For many Bhutanese, going abroad is often imagined as a turning point toward financial stability, comfort, and a better life. Back home, there is a common belief that once someone lands overseas, money starts flowing easily and struggles fade away. Families place high hopes on their loved ones, seeing migration as a pathway to success, security, and pride.
However, the reality faced by Bhutanese abroad tells a very different story. Life abroad is shaped by long working hours, high tuition fees, limited work permits, emotional strain, and constant uncertainty. Behind the dream lie sacrifices that include separation from family, physical exhaustion, mental stress, and financial pressure, revealing a gap between what is imagined and what is actually lived every day.
Tuition fees vary by university in Canada, with students paying approximately CAD 5,000, CAD 6,000, or up to CAD 9,000 every trimester (1 CAD= Nu 65.63). While couples may sometimes manage tuition and living expenses together, the situation becomes extremely difficult for students who are limited to working only 24 hours a week. At a minimum wage of around CAD 17 per hour, students earn roughly CAD 5,000 over three months, which is often insufficient to cover both tuition fees and basic living costs.
As a result, many students are forced to find alternative ways to survive. Some rely on financial support from their parents, others discontinue their studies, while a few continue to struggle through and manage to complete their programs. Added to this burden are issues related to study permit extensions, which increase stress and uncertainty and make long-term planning difficult.
Another major concern within the Bhutanese community in Canada is dependents not being eligible for post-graduation work permits (PGWP). Since saving during the study period is nearly impossible, the inability of dependents to work after graduation can be devastating, as that phase is often the only opportunity to earn and recover financially.
Living abroad involves constant sacrifices, being separated from family, surviving on minimal sleep, and working long hours, sometimes from as early as 6 a.m. to as late as 3 a.m. Even couples living together rarely find time for each other due to conflicting work schedules, making emotional support especially challenging during an already demanding journey.
“My first job was physically demanding, and I was neither prepared for the work nor comfortable with how I was treated. I changed several jobs before finally settling into my current one. There was a point when I seriously considered returning home due to complete exhaustion, but my wife and I decided to continue because we came with a clear goal. We had also made the painful decision to leave our two-year-old child behind to build a better future for him”, said 35-year-old Tshering.
At present, his wife is studying, and they are just managing to cover her tuition fees and monthly expenses. They are unable to provide much financial support to their family back home, as everything they earn goes toward their survival here. Despite the struggles, they continue with hope, believing that their sacrifices will eventually pay off.
However, a major concern now is that dependents may not be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). This news has been exhausting and deeply worrying for many dependents who came with the hope of improving their lives. “If we are forced to return immediately after my spouse completes her studies, we risk going back with nothing, burdened by large loans and uncertain futures,” he added.
Zangmo, a 24-year-old, shared that many Bhutanese believe the moment someone moves abroad, they immediately start earning well, which creates high expectations. She said the reality is very different, as life abroad is extremely difficult, especially until studies are completed. She admitted that she once had the same mindset before coming to Canada.
She explained that she only understood the hardship after landing in Canada. With no option to turn back, she chose to work hard, placing her faith in her parents and in God. “Everything was tough from day one,” she said, adding that without a friend’s help in finding a job, she might have given up.
Her first job as a cleaner was humiliating and came with many challenges, including racism. Despite this, she stayed strong to survive. She now works as a dishwasher in a restaurant, which she finds manageable. Zangmo emphasized how stressful life abroad is, as students must constantly balance work and studies. She added that surviving on one job is nearly impossible, especially when tuition alone costs her CAD 9,000 every trimester.
At 32, Dorji says coming to Canada made him realize the harsh gap between expectations and real life. What he once imagined as a better future came with major sacrifices, including leaving behind family, friends, and the comfortable life back home. Along the way, he has faced humiliation, racism, and serious mental and physical exhaustion.
He said, “Work has been one of the biggest challenges. Jobs like warehouse work demands high physical strength, and anyone who cannot keep up risks losing their job. Those who are physically weak have very limited job opportunities. Surviving here requires being emotionally strong, mentally resilient, and physically fit at the same time.”
Working nearly 75 hours a week, Dorji says his hard-earned income disappears quickly in tuition fees and monthly expenses. The pressure to meet everyone’s expectations while studying becomes draining. Reflecting on his past, he now understands the sacrifices people made when they sent him money while he was in Bhutan, a reality that continues to strike him deeply.
Sonam, a 27-year-old, shared how he became a victim of a scam that cost him more than CAD 10,000. He said life abroad is far from the easy picture often assumed back home. The scam deeply affected both him and his wife, draining them mentally and physically.
Covering the losses became a nightmare, as all their savings were wiped out. Sonam explained that desperation makes people vulnerable, especially when most messages and calls they receive are from scammers. “We become so fragile that we fall for such scams easily,” he said, adding that many others may also be victims.
The couple struggled to pay tuition fees and monthly expenses but refused to give up. With small but meaningful help from friends, they slowly recovered. “We were mentally broken, but we worked hard to stand back on our feet,” Sonam said, urging fellow Bhutanese to stay alert. He warned others not to trust offers that seem too good to be true, as no one invests for free.
Likewise, many Bhutanese share similar experiences, sleeping less than five hours a day, working late into the night to complete assignments, and preparing for exams just to pass their courses. Some have already returned home, while many others are on the verge of giving up.
Visa, study and work permit extensions are some of the other major issues among the community.
Meanwhile, there are many Bhutanese who have successfully completed their education and are now supporting their families back home. Few have secured permanent residency (PR), while many take pride in having achieved the goals they came with, despite the challenges.
Pema shared that although the journey began with uncertainty, patience and discipline helped him succeed. By carefully balancing work and studies, he completed his program and secured a job related to his field. Today, he said, “I can send regular financial support to my family back home. I believe the hardships taught me resilience, humility, and gratitude.”
Similarly, 38-year-old Choden said, “Studying abroad transformed me both personally and professionally. Through part-time work, strict budgeting, and constant motivation drawn from my parents’ sacrifices, I completed my studies. Now employed, I proudly support my family financially and help cover important household expenses.”
For her, being able to give back makes every challenge worthwhile.
Karma, a 31-year-old described his journey as difficult but rewarding. “With the support of the Bhutanese community and a strong focus on long-term goals, I completed my education and moved into stable employment. I now assist my family back home. Looking back, the sacrifices I made were not in vain, as they allowed me to uplift my family and fulfill the purpose that brought me abroad.”
The President of the Bhutanese Community in British Columbia, Ugyen Samdrup, shared that there have been no major issues within the community during his presidency. However, he occasionally receives calls related to visa, study permit, and work permit extensions, as well as concerns regarding CID and passport renewals.
