Moving to Canada from Guyana

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Guyana to Canada — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Guyana to Canada. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 87°F in Georgetown, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Canada

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Guyana to Canada, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
465 ↑ 4% vs 2022

people moved from Guyana to Canada · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Canada?

Top countries of origin for Canada's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Guyana and Canada stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GY
16.3
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GY
15.2
CA
4.7

Canada performs significantly better than Guyana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GY
$1,331
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GY
14.0
CA
25.0

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guyana leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GY
52.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GY
4.6t
CA
14.0t

Guyana generally does better on environment, though Canada leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GY
13.1
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GY
3.3%
CA
3.7%

Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Guyana leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GY
12.4%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GY
$49,800
CA
$55,800

Canada performs significantly better than Guyana across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GY
71.9 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GY
22.1
CA
4.4

Canada performs significantly better than Guyana across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Georgetown Rain: 89.1 in/yr (2263 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Georgetown Ottawa
Jan–Mar 84°/75°F (29°/24°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/76°F (30°/24°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Georgetown Ottawa
Jan 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.2°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 84°/75°F (28.9°/24.1°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 85°/76°F (29.6°/24.2°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 85°/76°F (29.5°/24.4°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 103°/76°F (39.4°/24.2°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 85°/75°F (29.2°/23.8°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 85°/74°F (29.6°/23.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 86°/75°F (30.2°/23.8°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.2°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.4°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.2°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.4°/23.7°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

Data: Hydrometeorological Service Hydrometeorological Service, Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guyana and Canada. To live, work, or study long-term in Canada, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Canada's immigration authority.

Guyana passport

Guyana passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
Guyana passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.
Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Guyana

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter Guyana without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Canada?

With 42.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Canada can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Guyana and Canada.

Is Canada safe for expats?

Canada performs significantly better than Guyana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 16.3 in Guyana.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Guyana?

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guyana leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 14.0 in Guyana. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guyana: 76).

What's the weather like in Canada compared to Guyana?

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 87°F in Georgetown. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Georgetown gets 89.1 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

The official languages in Canada are English and French. In Guyana, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

GY CA
Population 789,683 38,232,593
Currency Guyanaese Dollar (GYD) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages English English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +592 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 911