Moving from Canada to Germany
Paulo Coelho said, “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello”, or in your case “Guten Tag!”. Moving from Canada to Germany is an idea that could convert into the best decision or a lesson of your life. Regardless of the outcome, you will not remain empty-handed.
Although, Canada and Germany do have plenty in common: leading economies, the best international education, and simply the quality of life, there is much more to compare. You might have already done your research on the main differences, however, feel as if something is missing.
Canada vs. Germany
There is no ultimate answer that will fit everyone. Each must decide for himself whether moving from Canada to Germany is a good idea. All comes to your goals and values, where in life you think you are heading. Gaining a realistic understanding is a way to protect yourself from disappointment and waste of resources.
We will compare 6 major sections from simple to more complicated to fully immerse you into the topic of Canada vs. Germany.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
The second biggest country in the world, Canada resides at the top of the North American continent. The country of 9.98 million square kilometres is washed by 3 oceans: the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific.
The USA and Canada have the world’s longest border between 2 counties at 8,800 kilometres. The country is stretched over 6 time zones, divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories with the capital city of Ottawa.
The country’s climate, to say the least, is diverse. Spread from one coast to another, the temperature can range from +20°C to +30°C (77 to 86 °F) in summers and -15°C to -40 °C (59 to 95°F) during the winter.
The west coast of the country is rainy and temperate, while the east coast is continental. In Canada, you will experience the range of all 4 seasons during the year, the biggest advantage in the opinion of some and disadvantage for others.
The diversity of people in Canada is overwhelming. Ethnicity is determined by the country's immigration policies and history. Canada has become a home to people from every corner of this planet, some of you never knew existed.
According to Statistics Canada, more than 32% consider themselves Canadians, 4,9% - Indigiones people, more than 18% - English, almost 14% - Scottish, 13.6% - French, 13.4% - Irish, 9.6% - Germans, and 5.1% are Chinese.
The report released in 2021 by Statistic Canada states that 63.2% associate themselves with Christianity, 3,7% - are Muslims, and the next biggest group is Hindu - 1.7%. Canada is a country where you are free to believe and practice any religion as long as it does not harm or discriminate against others.
The 2 co-official languages are English and French. Unless you live in Quebec, English is more than enough to live comfortably in Canada.
Canada is a country of change and wealth. North America has a society that thrives on opportunities. Getting a promotion, changing careers, moving cities, and acquiring assets - all define the Canadian lifestyle of today for many.
People come to Canada to build wealth and establish themselves as entrepreneurs and business owners. Because of the little competition, new businesses thrive in Canada, making it an extremely amiable relocation destination.
Neither your age nor background matter as much as your will and strength to pursue the goal. It is only a question of how far you are willing to go.
On the other hand, you could always choose a more introverted lifestyle living outside of busy concrete jungles. The population density is extremely low moving up north. You could purchase land and not see a soul within a few kilometres.
Education in Canada ranks in the top 10 best countries for education. The best courses that Canada has to offer are Business & Finance, Science, Engineering, Medicine & Healthcare, and IT. Canadian qualifications are recognized worldwide.
Unless you are a Canadian citizen or resident, post-secondary and academic education is very expensive. Education fees can be anywhere from $20,000 exceeding $200,000.
The average salary in Canada varies from $50,000 - $90.000 CAD per year working full-time. Canada has a progressive/graduate taxation system. Purchasing a house in Canada can cost you on average $600,000 - $800,000 CAD in 2022.
All the fields heavily rely on the credit score system. Your eligibility to purchase a house, cost of insurance, access to the best credit cards and bank account, any types of loans, everything depends on how well you maintain your credit score.
Lack of competition has a huge impact on the cost of living in Canada. The explicit dominance of large corporations created a perfect environment for market and price control. Some of the biggest examples are airlines duopoly (West Jet and Air Canada), mobile providers (Rogers, Bell, and Telus), and banks (RBC, TD, BMO, etc.).
Canada is widely famous for its simple structured immigration system. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants from all over the world come to Canada every year. Canada's immigration programs total dozens of immigration categories.
Immigration to Canada is quite a long and bureaucratically complicated process in spite of Canada's open immigration policy. However, with the help of professional specialists is realistically achievable. Read more about Canadian Immigration System here.
The Canadian government encourages skilled professionals to apply through a federal skilled worker immigration program. After which you can proceed with obtaining Permanent Residence. After receiving the PR you must stay in Canada for 1,095 days (3 years) out of 5 years to be able to obtain Citizenship.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Located in central-western Europe, Germany borders 9 countries: Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Poland, and is washed by the North and Baltic Seas. At 357,340 square kilometres, the county is divided into 16 federal states with Berlin being the capital city.
