Moving from Canada to Poland
Are you tired and overwhelmed by the Canadian fast-paced life that never ends? If paying thousands of dollars for education and then moving on to a never-ending career does not sound appealing and you are looking for a change, moving from Canada to Poland might be what you need.
Poland is a country with a diverse collection of unique historical sites, one of which is Auschwitz, the most famous concentration camp of World War II. Moving to Poland from Canada will not only allow you to immerse into a rich culture but give you an opportunity to gain EU citizenship and calmly retire in Europe.
Canada vs. Poland
In this article, we will compare numerous important facets of life in both Canada and Poland to give you a better understanding of the pros and cons of moving to Poland from Canada.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia with 9,984,670 square kilometres of land spread on top of the North American continent. The state has the longest land border with the US in the south and west and is washed by the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic oceans. The capital city of Canada is Ottawa.
Thanks to its size, Сanada has 8 distinct climate regions. In most of the country, the climate is temperate and quite mild. In the northern regions, the climate is mostly subarctic. The average temperature in winter ranges from -28 °C to - 15°C and +21 to +27 in summers.
According to recent statistics, Canada is home to more than 38.5 million people with over 250 ethnic origins or ancestries. Close to 57% of the population claim European origins, including English (6.3 m.), Scottish (4.8 m.), French (4.7 m.), and Irish (4.6 m.). Aboriginal origins makeup 6.2% and 32% identify as Canadians.
The majority of the believing population in Canada identifies as Christians of Catholic, Protestant and Anglican churches. The second largest religious group is Muslims making up over 3.2% of the population, followed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and others. There are 2 official languages in Canada: French and English.
Almost 30% of the Canadian population identify themselves as workaholics, although, with quite casual workplaces. On average, Canadians work from 37.5 to 40 hours per week and get to go on 1 or 2 family vacations a year. Thanks to cultural diversity, there are festivals happening all year round, making day-to-day life rather colourful.
Canadians are a polite and welcoming nation. The majority here have moved to Canada over 20 years, a couple of months or days ago, so each understands how is it to be “a new” one.
Education in Canada can be divided into 3 stages: preschool, elementary and secondary education, and higher education. Children of Canadian citizens, PR holders and refugees are eligible to receive free education in public facilities. Only school supplies and some annual fees must be paid.
Canadian higher education is among the best and strongest offered in the world, but also is not the cheapest. Some of the country’s and world’s best universities are located in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. On average, domestic students pay about$ 6,700 CAD per academic year, while international students pay $29,500 CAD.
The cost of living in Canada is relatively high due to the always-rising real estate market and lack of competition in the business sector. The average rent price in big cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa ranges from 1,600 - 2,150 CAD for a 1 bedroom and 2,700 - 3,450 for a 3 bedroom.
An individual’s average monthly expense living in Canada is $1,200 CAD (4,300 PLN) without rent. A family of four would spend about $4,300 CAD (14,400 PLN) per month without rent. The average yearly salary in Canada ranges from $48,000 - $55,000 CAD.
Canada is a country of unlimited opportunities and the first one to implement a points-based immigration system. This made it easier and faster for the government to select desirable candidates - qualified professionals. Canada's immigration target is 300,000 people per year, so each gets a chance to try.
Individuals looking to move to Canada from Poland will be evaluated based on multiple criteria prior to becoming a temporary resident and later a PR. You can gain a Canadian passport after 3 to 5 years of living in Canada as a permanent resident.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Poland is a state located in Eastern Europe. The total area of the country is 322,575 km² (ranking 69th in the world and 9th in Europe). It is bounded to the north by the Baltic Sea. It is bordered by Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia to the north.
The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental. Average January temperatures range from 1°C to 5°C, July 17°C to 19°C. Oceanic air masses give mildness to the climate. Eastern winds bring the heat in the summer and frost in the winter.
Currently, there are over 37.95 million people living in Poland. It is safe to say that this state is a monoethnic republic. Most of the population (about 94%) are native Poles. The remaining few percent is shared by representatives of Ukrainian, Russian, German, Belarusian and even Roman ethnic groups.
Despite the fact that Poland, according to the Constitution, is a secular state, the dominant denomination in the Republic was and remains Catholicism. Over 80% of the population identify as Catholic, about 1.3% are Orthodox, 0.4% are Protestants and others. The only official language of the Republic of Poland is Polish.
Poles love to have fun celebrations, especially to participate in the theatrical performances that they put on based on gospel stories. Poles, like the majority of the world, start their work day at 8-9 am and finish at 4-5 pm.
Canadians moving to Poland will continue to be greeted everywhere and by everyone. Poles are an open-minded and polite nation, you rarely find a rude person here. Poles are extremely welcoming. If you are a non-drinker, you will have to defend your position when sitting with the Poles at the table.
When moving from Canada to Poland, you must consider the education you and your children can receive. The Polish education system is one of the most developed and strongest in Europe. Children of ex-pats moving from Canada to Poland are eligible for free education in public schools which starts from the age of 6 to 18. However, language proficiency is required.
Education in Poland is on an equal footing with other top-rating universities in Europe, moreover, the tuition is significantly cheaper. Polish citizens, EU/EEA citizens, and PR and Pole Card owners can receive free higher education in Poland. Tuition for International students in public universities will range between $2,230 - $4,180 USD per year.
Poland has affordable prices, quality products and a stable economy. The average salary in Poland after taxes ranges from 4,500 - 5,200 PLN ( $1260 - $1450 CAD ) per month. Warsaw is the most expensive city to live in, the average monthly rent price for a 1 bedroom is about 2,050 - 2,400 PLN ( $573 - $671 CAD). A three-bedroom apartment costs around 3,100 - 3,800 PLN ( $867 - $1060 CAD).
A single person moving from Canada to Poland would spend an average of 2,466 PLN ($693 CAD) excluding rent, about 43% lower than in Canada. A family of four estimated monthly costs are 8,194 PLN ( $2,305 CAD) without rent.
Poland has a rather flexible immigration system providing numerous ways to move to Poland from Canada. In the article All you need to Know Before Moving to Poland we have discussed the main methods to legally immigrate to Poland. After choosing an immigration path, a foreigner must apply for a relevant permit followed by a visa.
After meeting the necessary requirements, which depend on the reason for immigration, you can obtain Polish citizenship within the next 2-5 years of living in Poland as a permanent resident. Polish citizenship will grant you the ability to freely work, live and study in any country in the European Union.
Immigration to Poland as a Canadian Citizen
When immigrating to Poland from Canada, it is important to understand what benefits and advantages you have. We wish the following information to help you in your overseas move:
- Canada and Poland have signed a youth mobility program allowing Canadian citizens from 18 to 35 years old to live and work in Poland for 12 months.
- Canadians can use their driving licence in Poland with an International Driving Permit for up to 185 days after arrival.
- Apply for a National visa (D-Type) if wish to stay in Poland for longer than 90 days.
- Hire an international moving company that will safely transport your household goods when moving from Canada to Poland.
- Read Moving to Poland to learn about custom regulations in Poland.
Moving from Poland to Canada
Over 1,101,500 people in Canada claim Polish ancestry, which is almost 3% of the total population. If you are wondering about how to move from Poland to Canada, you are not alone. Although Poland is located in the central part of Europe, the career opportunities that Canada has can become the decisive factor to move from Poland to Canada.
Moving to Canada from Poland can be easily done as Canada offers over 100 immigration programs to choose from. The fastest way to immigrate from Poland to Canada is through an express entry program that encourages skilled professionals to move to Canada. A Pole can receive a permanent residency prior to the move or within the next 3 years after arrival if they meet all the requirements.
