Moving from Canada to Ireland
Ireland is often called the "Emerald Isle". The territory is solid green meadows, sometimes interrupted by low mountains. It rains here all the time, so the land does not change colour all year round. Although Canada is 118 times bigger than Ireland, many admit that Emerald Isle feels more spacious due to its greenery in the cities.[p]When moving to Ireland from Canada you must overview all the differences and similarities between the two to set up the right mentality. Building unrealistic expectations will lead to no good, thus Hercules Moving Company will gladly guide you through major aspects that must be considered when moving overseas. Another secret to a successful relocation is the correct choice of a reliable international moving company that will securely ship and pack your goods. Get a Quote Now to know how much it will cost.
Canada vs. Ireland
There are well over 4.5 million people who claim Irish ancestry in Canada, while the population of Ireland itself is about 5 million. It gets even wilder when you learn that there are more than 70 million people identifying as Irish spread all over the world. Unconsciously you ask yourself “why?” and Hercules Moving Company will try to help you answer the question.
You might find yourself agreeing with 4.5 million who moved to Canada or questioning why someone would ever leave the Emerald Isle. Thus, to sort out this dilemma, we covered 6 main aspects of Canada and Ireland, to help you make the decision. Read All You Need to Know Before Moving To Ireland for a detailed blog on immigration to Ireland!
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Covering an area of 9,976,140 km2 and occupying 40 percent of the North American continent, Canada is the second-largest country in the world after Russia. The only land-bordering country is the US with over 8,800 km. The Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans surround the land from 3 sides causing extreme weather differences throughout the regions.
In Canada, you can experience 4 distinct seasons throughout the year. The northern part of Canada is exceptionally cold and has a subarctic or arctic climate. Winter there lasts for 8 to 11 months. 90% of the population live within a few kilometres of the US border.
As of June 2022, the population of Canada is over 38 million. More than half of this number are immigrants who came from all other the world to build a new life in Canada. Those who identify as Canadians are about 32% and 4.9% are native people. English people are the next biggest group making up 18% of the population, Scottish - 13.6%, French - 13.4%, Irish - 9.6%, Germans 5.1%, Chinese 5.1% and others.
The biggest practising religion is Christianity (67.2%). Other minor groups are Muslims(3.7%), Hindus (1.7%), Sikhs (1.4%), Buddhists (1.1%) and others. Canada has 2 official languages: English and French.
When coming to Canada, you would observe all types of lifestyles from the most luxurious to the forgotten dumpsters, both co-existing in a matter of a few meters. The average Canadian lives a rather simple lifestyle prioritizing family and self-growth. Canadians are flexible in their decisions, the thriving economy only helps to achieve their ambitions.
You can easily spot an American with a strong temper in the international airport, but never a Canadian. Most Canadians are quiet and well-mannered, their sense of respect and value of equality passes on to everyone else around them. This state of mind is clearly visible in Canadian politics, they are friends with everyone.
For the last decades, Canada has been the top choice for international students due to its variety of programs and qualifications. Canadian degree is accredited and valued worldwide with an opportunity to land a job in any part of the world. The correlation between price and quality of education is the decisive factor that puts Canada above other countries.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents are provided with free education until high school. For those who choose to attend colleges and universities, there is tuition that is partly paid from government funds. The price for tuition depends on the institution, program and degree. The average tuition fee for a domestic student varies from $3,000 - $20,000 CAD per year ( from diploma to master’s degree). Everyone else must pay full tuition starting from $14,000 - $70,000 CAD per year.
Canada is somewhat similar in comparison with other developed countries in the world, meaning, it is expensive. The minimum wage in Canada depends on what province you live in and varies from $11.95 in Manitoba to $16 per hour in Nunavut (due to its harsh climate). The average monthly salary throughout Canada is $45,000 per year before taxes.
Life is expensive in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary. On average you would need a minimum of $800-$1000 CAD per month for basic expenses without rent, living alone. As a family of 3, expect your expenses to rise up to $3,500 - $5,500 per month without rent.
Canada is the first country to launch a point-based immigration system which, over the years, has proven to be highly effective and helped Canada to achieve assigned goals. Stepping back from prioritizing racial background, Canada has given its preference to skilled professionals who can greatly benefit and contribute to the country’s economy.
There are several programs and ways to immigrate to Canada so anyone would be able to have a chance. After working and living in Canada for a couple of years you can receive your Canadian Permanent Residence for 5 years allowing you to enter the country whenever and be eligible for free healthcare and domestic tuition rate. Within the next 3 - 4 years you will be eligible to apply for citizenship.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Ireland occupies the southern part of the island of the same name in the British Archipelago of Islands. The area of the island is 84,000 km2. The coastline is heavily rugged with cliffs, and there are many small rocky islands in the coastal zone, but more than half of the territory is lowlands. Ireland is washed by the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the two seas connected to it: the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea. Northern Ireland is the only land-bordering country.