Germany belongs to the zone of moderate continental climate. Winters are not very cold - in January it is about +1°C to - 3°C( 33.8 to 26.6°F). The warmest summer months are July and August with average temperatures of +18°C to +22°C (64.4 to 71.6°F). Although the weather does not go extreme, it is still quite unpredictable and some suggest, too gloomy.
[b]Interesting fact:[/b] Canada is 28 times bigger than Germany. However, the German population is 83.24 million and the Canadian is 38.01 million, which is more than double.
The national composition of Germany is homogeneous. The vast majority of the population are Germans marking over 80%. The next biggest ethnic groups are Turks - 3.7%, Poles - 1.9%, Russians - 1.5% and Italians - 1%.
In the eastern part of Germany in the former GDR, the anti-Church policy of the pro-Soviet government left believers in the minority. About 68% of East Germans are atheists. Most believing Germans are Christians, Catholics - 29%, and Evangelicals - 27%. The third-largest religious group is Muslims - 5 %.
Language could become one of the most significant barriers. The official language is German and there are multiple dialects throughout the country that are somewhat different. If you want to feel comfortable in Germany, you must speak German.
People in Germany could be described as secure and progressively growing. They value stability and order, most live a mediocre lifestyle. They analyze and strategize assuring everything goes according to the plan.
Your opportunities in Germany heavily depend on your age and education. It is odd for Germans not to have a post-secondary degree, therefore, you will be treated differently.
Such mentality and religious beliefs hugely affect day-to-day life. The employers will not proceed with your application unless they are 100% sure you are the perfect fit for the role. On the other hand, when you do get a job after all the bureaucracy, expect to have good benefits and up to 4-5 weeks of paid vacation.
Sundays, as believed in Christianity, is a holy day where you must relax, therefore, it is prohibited to work, even in the grocery stores. Neither can you drill nor hammer on Sundays. There is a National Day of mourning, the so-called “Silent Day” where music, dances, and events are prohibited.
German education ranks in the top 3 and its specialists are valued everywhere. The best courses to take are Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Medicine & Dentistry, Biotechnology & Neuroscience, and Business & Economics.
Education in Germany is almost free in public universities, both for domestic and international students. In 2014 16 states abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students. You are only required to pay some administrative fees for the semester which are no more than $300 - $600 CAD. However, it might not be the case in the future, as one of the states, Baden-Württemberg has reinforced tuition fees for non-EU students.
A master’s degree is free as well only if it is followed right after a related bachelor’s degree from Germany. Otherwise, expect to pay around $31,336 CAD per year in public and $47,016 CAD in private universities.
The cost of life in Germany is not as expensive as you would expect. The biggest expense would be the rent. The next is taxation, which is automatically deducted from the salary monthly. It includes health insurance, pension, unemployment, and long-term care benefits.
Groceries, public transportation, and travels are affordable, but if you are planning on purchasing real estate, it can become a challenge. One of the main advantages of Germany is its location.
Right in the heart of the European Union, travelling to another country would take less than 2-3 hours. You can have your breakfast in France and come back for some good sausages in the evening.
If you are planning to live in Germany, you have a couple of ways to do so. There are multiple entry programs for students, job seekers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, family reunions, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Anyone who is planning to stay in Germany longer than 90 days, must have a Residence Permit. There are temporary and permanent residence permits. Not every residence permit gives you the right to work.
It is possible to become a German citizen after 8 years of legal residence in Germany (after 7 years if you have taken an integration course). But you must give up your passport. Living in the country on a student residence permit does not count in this period.
Many foreigners have lived in Germany for decades with a permanent residence permit without experiencing any inconvenience.
Immigration to Germany as a Canadian Citizen
When immigrating to Germany as a Canadian citizen you must remember these details:
- You can only stay in Germany for 90 days without a visa.
- Consider applying for Youth Mobility Visa program.
- When leaving Canada, check Taxation for Canadians travelling, living, or working outside Canada.
- You can use your driving license for 6 months upon arrival. Reliable authorities must translate your driving license.
- Read our article All You Need to Know Before Moving to Germany.
Moving from Germany to Canada
9,6% of the population, more than 3,330,000 people claim German ancestry in Canada. Germans that seek unexpected opportunities and changes come to North America where the giants of the global market reside. There is a large demand for highly qualified workers in Canada in multiple fields, and Germany just happened to be a great source of those.
Accessible higher education in Germany can easily allow its citizens to qualify for express entry or skilled workers in Canada. Canada borders the United States, allowing its residents to freely travel and explore more opportunities. Lower Taxes, a flexible healthcare system, job opportunities, and a thriving mentality are what you can do when moving from Germany to Canada.
