Canadian citizenship by buying property: which are the best cities to start a new life?

Canada has been consistently rated by the United Nations as the world’s best country to live in. It’s standard of living is considered one of the highest is the world and is a politically and economically stable country. It is rich in natural resources and has the world’s second-largest oil reserves and the fourth-largest supply of fresh water. You can live there with the Canadian citizenship by buying property.

Canada has several world-class cities that are cosmopolitan, a diversified business environment, vibrant social scene, a wealth of cultural events and a friendly, almost laid-back lifestyle. It has an excellent educational system that includes four of world’s top 100 universities as ranked by QS World University Rankings, 2018. Five of the world’s top 100 business schools are also in Canada.

The Canadian real estate market, despite the worldwide pandemic is booming and is up 23% since Jan 2021. The high return on income and demand has never been higher and the outlook for investing has been very positive. Canada is a safe place to invest long-term with guaranteed solid returns. Now is the right time to invest in real estate and obtain a Canadian citizenship by buying a property.

What are the five best cities in Canada to live?  

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver is probably one of the world’s most beautiful cities with mountain views almost anywhere in the city. It boasts of an abundance of open spaces that are dedicated to wildlife preservation and conservation. It is the perfect city for nature lovers with many natural amenities and an unequaled transportation network that connects all the 21 municipalities of Vancouver. Its multi-cultural population contributes to its success as a vibrant and cosmopolitan city.

Vancouver can be considered a university town with five universities located in the area. This includes the top-rated University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University that produce top notch and highly-skilled workers that are snapped up by the many companies located in Vancouver. The unemployment rate is a very low 4.5%.

There is a whole range of properties to choose from in the Vancouver and the rates are at all time low but with potential to shoot up in the near future.

Burlington, Ontario

Burlington is located in the south-western end of Lake Ontario and is perfect for those who want to live in a city but still be close to nature and the outdoors as it has almost 600 hectares of parkland. Like Vancouver, it has an excellent transportation system, low unemployment, lots of schools including universities to choose from, accessible healthcare facilities.

Burlington has a broad economic with diverse industries such as food processing, packaging, electronics, transport, business services, pharmaceuticals and environmental.

Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa is Canada’s capital but has a relatively small population of less than a million people. Like Vancouver and Burlington, it has high standards of living. It has excellent educational facilities, an impressive cultural scene and a very competitive real estate market. For the capital, house prices are low but with the potential to increase post-pandemic.

Boucherville, Quebec

Boucherville is one of the oldest municipalities in Quebec and has a very small population of only 43,000 people. It is just 18 kilometers outside Montreal and is perfect for those who want to live closer to nature but want to be near a city. It has many beautiful nature areas that can be enjoyed with bike-friendly streets and lots of outdoor and sports activities.

Boucherville is home to industries like aerospace, software, electronics, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and transportation that employ most of the working population and pay relatively good salaries. A fluency in French is a requirement to live in Boucherville or in any area in Quebec.

Montreal, Quebec

Despite its being a major city of Canada, Montreal has the lowest rents of all the major cities. It is the epicenter of art and culture and has lots of restaurants and cafes. The cost of living is lower than the major Canadian cities like Vancouver or Ottawa work and the quality of life is high with life-work balance perfectly embedded in the lifestyle.

Quebec investor visa

There is only one way by which an applicant can attain permanent residency in Quebec and that is through an investment in a government guaranteed investment. This investment can either be a full or financed investment.

Full investment

A full investment has the following requirements:

  • Applicant must invest a minimum of Canadian$1,200,000.00 in a government guaranteed investment for five years.
  • Applicant must be aware that this is a passive but risk-free investment.
  • The full amount will be returned will be returned after 20 days after the fifth year but without any interest earned.

Financed investment

A financed investment has the following requirements:

  • Applicant must invest a minimum of Canadian$350,00.00 to finance a closed 62 months term loan through an approved intermediary
  • Applicant must be aware that this amount will not be reimbursed at the end of the five-year holding period.
  • This kind of investment are for those investors who do not want to liquidate their assets to pay the full sum, or those that want to have free capital available for other investments during the five years holding period.

Funds from these investments will be used to finance two Quebec assistance Programs:

  • Immigrant Investor Program
  • Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities

Canadian residence permit

Express entry

This program is very specific to highly qualified foreigners who are employed by an affiliated company or in search of a job. There are several work programs that could lead to a permanent residency.

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program

This program is for those who have skills, knowledge and work experience in specialized areas that have been determined by the Canadian government.   An applicant must present a diploma or bachelor’s degree that will prove that he or she has the necessary academic training for the job which will be evaluated by a qualified and equivalent Canadian institute.  Applicant must also have at least one year work experience in the profession indicated and must have been a paid and full-time employee.  The applicant must also have a minimum of Can$12,475 to cover his or her stay while still looking for a job.  If the applicant has a partner or family, then the amount is even higher.

  • Federal Skilled Trades

This program is for skilled laborers and workers who have the knowledge and professional training in fields such as electrical, mechanical, telecommunications, carpentry, and construction, installation and repair services.  The applicant must have at least 2 years experience in their field of expertise and must have an existing job offer in any province in Canada.

  • Canadian Experience Class

This program is for temporary workers, students and those who have work experience in one of the provinces or territories of Canada.   A temporary worker must have at least one year or 1560 hours of work experience and must have obtained the job legally and with a valid permit to apply to this program.

A student must have been studying a minimum of 16 months in a course at a government-accredited tertiary institution.  Part-time work as a student is not valid.  Only a full-time job of at least one year or 1560 hours after graduation is acceptable to apply to this program.

The skills, work experience, language ability, level of education and other qualifications are taken into consideration and given a Comprehensive Classification Score. A higher score can be achieved if the applicant is fluent in French and English, has a close relative living in Canada, or has a valid job offer in a Canadian company.  The applicant must also pass all the health and safety requirements of the Canadian government.

Provincial nominee program

This program is administered by each of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and have their own requirements. This program accepts foreign workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of the particular province or territory.

Startup visa

Entrepreneurs who have the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada can apply for a startup visa. The business must be innovative and profitable enough to create jobs for Canadians.  They must also be vetted by the following designated groups or organizations – venture capital funds, angel investor groups and business incubators.

Benefits of a Canadian permanent residency

This are the benefits of the canadian citizenship by buying property:

  1. A permanent resident enjoys all the same social benefits of a Canadian citizen including health care coverage.
  2. A permanent resident can live, work and study anywhere in Canada.
  3. A permanent resident can eventually apply for Canadian citizenship as long as the requirements are met.
  4. A permanent resident is protected under Canadian law and Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Canadian citizenship by buying property

  • Applicant can apply for citizenship after three years permanent residency in Canada.
  • Applicant is eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
  • Applicant must have filed income taxes.
  • Applicant must intend to continue living in Canada.
  • Applicant must have a good command of the French and English language.
  • Applicant must have knowledge of Canadian history, government, culture and traditions.
  • Applicant must have knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Canadian citizens.
  • Applicant must have no criminal record in or outside Canada.