More than 1 million Filipinos already call Canada home. There are quite a few reasons why Canada is so popular with Filipinos, here’s a few:
Opportunities for immigration
Canada has many different immigration programs available for Filipinos.
If you’re serious about immigrating to Canada, there’s quite a few immigration programs you can apply for.
Most Filipinos come to Canada as international students, temporary foreign workers or even as permanent residents.
Not sure about which one is right for you? Why not consider visiting Canada first to see what all the fuss is about for yourself?
The promise of a better life
Immigrating to Canada won’t solve all your problems, but it continues to be a very popular destination for many Filipinos because of the promise of a better life.
Take note that this is a promise and not a guarantee.
Although the Canadian economy has seen better days, by comparison, it’s still a better alternative for many.
The job market is currently very challenging to newcomers who don’t have Canadian experience. You might be surprised that your years of foreign experience won’t count for much, and that in most cases, you’ll have to start from scratch.
The cost of living has skyrocketed in recent years, with everything more expensive than it has ever been. It’ll be quite a shock, especially if you’re brand new to Canada and you’re still converting expenses to Philippine pesos.
Reach out to a settlement organization who can help you make the most out of your first few weeks in Canada. Services are funded by the Government of Canada and are free for eligible newcomers.
A large Filipino community to lean back on
Canada is already home to a large and well established Filipino community.
No matter where you go, you’re bound to run into a kababayan or two, especially in the larger, more populated cities.
This will make things so much easier for you, having someone to ask for help when you need it.
Having an established Filipino community also makes things like networking so much easier.
A stable government and economy
If you find Philippine politics a little too chaotic, Canadian politics can be a breath of fresh air.
While it can get very emotional at times, many Canadians take a more measured approach to politics than Filipinos.
According to the World Bank, the Canadian economy is the 10th largest in the world, while the Philippines is 38th.
While the gap may not seem all that wide, you might also want to consider that Canada only has a population of 41 million people, while the Philippines has 119 million people.
The smaller the population, the more resources there are to go around.
The Government of Canada took quite a big risk by increasing immigration levels to historic highs, resulting in things like skyrocketing housing costs.
It’s certainly not easy for newcomers, but many would say that it’s better than the alternative of staying in the Philippines.
Becoming a Canadian citizen
Nothing says you’ve made it quite like having that citizenship document in hand.
While many immigration programs allow you to apply for permanent residency if you’re qualified, not all of them do.
If you’re able to apply for permanent residency, the next step will be applying for Canadian citizenship. It comes with added benefits, including travelling with a Canadian passport, voting during elections and running for public office.
If you have concerns about not being a Philippine citizen anymore, don’t worry about it too much. You can go straight to the Philippine embassy or any of the Consulate Generals to reacquire your Philippine citizenship.
Both Canada and the Philippines allow for dual citizenship.
Why do you think Canada is so popular with Filipinos? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
