We want to emigrate- engineer and a nurse. Ideas where?

[InsaneInTheMembraneSweep]

Hello, DH and I are keen to move aboard but are unsure where. He is a structural engineer, I am a nurse (currently work on a respiratory ward but have experience in A&E and as a Practice Education Facilitator).
Do any ex pats have any advice? I fancy Canada, DH fancies the Middle East. We appreciate it takes time and effort and are willing to put that in. 3 DC age 7, 4 and 3.
Thanks!

If I had a choice between Canada and the middle east as a woman I would go for canada. Of course there are massive differences between countries in the middle east so it does depend where you mean

My eldest son now lives in Canada.....he now has citizenship....took 3 years to get Permanent residency then another3 years to get a Canadian passport.... he loves the outdoor lifestyles ( he lives near Rockies) .....but it’s very very cold in winter.
My daughters friend lives in A Middle Eastern country.... she has a nanny ( they are very cheap) and lives in aluxourious apartment....But will return home after Christmas as she has a young daughter and feels that she doesn’t want her growing up in a country which does not appear to value women.
I guess it depends on the lifestyle you are looking for .....what weather appeals to you....and what your values are in regards to human rights ( depending on the country) .

Definitely Canada. Seasons, decent healthcare, vast outdoors but some fantastic cities, good schools. All above dependent on where of course!

Canada is America 2.0.

I wouldn’t go to Middle East only because I live in a tropical country and would appreciate seasons. Middle East I would love for the easy connections to Australasia but it would be no more than a “hub” for me.

It’s also relatively transient (much like where I am now in the Caribbean) with migrant workers from all over coming for a few years and then moving on. Canada seems much more the place to settle longer term.

Why does your DH want to go to the Middle East? Is he completely clueless on life for women there? Or does he like the idea of you being controlled while you live there.

Canada all the way!

Canada is a good option I would avoid Middle East like the plague!

There are many other options too. Australia, New Zealand is often overlooked (I have family there and have seriously considered it myself many of the same pros as aus but not as hot and a bit closer in some ways to uk culturally), Ireland could be a good nearby option too.

If you're able/willing to learn another language then the whole world is open to you really but certainly it means you needn't rule out Europe. Just because there's no longer freedom of movement doesn't mean you can't emigrate to Europe it just requires more red tape now.

Both professions as I'm sure you know are much sought after throughout the world.

What are your reasons for wanting to?

I wouldn’t go to the Middle East unless I was desperate for the money (tax free income). I’d consider Australia, I moved here 5 years ago and now have full citizenship.

New Zealand.

Western Australia has mines. Does civil engineering do mine construction? Plenty of nursing in Perth but that’s a fifo life or look into rural nursing in the mining/support towns.

And of course government stimulus means plenty of blokes jobs = roads, bridges etc. It’s just our quarantine you have to get through.

None of your options. Id go to New Zealand.

Id do Middle East for a couple - five of years to save up and the where ever suits your lifestyle.

Husband would love Canada. I would too but I'm pretty easy going.

My mum lived in Perth WA was lovely I visited twice and really loved it. I’m a nurse to abs would move there or Canada do not fancy the Middle East though. My ex was an engineer too however I am glad we didn’t move now.

Exciting times for you op, I’m sure wherever you decide you’ll be happy and love it.

New Zealand definitely.

You want Canada and he wants the Middle East? You need to get a bit closer on agreeing first. I prefer to worry about the air conditioning rather than the central heating.

Given my time again, I’d go to Canada. I’ve travelled Centre to West and along the Eastern seaboard, loved it. I’d opt for the Western side.

Oman?

Is this a long or short term move?
If it's to be permanent then I would recommend Canada, because your children would not be entitled to stay in most middle eastern countries once 18 if you are there on visas.
I know a few people who grew up in that lifestyle and it's hard to go to uni in your parents home country that you believed to be yours until you don't have the same references or life experiences as most of your peers. Coupled with parents thousands of miles away that you can only visit with no option of moving "home" without a visa for yourself it can be difficult. You would also need to worry about providing for your retirement from now, as you will need to leave a middle eastern country once you don't have a work visa to remain.
Best of luck with it all.

Do you mean emigrate as in leave UK permanently, become a citizen of another country and settle there with your DC for good? Or do you mean live abroad for a few years in a different culture and then maybe return home when the DC are of secondary school age?

If the former I would echo Canada and NZ - but do your homework first as it is easy to idealise other countries when in fact many have similar problems to UK. And do not forget that Canada is bitterly cold for many months of the year.

If the latter you could cast your net wider - Australia, Caribbean, US etc. Middle East would mean well paid jobs but living in an ex pat enclave. OK for a couple of years but no rule of law and awful for women and girls so you would not want to stay.

Do you have any languages other than English? Germany, Scandinavia, Netherlands could all be an option. But again beware of thinking that the grass is greener on the other side.

New Zealand or Australia.

Canada. We lived in Latin America and despite women having rights on paper they don’t have many rights in RL.

Re the Middle East, we have Chilean friends who moved to Qatar. They cannot leave because they didn’t sell their house in Chile. Under the laws in Qatar they are in debt, mortgage, so not allowed to leave until that debt is paid off.

Thanks all.

Definitely somewhere we could potentially stay long term which is why Canada would be great.

DH is concerned as he says the jobs there require experience/a qualification in the regional engineering code and his qualification (masters in engineering and member of IStructE) wouldn’t necessarily be recognised. I am clueless at that point but I feel like surely you can learn the local code the same way I’d learn the local nursing regulations?

Canada is entirely captured by genderwoo ideology I understand. There are likely to be few safe single sex places for women & girls. I wouldn't even go there on holiday atm, never mind move there.

Canada 10000%!! I would never take my children to live in the ME.

@MassiveHoard

Canada is entirely captured by genderwoo ideology I understand. There are likely to be few safe single sex places for women & girls. I wouldn't even go there on holiday atm, never mind move there.

I live in Vancouver, which apparently is the capital of "gender woo."

There may be some issues in certain parts of the City. I read on Mumsnet about a shelter in the Downtown Eastside where men are "self identifying" as woman to access services where they can get warm and have a meal. I also know about the rape relief funding issue.

All that said, having lived here since the early seventies, raised kids and now have grandchildren, I have never experienced anything regarding safe spaces for women that made me uncomfortable. Absolutely nothing.

Perhaps I am sheltered, but I don't think so. We have visited every part of the City, multiple times, and enjoyed restaurants and attractions everywhere with guests. Zero problems.

I would not counsel anyone to avoid Canada on this basis. Honestly.

@MassiveHoard surely you would rather be a woman in Canada than the Middle East?!

New Zealand if you don’t mind being far from family.
Singapore? Wouldn’t be great for long term but a nice base for exploring that part of the world for a few years.
I think Oman nicest in the Middle East.

If this is a long term move then first steps is to enquire with your relevant qualifying bodies in the countries your considering what you would need to convert your qualifications.
I know someone from the UK who had to sit conversion exams in Canada to be a social worker for example, on the other hand I know a good few who went out as engineers and didn't seem to have to sit anything extra.
So find out what exactly you would both need to do, how long it would take, what it would cost and if you can start work while studying or need to have completed conversion before getting jobs.