Moving from Canada to Qatar
Not long ago, Qatar was a forgotten country in the Persian Gulf making ends meet by fishing and pearl collecting. However, as it turned out, Qatar has a large reserve of oil and gas that allowed the country to actively develop in recent decades. All the riches that the country makes are being used to benefit native Qatari’s education, healthcare system and quality of living.
Unlike Canada, tourists in Qatar can enjoy desert safaris, Bedouin villages, rich markets, ancient mosques with minarets, camel races, and, of course, excellent long sandy beaches on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Do not forget your sunscreen when moving to Qatar from Canada, it will save your skin from +40°C weather. Hiring a professional international moving company is a major aspect of an overseas move. Hercules Moving Company will happily assist you in packing and shipping your possessions fast and safely.
Canada vs. Qatar
Indeed there seem to be no similarities between the two. Canada in size is equivalent to 864 Qatars put together, but GDP per capita in Qatar is 40% higher than in Canada. We have put Canada and Qatar side by side in 6 major topics to help you identify which country fits your future plans best and whether you need to move from Canada to Qatar.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
Almost 10 million km2 are located just above the United States, making Canada the second biggest country on earth after Russia. The land is washed by 3 oceans: Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic. The territory is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories with the capital city Ottawa located in Ontario.
The climate in Canada, as you have already guessed, is very diverse. All 4 seasons are present with winter taking up to 5-6 months in some regions. The average temperature during summers is about +24 C. During the winters, depending on your location, you can expect the weather to jump anywhere from -15 to -40 C with lots of snow.
Canada is the first to introduce the point-based system that largely impacted its nation’s ethnicity. More than 32% of the population identify as Canadians and 4,9% are indigenous people. The next biggest group would be English at 18%, Scottish at 14%, French at 13.6%, Irish at 13,4%, German at 9.6%, Chinese makeup 5.1% and other minor groups reported by Statistic Canada.
The biggest practising religion is Christianity at 63.2%, after them come to Muslims (3.7%), Hindus (1.7%) and others. There are no restrictions on your practices as long as it does not hurt anyone. In Canada, there are 2 official languages: English and French. Knowing French is not obligatory in other provinces but in Quebec, however, its knowledge is highly respected at the workplace.
Most likely you’ve heard that Canada is the US’s quiet neighbour. Well, although these two distinctly differ from the inside, there is some truth in it. But do not mention it to the Canadian or they can get argumentative.
What both do share in common is a strive for opportunities and changes. The US market is overflowing with innovations and businesses, but in Canada, there is less competition and more possibility to succeed.
Canadians are extremely polite as a nation, but of course, there are some individual exemptions. When coming to Canada, you will be equally treated as almost everyone has been through the same path of immigration. Your ability to achieve the goals will be only determined by how passionate you are and how far you are willing to go.
Canadian education balances the traditions of Europe with the pragmatism of North America. The country is known for its high level of teaching, as evidenced by UNESCO data: the country's literacy rate is one of the highest in the world.
Unlike Canadians, whose tuition is paid in part by the government, international students pay the full amount for their education. For excellent international students, many institutions offer scholarships that allow them to reduce the cost of their education or cover the full cost of tuition. Tuition fees for domestic students vary from $3,800 CAD for a diploma to $20,000 CAD for a master’s degree. International students pay $14,000 CAD per year for a diploma and up to $70,000 CAD per year for a master’s degree.
The cost of living in Canada is pretty high in big cities. Moving as a family of 3 to Toronto, expect to have monthly expenses without a rent of about $5,520 CAD, in Vancouver about $4,550 CAD, in Ottawa about $4,255 CAD and in Calgary about $4,240 CAD. Rent would be the biggest expense. On average a one-bedroom apartment costs $1,400 - $1,800 CAD and a 3 bedroom apartment $2,500 - $3,000 CAD.
As of June 2022, the minimum wage in Ontario is $15.20 CAD, in Quebec is $14.25 CAD, in British Columbia is $15.20 CAD and in Nunavut is $16. The salary for a full-time position ranges from $30,000 to $530,000 and above.
Canada offers many immigration programs. For successful immigration, it is very important to choose the right program for each individual candidate and apply based on the requirements for each program.
As of 2015, Canada has abolished any restrictions on passable professions for immigration to Canada. Now even doctors, lawyers, and teachers who previously could not immigrate can make Canada their new home. There are more than 20 immigration programs in the country. Some have age limits - 35, 45 and 55 years old. Young people are most likely to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry program.
Canada has a point system for evaluating immigrants. Each program requirement gives a certain number of points. The higher the number, the higher the chance of receiving a permanent residency. Especially high points are awarded for higher education, work experience, and age under 30.
Ethnicity, Religion and Language
The state of Qatar, with an area of 11,437 sq. km, is located on the Qatar Peninsula and divided into 7 municipalities. The country is washed on three sides by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The capital of the country is Doha where 80% of the population lives. Qatar is adjacent to the UAE and Saudi Arabia to the south, Bahrain to the northwest, and the UAE to the southeast.
