Prince Edward Island (PEI) is a marine province located in eastern Canada, situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, adjacent to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The island is characterized by its red sand beaches, lighthouses, and agriculture, and is renowned for its seafood and tranquil way of life.
Determine Your Eligibility for Canadian Immigration
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the province with the lowest population in Canada, offering immigrants the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the country’s major cities. PEI is renowned for its tranquil and close-knit towns, and the province boasts an exceptionally low crime rate, rendering it an excellent location for permanent residence.
If you are considering establishing residency in PEI or seeking further insights on residing in the province, this article will provide an overview of many subjects ranging from housing to taxation.
Housing The housing market in PEI is quite limited, primarily because of the island’s small population of only 170,000+. The province has a total of 64,000 housing properties.
While it is common for newcomers to Canada to establish themselves in the biggest Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) of an area, it is worth noting that Prince Edward Island (PEI) does not have any CMAs. PEI, on the other hand, has two Census Agglomerations (CAs): Charlottetown, the capital city with a population of little over 86,000, and Summerside, with a population slightly above 18,000.
In February 2022, the mean rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlottetown was $1,205.
Several resources that can assist you in locating homes on Prince Edward Island (PEI) are:
The Immigrant and Refugees Services Association, under the jurisdiction of the Government of PEI, focuses on providing support and assistance to immigrants and refugees. In terms of commuting habits, Statistics Canada reports that over 90% of inhabitants in both of PEI’s Census Agglomerations (CAs) primarily rely on automobiles, such as cars, vans, or trucks, for transportation. Over 29,000 inhabitants in Charlottetown predominantly rely on private automobiles for transportation within the province. In Summerside, the population exceeds 6,000 individuals.
To operate a vehicle in PEI, it is necessary to obtain a driver’s license specific to PEI. During the initial four months of your arrival in PEI, you are permitted to drive a motor vehicle using the driver’s license you acquired in your home country. Both the provincial government of PEI and the federal government of Canada strongly recommend that newcomers to Canada possess an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to their home country’s driving license while driving in Canada.
Following four months, individuals who have recently arrived in PEI must obtain a provincial driver’s license. To receive a driver’s license in PEI for the first time, it is necessary to comply with the province’s three-year Graduated Driver Licensing Program, which is a prerequisite for being granted a Class 5 driver’s license. The initial stage of this process, however, involves obtaining an Instruction Driver’s Permit.
PEI offers a limited range of public transportation alternatives compared to other provinces, although it nevertheless provides some public transit services to its communities. T3 Transit, a bus system, primarily operates public transit in PEI.
The three industries with the highest employment rates in PEI are:
The Trade industry provides employment to more than 12,000 individuals residing in PEI.
The Public Administration sector has a workforce of more than 9,000 individuals.
The Healthcare and Social Assistance sector has a workforce of more than 9,000 individuals.
The trade industry is a part of the service-producing employment sectors, encompassing occupations in retail trade and wholesale trade. Individuals employed in the public administration sector typically hold positions that involve governmental responsibilities, which may be at the federal, provincial, local, municipal, or regional government level. The healthcare and social assistance sector encompasses a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, personal care workers, and various mental and physical health specialists.
Some useful resources for job hunting in PEI are:
Work PEI Immigrant and Refugees Services Association Healthcare Healthcare in Canada is financed by a universal healthcare system, which relies on public tax funds.
After residing in PEI for a period exceeding three months, newcomers are eligible to access complimentary healthcare services if they carry a valid provincial health card. To apply for a health card in PEI, individuals can either utilize an online form or submit an application together with all necessary documents to either PEI Medicare or any Access PEI center.
Canadians residing in any province or territory can freely access public health services in their region of residency with a valid provincial health card. Nevertheless, certain medications and treatments necessitate the receiver to personally cover the cost of the item or service.
Acquiring knowledge and skills through formal instruction and learning.
In Prince Edward Island (PEI), children commence their compulsory education in the Canadian education system at around six years old, when they enroll in kindergarten. One way to ensure that your child receives a free education is by enrolling them in the public school system, starting from kindergarten and continuing until they complete grade 12.
Parents may opt to enroll their child in a private or independent boarding school, necessitating the payment of tuition fees directly. This online resource, given by the provincial government, presents a comprehensive breakdown of the province’s curriculum for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. PEI offers over 20 Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) for post-graduation education, located in 13 cities throughout the island.
The majority of the Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Prince Edward Island (PEI) provide programs that would enable a newcomer to meet the requirements for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A Post-Graduation job Permit (PGWP) is highly beneficial for individuals who are not permanent residents, as it enables them to gain important Canadian job experience, which is advantageous when seeking Canadian permanent residence.
Taxation In Prince Edward Island (PEI), the rate of sales tax applied to goods and services is 15%. The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in this province is a combination of PEI’s Provincial Sales Tax (PST) at a rate of 10% and a Goods and Services Tax (GST) at a rate of 5%.
Like other provinces and territories in Canada, income taxes in PEI are determined based on an individual’s earnings in a specific tax year. Individuals with a greater yearly income generally incur a bigger tax liability to the government when tax season arrives.
Services for individuals who are new to a certain place or organization.
PEI newcomers can utilize the services of the Immigrant and Refugee Services Association (IRSA) in the province. IRSA offers a comprehensive range of settlement services for newcomers, starting from the pre-arrival stage and continuing until they are prepared to take the Canadian citizenship test.
211PEI is a supplementary service that assists immigrants to PEI in locating settlement resources within the region. The government-funded settlement services across Canada are provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to residents. These services can assist individuals in conducting job searches, acquiring proficiency in English or French, or enrolling their child in school. Click here to get the comprehensive directory of service providers in Canada.
