Moving to Canada from Suriname

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Suriname to Canada — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Suriname to Canada, and you’d need to navigate life in English and French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ottawa averages 52°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, 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?

How many people actually move from Suriname to Canada, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
10

people moved from Suriname 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Suriname to Canada.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
CA
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
CA
4.7

Canada performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
CA
$7,646
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
CA
25.0

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname 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

SR
39.0
CA
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
CA
14.0t

Suriname 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

SR
20.2
CA
42.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
CA
3.7%

Canada performs significantly better than Suriname across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SR
7.7%
CA
5.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
CA
$55,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SR
72.4 yrs
CA
83.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
CA
4.4

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

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paramaribo Rain: 84.6 in/yr (2148 mm)
92° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Ottawa
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 64°/45°F (18°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 75°/55°F (24°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Ottawa
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Suriname 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.

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Canada

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

Canada passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Canada passport holders can enter Suriname 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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Canada has 42.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Canada safe for expats?

Canada performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Canada is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Canada compared to Suriname?

Canada generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.0 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Canada scores 91 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Ottawa is 52°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Ottawa receives around 37.1 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Canada?

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

Share this

At a Glance

SR CA
Population 632,638 38,232,593
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Canadian Dollar (CA$)
Languages Dutch English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +1
Time zones 1 6
Emergency number 911