Niels(32)

As a software engineer in Amsterdam I had a good salary, but the housing market made it impossible to build anything. Friends who had emigrated to Canada told me about Express Entry \u2014 the points-based system Canada uses to select skilled workers. I calculated my CRS score and came to 478 points. Enough for an invitation.

The Express Entry process started with creating a profile in the IRCC portal. I had my diploma assessed through WES (World Education Services) and passed my IELTS exam with a score of 8.0. Within three weeks I received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). From that point I had 60 days to submit my full application \u2014 including police clearance, medical exam and proof of work experience.

Landing in Toronto was overwhelming. At Pearson Airport I went through the immigration line where my Confirmation of Permanent Residence was converted to an official stamp. Within a week I had applied for my SIN (Social Insurance Number), opened a Canadian bank account at TD Bank and enrolled in OHIP \u2014 Ontario's health insurance. Note: OHIP has a three-month waiting period, so temporary insurance is essential.

Finding work was easier than expected. The Canadian tech sector is desperate for people. Through LinkedIn I had three interviews within two weeks and after a month a job at a fintech startup in the Financial District. The salary is comparable to Amsterdam, but the growth opportunities are much greater. Canada values foreign experience \u2014 my Dutch background was seen as an asset.

Daily life in Toronto is different from Amsterdam. The city is enormous \u2014 you need a car for the suburbs, but downtown everything is reachable via the TTC (metro and streetcar). The winters are harsh, truly harsh. My first winter was minus 25 degrees and I had never seen so much snow. But Canadians are pragmatic about it: you buy a good coat and carry on.

After eighteen months I have received my PR card, an apartment in Liberty Village and a growing network. The best advice I can give: start optimizing your CRS score early. Every extra point counts. And don't underestimate the bureaucracy \u2014 but if you follow the process, the system really works. Canada keeps its promises.