Moving to Canada from South Africa: Complete Guide

Given that over 5,000 South Africans enter the country’s immigration system every year, Canada has become a popular destination for South Africans looking to move abroad.⁵

There are many reasons why Canada has become such a favoured choice for South Africans to relocate. Some of these include: welcoming immigration policies, extensive job opportunities, and a high standard of living.

If you’re thinking of moving to Canada from South Africa, here’s everything you need to know about relocating to the Great White North, including the different visa types and requirements, how to open a bank account as a South African in Canada, and the average cost of living in the country.

We will also introduce you to Wise, a money service provider specialising in international money transfers⁴.

Moving to Canada from South Africa (quick facts)

Let’s begin with a few quick facts about moving to Canada from South Africa.

• Canada is one of the safest countries in the world, according to a recent global survey⁶
• Healthcare is free in Canada - the system is very similar to the UK’s NHS.
• There are two official languages in Canada, English and French. Some jobs require that you speak both.
• Canada ranks highly in international measurements like quality of life, education, and economic freedom.
• About 38 million people live in Canada - almost 82% of all Canadians live in urban areas.
• Over the last seven years, 2.4 million foreigners moved to Canada. Of this, 11,210 were South African⁷.

Send money to South Africa using the mid-market rate

It’s quite probable that you might need to send money in ZAR to friends and family in South Africa, while living in Canada.

While there are many Canadian bank accounts that support international payments, Wise makes for a great bank alternative for international money transfers. Why? Because we use the mid-market rate and only apply a small transparent fee¹ to make international payments to ZAR.

This means that you may save money using Wise when making overseas transactions to South Africa.

Another reason to get Wise is the possibility to use Wise for local payments through the Wise Card! You can also use the card in other countries⁴ for your payments and you could save money¹ by avoiding mark ups on the mid-market exchange rate.

Canada visa types and requirements for South Africans

There are two main visa types for South Africans looking to relocate to Canada; namely, Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Express Entry

For skilled workers in South Africa looking to move to Canada, an Express Entry visa gives them the right to work in the country. After entering Canada through the Express Entry visa, South Africans can eventually apply for permanent residency and then Canadian citizenship.

Applications for an Express Entry visa can be done in 3 ways:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

   The FSWP is for foreign skilled workers that have work experience outside Canada (1-year experience related to the work being applied for in Canada that has been acquired in the last 10 years).

2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

   The CEC is for foreign skilled workers who already have previous work experience in Canada (1-year experience in the last 3 years).

3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

   The FSTP is for foreign skilled workers who are qualified for a skilled trade job (2 years of full-time work experience within the last 5 years in a “skilled trade” industry).

If you are eligible to apply for an Express Entry visa under any of the above programs, you can submit your profile through the official Canadian government website. Your profile will then be ranked and if approved, you will be invited to apply for the program specified in your profile.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

You can also apply for a visa to work in Canada by applying directly to a Canadian province. This program is called the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). After deciding in which province or region you want to reside and work, you can submit an application directly. If your skills fulfil what the province is looking for, you may get an invitation to apply for a PR visa which gives you the right to work in Canada.

Cost of living in Canada for South Africans

For South Africans looking to move to Canada, the cost of living is an important factor to take into account.

The table below lists the prices of some of the everyday essentials to compare the cost of living in Canada vs South Africa.⁸

Item	Cost (Canadian Dollars)	Cost (ZAR)
Basic lunchtime meal (including drink)	$23	R 312
Combo meal in fast food restaurant	$13	R 177
1 litre of whole fat milk	$3.09	R 42
Monthly rent for 900 square foot apartment in normal area	$2,132	R 28,972
1 month utilities for 2 people (heating, electricity, gas)	$214	R 2,908
¼ gallon of gas	$1.67	R 23
Monthly public transport ticket	$106	R 1440

How to open a bank account in Canada as a South African?

If you’re living in Canada as a South African, opening a bank account is one of the first things you’ll likely do when you relocate. For the majority of Canadian banks, you can open a bank account either in person, over the telephone, or online.

You will need at least two of the following identification documents to open a Canadian bank account:⁹

• South African passport
• Recent bank account or credit card statements
• Recent Canadian public utility bills
• Recent notices of tax assessments issued by the Government of Canada or the government of a province or municipality
• Recent statements of benefits from the Government of Canada or the government of a province
• Identification issued by the Government of Canada or the government of a province

Maintenance fees and charges

In general, Canadian banks don’t charge for ATM withdrawals. However, if you use another bank’s ATM, you might have to pay a small additional fee. This charge will usually be specified on the screen before withdrawing money.