Areas of the country are dominated by a dry, tropical climate. The average January temperature is up to +17 ° C, July to +40 ° C. Rainfall is not more than 120 - 130 mm per year. Rainfall occurs from May to September.
The central part of Qatar is a stony desert with isolated areas of salt marshes. In the southern part, there are already high sandy hills. Therefore, there is almost no vegetation in Qatar, except for some oases. The desert area is home to lizards, rodents and snakes.
As of June 2022, the population of Qatar is almost 3 million people. Only about 12% are Qatari with the rest 88% being ex-pats. The biggest immigrant group, as of estimates from 2019, is Indians (25%) and the next is from Bangladesh (12,10%), Nepal (12.10%), Egypt (12.10%), Philippines (5.60%), Pakistan (4.80%) and others.
95% of the population are Muslims, and the rest practise their religious beliefs freely, however, are not allowed to agitate others. The official language is Arabic, but most of the population speaks English.
Qatari citizens live a luxurious lifestyle enjoying all the country’s riches. Both ex-pats and citizens have a variety of entertainment available in Doha. Dune bashing, camel riding, museum visits, sports events, festivals and, of course, various activities on the water.
Like many countries in the middle east, Qatar is a Muslim country that reinforces Sharia laws. It is crucial to know because the Qatari government expects all immigrants and tourists to respect and obey the rules of the state. As an example, men and women in Qatar must wear modest clothing in public, alcohol can be bought with permits on authorized premises like hotels, and it is illegal for an unmarried couple to live together. You will be immediately deported and restricted to enter afterwards.
Education in Qatar may not be the most famous, but definitely a high standard. Education is free from kindergarten to high school, however only for its citizens. Expats must allocate their kids to private schools where kids would learn Arabic and general subjects. Tuition fees would depend on the establishment and grade, according to the Edarabia, a year can cost anywhere from QAR1,354 to QAR80,465 ($468 - $27,818 CAD).
The Qatari Government has built the Education City where all the major establishments are located. They have made sure that the students feel most comfortable being there and have provided them with all the necessary and some entertainment facilities. Every building is modern and high-tech.
Both domestic and international students pay the same tuition fees. The price for the course is calculated by credit hour. One credit hour cost differs between university and program. Range of scholarships available for international students in all universities.
Qatar is a very expensive country to live in. almost 80% of the population lives in Doha, thus it is the most expensive city in Qatar. Your monthly salary will heavily rely on your background, education and proficiency. The monthly salary in Doha ranges from QR3,970 to QR70,000 ($1372 - $24195 CAD) depending on the field and years of experience.
Most of the hiring companies in Qatar offer you accommodation, utility and transportation allowance or include it in your salary. Considering the fact that there is no personal taxation in Qatar, all you need to worry about is personal expenses like food, clothes, travel and entertainment. Living as a single person in Qatar, expect your monthly expenses to be on average QR3,251($1123 CAD) and QR11,534 ($3987 CAD) as a family of 3 without rent.
The immigration system in Qatar is tightly connected to sponsorship. Regardless of the reason to move to Qatar, you will be connected to a Qatari citizen directly or through a company. First, it is important to get a migration card and then register with the Department of Labor. Only then apply for a visa.
The application specifies the gender, nationality and position of the workers accepted. Once approved by the Department of Labor will require copies of passports and educational certificates from prospective workers. Once the worker is registered, he or she can receive a residence permit.
A permanent long-term visa is also issued by the sponsor, but with a permanent visa, it is possible to count on a residence permit and after 30 years and citizenship. But it is important to keep in mind that naturalised Qataris do not have the same benefits as citizens by birth. For more on how to immigrate to Qatar read our article All You Need to Know Before Moving to Qatar.
Immigration to Qatar as a Canadian Citizen
Prior to starting the relocation process, you need to understand what you are eligible for as a Canadian citizen moving to Qatar. However, Canada and Qatar do not hold any close relationship, thus the requirements are the same as for the rest of the world.
- You can apply for a 30 days tourist visa online through a form.
- Your passport must be with 6 months validity.
- You must apply for an international driving permit to drive in Qatar.
- Visit Moving to Qatar to learn about custom regulations in Qatar.
- Read All You Need to Know Before Moving to Qatar to learn about custom regulations in Qatar.
Moving from Qatar to Canada
The move to Canada from Qatar will open the doors you never knew existed. Constantly renewing job openings, low business competition and easy career change make it extremely appealing to Qatari citizens. The world’s top education system, healthcare and simple immigration system with an opportunity to gain PR before landing in Canada is the reason the country is a popular immigration destination around the world.
After immigrating from Qatar to Canada you might get stunned by the enormous territory, climate differences, Canadian lifestyle and diversity of cultures that the land has to offer. Someone from Qatar, a state which is built in the dunes and washed by the sunlight, needs to be prepared to adapt to almost 6 months of winter and daily weather changes. In Canada, people have equal rights and no matter where you come from, you will be treated with respect and with no bias.