Ireland has a temperate maritime climate. Average summer temperatures range from +15°C to +20°C, and from -1°C to +9°C in winter. The coldest month is January, the warmest is July. The level of precipitation is zoned, in the western part of Ireland, it falls up to 1,600 mm. It is also worth noting that drizzling rain is quite common in the country. Always bring your umbrella, the weather will change at least 3 times during the day.
Historically, only a small fraction of the ethnic Irish live in Ireland itself. The total population of the country is about 5 million people. However, there are over 70 million people in the world with Irish roots, all of them descendants of those who were once forced to leave the country. According to Britannica, 78.3% of the population are Roman Catholics, and 9.8% of the population are irreligious. Other minor groups are Anglican Church (2.7%) and others (Presbyterians, Methodists, Muslims and Jews). Ireland has two official languages, Gaelic (Irish) and English.
Irish people love pubs, festivals, sports and nature. Pub culture is highly valued and religiously followed by many. When someone calls you for a pint, it is a minimum of three, so make sure you understand when you are being offered. Travelling around and exploring the astonishing green land is a great leisure activity to do with a family.
The Irish are extremely kind, accommodating and hospitable. All the newcomers will be treated with great patience and sympathy. There is a stereotype that Irish people are always casually late, which some confirm to be true. Another interesting fact is that some ex-pats view the Irish to be somewhat bum. Some of the most simple tasks take forever to finish.
Higher education in Ireland becomes more popular among youth around the world every year. Primary and secondary education is free for the citizens and some ex-pat families can qualify to attend it with no fees as well. To do so, you must apply for permission from the Department of Education and Skills beforehand.
Undergraduate programs in public universities are free for Irish citizens, EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. However, there are some exemption courses that are not free. International students in Ireland pay from €9,850 - €19,500 for a Business program, €9,850 - €25,500 for an engineering program and the most expensive program for medicine & health sciences would cost about €39,500 - €55,000 per year.
The minimum wage in Ireland will depend on your age: under 18 y.o - €7.35, 18 y.o - €8.40, 19 y.o - €9.45, 20 y.o and up - €10.50 ($14.08 ACD), which is equivalent to €19,563 ($26,198 CAD) a year after taxes. The highest average salaries are in the IT industry - €5,021 ($6733 CAD) per month, followed by the financial sector and utility management - €4,500 ($6034 CAD) per month. The salaries of people working in mining, education, construction and science are even higher than the average - they earn on average €3,500 ($4,693 CAD) per month.
Living alone in Ireland, the average monthly expenses without rent for a single person is €927 ($1,243 CAD) and €3,266 ($4,379CAD) for a family of four. Today, the average monthly rent for a small house is €1,403 nationally, €2,044 in Dublin and €1,372 in Cork. When buying a property, the average price will be €250,000 nationally, €320,000 in Dublin and €278,000 in Cork.
The immigration system in Ireland is not too complicated. Citizens from the EU/EEA, Switzerland and UK have visa-free entry and do not need an employment permit to work in Ireland. Canada, Australia, UAE, Japan and etc. have visa-free entry but for a limited period of time. Non-EU/EEA, Switzerland and UK citizens who want to work and live in Ireland must go through an immigration procedure.
Anyone planning to stay in Ireland for longer than 3 months, must apply for a D visa type (long-stay visa), register with the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and apply for an employment permit prior to your arrival. The Critical Skill Employment Permit is a great way for specialists to move to Ireland.
Each stage of the immigration path has its own nuances and terms. For example, student visas must be made out a year before the start of their studies. A residence permit may not be renewed due to violations of the law or insufficient security of a citizen. Holders of a Permanent Residence Permit receive actual citizenship status after three years.
Immigration to Ireland as a Canadian Citizen
Moving to Ireland as a Canadian is pretty simple if you follow the general requirement. Here are the things to remember:
- You can stay in Ireland for up to 90 days without a visa.
- You can drive in Ireland with a Canadian driving license for up to 12 months.
- Get temporary travelling insurance if your employer did not provide it for you yet
Moving from Ireland to Canada
Canada has remained at the top of the list of immigration destinations for years and no wonder why 4.5 million Irish are living there today. Canada has a variety of immigration programs that would fit your personal needs.
Canada has launched one of the most ambitious skilled migration programs of the modern era with generous permanent residency programs to meet its goals of reaching over a million skilled migrants due to various shortages in its workforce. Any professional specialist from Ireland can easily move from Ireland to Canada and become a citizen within the next 3-5 years.