Most credit card/debit card providers levy different charges for cards such as one-time fees, maintenance fees, and yearly fees. For example, many Canadian banks may charge you an additional fee for opening and maintaining a checking account.

However, some Canadian banks may waive this fee if you meet certain criteria. This might be having a minimum balance in your account, or maintaining a specified number of direct debits.

To find out more about any additional maintenance fees and charges, contact the bank directly.

Wise Card

Setting up a Canadian bank account when you get to Canada could be quite time-consuming. However, if you need quick access³ to a card for expenses, a Wise Card is a great option. You can apply for a Wise Card in Canada⁴ and receive it in just a few days!

A small one time fee¹ gets you a physical Wise card that allows you to easily spend in local currencies globally⁴ at the mid market rate.

You can also opt for a digital Wise card that comes free of charge¹. You can add this digital card to a mobile wallet and pay in the local currency to avoid exchange rate differences or hidden conversion fees.

All these advantages make Wise a great alternative for your expenses and money transfers to South Africa while in Canada⁴.

Finding a job in Canada

Finding a job in Canada isn’t always easy. Application standards are high and there are a large number of foreigners looking to make the move to the Great White North. However, finding and securing a job is the easiest way to gain a Canadian visa for South Africans looking to move over.

Job sites and forums are great places to search for vacancies and learn more about the qualifications needed for certain jobs. Among the most popular job portals like LinkedIn and Indeed, other popular job sites in Canada include:

• Monster¹⁰
• Canada-jobs¹¹
• Eluta¹²

Another way to find out more about the application process for a specific job is to network with professionals who have also moved to Canada from another country. These professionals may let you know if their company is currently hiring, or be able to put you in contact with someone that is.

Make friends and socialise

Aside from completing the paperwork needed to successfully relocate to Canada from South Africa, making friends and socialising can be just as important for South African expats. These tips will help you make friends with locals and other newcomers, and create your own social circle.

• Join a club

  Clubs and groups are a great way to meet new people in Canada. Given just how much Canadians love the outdoors, outdoor activities are popular with both locals and expats. For example, hiking groups, sports clubs, and athletics. Other favoured clubs include yoga, book clubs, and community activism groups.

• Use online apps

  Online apps aren’t just for dating in Canada. Apps like Nextdoor and Bumble BFF can help you make new friends, specifically those who live close by.

• Go for drinks with colleagues

  After-work drinks are also popular in Canadian workplaces. Not only are they a great way to meet like-minded people, but you can also get to know your colleagues more quickly - something that can seem daunting when you’re starting a brand new job in a new country.

  In Canada, it’s also normal for people who don’t drink alcohol to attend after-work drinks. So if you don’t drink, you can still go along and meet some new people.

Healthcare in Canada

Canada has a publicly funded healthcare system. This means that Canadian residents and expats from abroad can access medically necessary hospital and physician services for free.

Canada’s healthcare system is very similar to the UK’s NHS system in that it's funded by taxpayers. This free access to great healthcare is a big advantage in enticing South Africans moving to Canada.

Is it worth moving to Canada from South Africa

To summarise, there are various advantages and disadvantages to moving to Canada from South Africa.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system means healthcare is free for Canadian residents.	It can be hard to find a job in Canada due to the high standards of applications.
Canada ranks highly in international measurements like education, economic freedom, and quality of life.	Some jobs require that you speak French as well as English.
There are many different employment visas you can apply for to come and work in Canada.	The cost of living in Canada is high compared to other countries.
Opening a bank account is easy, and can be done either in person, over the telephone, or online.	Canada and South Africa are very far apart, and travelling between them is a long journey.
Canada is one of the safest countries in the world.	Many parts of Canada can be extremely cold and snowy in winter, which can be difficult if you’re not used to this climate.

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With more South Africans moving to Canada every year, the country is a great option for South African nationals looking to relocate somewhere new.

When it comes to managing money in Canada, it’s worth considering Wise as an alternative for international money transfers to South Africa or even multi-currency accounts for both local and international⁴ payments.

Join Wise!

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Sources

1. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
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3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/639663/heres-how-many-south-africans-are-moving-to-canada-each-year/
6. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/safe
7. https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/639663/heres-how-many-south-africans-are-moving-to-canada-each-year/
8. https://www.discover-the-world.com/destinations/canada-holidays/how-much-things-cost-in-canada/
9. https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/banking/opening-bank-account.html
10. https://www.monster.ca/
11. https://www.canada-jobs.com/
12. https://www.eluta.ca/
13. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html
14. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html