Hello! I am new to this forum so apologies if this has been answered before.

My husband and I have always wanted to emigrate (with our two young children) to either NZ or Canada. We have decided that now, with the age of our children, it would be the perfect time. However we are having a real dilemma which to aim for. Any recommendations/experience greatly appreciated.

The pros of NZ for us are predominantly warmer climate, more house for $$, outdoor lifestyle, ie opportunities for cycling etc.

Pros of Canada for us are closer to UK for visiting family, proximity to USA so perhaps greater career opportunities and future university options for children?

Please help! We really want to feel welcomed and settled somewhere.

Hi and welcome, I read your post in the NZ forum too. I have to agree with the other poster and suggest that it would be wise to see which country, if either, are open to you in terms of visa requirements...

Some important questions are:-

What do you and your husband do? What is your highest level of education? Will you need a job offer to move?

Hi thank you for your reply ☺. I am a teacher and he is an architect. Neither on the skill shortage list for NZ but looks like we should be eligible for visas..

I think your list of pros for NZ are just as applicable for parts of Canada.

Which parts of Canada? I am drawn to Vancouver but I think only because I have been before...

NZ, canada, although great, is really cold in winter!

Some of it is. Some isn't.

What are your husband's qualifications as an architect?

He needs to check what the required qualifications are here, and whether he would be registered or have to do more courses, or work as an architectural technician.

FYI .........

My daughter is a Registered Architect with Canadian training ....... she had to do a 4 year university course to Master's degree in Architecture, followed by the registration course administered under the Mutual Registration Agreement while she was employed as a trainee architect. For my daughter this involved a further 3 years study on her own (no courses offered) and the passing of 9 or 10 exams (her choice). Most people take more than 3 years to complete the necessary minimum of 9 courses. The end result was for her to be a Registered Architect which allows her to sign off on her designs or on those of other people. A person who is not an RA cannot sign off and has to work with or for an RA.

The designation she obtained under the MRA is accepted in many countries of the world, including the US, England, Australia, NZ, and some European countries.

If you have not already done so, I suggest that your husband consult the following sites to see what is required to practise in Canada. I presume there are similar sites for NZ that you can find by Googling.

Registration of architects in Canada is by province, although there is also a national association.

https://www.raic.org/raic/becoming-architect

British Columbia architects ..........

Architects

Ontario architects ..........

Architect | Ontario Association of Architects

This statement might be of interest ...........

The CACB url in case the link does not work

Cacb – BEFA Certification


I have several teachers in the family, but no experience in the requirements for teachers immigrating to Canada and where you might fit. I do know that teachers who move from one province to another usually have to start as Substitute teachers. It is rare for them or for new graduates to get a full time or permanent part time position immediately.

If you are interested in Vancouver, please check threads on the cost of living ........... Vancouver is now one of the most expensive places to find housing.

There is a thread re how much money is required to maintain a standard of living in Vancouver (2 people, living downtown, dinner out several times a week, skiing, etc), and I think the final consensus was between $150,000 and $200,000 a year.

The average price of a house is now $1.4 million, of a 2-bedroom condo ca $500,000-600,000. Rental prices are in at least the $1,500-2,000 a month range for a 2 bedroom in Vancouver proper.

Childcare costs are similarly high

here's the link to the thread on costs for living in Vancouver ......

http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...couver-879982/

Vancouver is definitely a great place in Canada. But just too expensive. I do not know about NZ but I have colleagues from Oz in Vancouver who are shocked at how expensive this place is as compared to their own homeland.

Wait until after November 8, 2016.

I live in Canada and my brother and his family live in NZ. I think it's fair to say neither of us would swap with the other.

Don't come to Canada, it's a boring, soul-destroying shitehole. No matter what you want to believe, you're going be an outsider, forever.

See.... That's is what Vancouver living does to your head OP....Oink started off loving the place, eating poutine, loved watching Canadian TV with Steve, watched Iced hockey and then the sad decline over the years...


Has HID put you on another madcap diet or banned you from fishing? That was your worst rant yet!