highest salaries are in the medical, IT, engineering and financial industries.
The monthly expenses of a single person living in Canada are $1,200 CAD, while a family of 4 would spend on average $4,300 CAD without rent. The rent price of apartments in Canada would range depending on the city and location within the city. Expect to pay about $1,300 - $1,800 CAD for a 1 bedroom and $2,200 - $3,000 CAD for a 3 bedroom apartment.
The Canadian immigration system might seem pretty straightforward, however, there are some important aspects to learn. Canada was the first to establish a points-based immigration system. Without gaining enough points you will not be able to participate in a candidate selection.
Each immigration pool opening has a different minimum points requirement that is set by the government. The number of points you can gain will depend on various factors like education, marriage status, age, skills and qualifications.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Belgium is located in western Europe, on the east coast of the North Sea. It borders the Netherlands to the north, Germany and Luxembourg to the east, and France to the south and southwest. In the northwest, Belgium is washed by the waters of the North Sea. The total area of Belgium's territory is over 30,500 km2.
The climate is formed under the influence of the North Atlantic’s sea air masses and warm currents. The climate is temperate maritime, characterised by high precipitation. The average temperature on the coast is +3 degrees in January, and +19 degrees in July. A nice bonus after moving from Canada to Belgium.
Due to its rather complicated history, Belgium has been divided into 3 linguistic groups: Flemings (Dutch), Walloons (French) and a small group of Belgians who speak German in the eastern region. These Belgians make up over 87% of the total population. The rest are minor groups from France, Netherlands, Italy, Romania and others.
About 60% of the population is Roman Catholic. The next practising groups are Muslims ( 4%), Protestants (2%) and others. There are 3 official languages spoken in Belgium: Dutch (Flemish), French and German.
Belgian’s work hours are pretty flexible, usually consisting of 40 hours per week. Big cities like Brussels never sleep. When Belgium is not working, they are travelling or out around on their bicycles, dining with their friends, at the art gallery or clubbing at night.
In most cases, Belgians are an educated, respectful, inquisitive nation and are faithful to their traditions. They would rather stand in a long line in the rain at their favourite bakery on Saturday morning than buy bread at the supermarket. In the beginning, the locals might keep their distance from foreigners, but it can develop into a long-lasting friendship.
Education in Belgium is divided into private and public sectors. Public schools are funded by the government and provide free compulsory education for students. The price for a private school ranges from €11,500 - €20,600 depending on the grade. The language that is used to teach differs from region to region.
Studying in Belgium for a postgraduate or undergraduate program is a popular way to move from Canada to Belgium permanently. The average tuition fee in a Belgium university for EU nationals is €940 per year. For international students - €5,000 per year. After graduation, students are given six months to find a job and receive a work permit, which will allow them to renew their residence status.
After moving from Canada to Belgium, you will be pleasantly surprised. The rent prices in Brussels are on average 68% lower than in Toronto. A 1 bedroom apartment in the center of Brussel would cost about €922 ($1,200 CAD) per month. A 3 bedroom apartment - €1,612 ($2,105 CAD).
For an individual moving to Belgium from Canada monthly expenses would round up to €820 ($1.1071 CAD) without rent. A family of 4 can expect to spend about $2,900 ( $3,790 CAD) per month without rent. The average monthly salary, working in Belgium, is about €3,100 - €3,400. The most in-demand specialists include medical workers, accountants, engineers, construction workers, teachers, and representatives of IT professions.
Belgian legislation for foreigners who wish to obtain a residence permit in Belgium is quite strict and characterized by a large number of supporting documents and bureaucratic delays. Despite a large number of pitfalls, it is possible to obtain a residence permit in Belgium as early as the fourth year after arrival in the state.
There are multiple ways to move to Belgium from Canada. Read All You Need to Know Before Moving to Belgium to learn more. In order to apply for permanent residence in Belgium, you need to live for at least 3 years on the basis of a residence permit and not violate the laws of the country. For different immigration methods, various criteria apply.
Immigration to Belgium as a Canadian Citizen
Canadian citizens moving from Canada to Belgium have some advantages that they are not aware of. Here are some moving to Belgium tips:
- Explore work and travel in Belgium opportunity for Canadian citizens. It allows Canadians to move to Belgium from Canada for a year without a formal job offer.
- Before moving to Belgium, you can visit the country without a visa for 90 days.
- Canada and the Kingdom of Belgium have signed a convention to avoid double taxation.
- Apply for a D-type long-term visa for your move
- To drive in Belgium you must obtain an International Driving Permit
Moving from Belgium to Canada
If you are a Belgium citizen looking for some changes, moving to Canada from Belgium might be exactly what you need. Canada has massive land and not so many people. For example, Canada is 325 times bigger than Belgium in size but only 3.3 times bigger in population.
Moving to Canada from Belgium is an opportunity to build a new life for you and your family members. Once you become a permanent resident, your rights will be almost similar to citizens. You will be eligible for free public health care through OHIP and domestic student tuition.
