Summary
For those planning a move to Canada, preparation is the key to a smooth and successful transition. This guide provides a comprehensive checklist for newcomers, focusing on the essential steps to take before you arrive. By organizing your finances, documents, and understanding the available support services, you can minimize stress and set yourself up for a strong start in your new home.
What Does This Update Mean?
While not a policy update from IRCC, this guidance is crucial for prospective immigrants. Moving to a new country is a complex process, and this checklist simplifies it into manageable steps. For newcomers, this means having a clear roadmap to follow, which helps in avoiding common pitfalls such as document issues at the port of entry, financial unpreparedness, or not knowing where to turn for help upon arrival. It’s about empowering you to take control of your immigration journey’s final and most critical phase: the physical move.
Who Is Affected?
This checklist is essential for a wide range of individuals moving to Canada, including:
- Newly approved Permanent Residents (PRs) who have received their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
- Temporary Foreign Workers who have secured a Canadian work permit.
- International Students accepted into a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- Anyone in the final stages of their immigration application who is preparing for their move.
What Can You Do About It? The Ultimate Pre-Arrival Checklist
Here are the practical, actionable steps every newcomer should take before boarding their flight to Canada.
1. Get Your Finances in Order
- Settlement Funds: Ensure your proof of funds is accessible and meets the minimum requirements for your immigration program. Have bank statements ready.
- Open a Canadian Bank Account: Many Canadian banks, like TD, offer programs for newcomers to open an account before arriving. This makes transferring money easier and gives you immediate access to your funds.
- Budget for Your First Month: Research the cost of living in your destination city. Plan a budget for initial expenses like rent deposits, transportation, groceries, and setting up utilities.
2. Organize Your Essential Documents
Create both physical and digital copies of all important documents. Keep the physical copies in your carry-on luggage—never in your checked bags.
- Immigration Papers: Your passport, Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), study or work permit, and any other visas.
- Personal Identification: Birth certificates, marriage or divorce certificates, and adoption records.
- Professional & Educational Credentials: University degrees, diplomas, transcripts, and professional licenses. Consider getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you haven’t already.
- Other Key Documents: An international driver’s license or a driving record from your home country, medical and dental records, and vaccination records for your children.
3. Connect with Newcomer Services
Canada offers a wealth of free services for new immigrants. Connecting with them before you arrive can give you a significant advantage.
- Pre-Arrival Services: IRCC funds organizations that provide free online support to help you prepare for the Canadian job market and life in Canada while you are still in your home country.
- Research Local Settlement Agencies: Identify immigrant-serving organizations in your destination city. They offer invaluable resources like language assessment, employment workshops, and community connections.
4. Plan Your First Weeks in Canada
- Arrange Temporary Accommodation: Book a hotel, Airbnb, or other short-term rental for your first two to four weeks. This gives you a base from which you can search for long-term housing.
- Create a “First Day” Plan: Know how you will get from the airport to your temporary accommodation. Have the address and contact numbers readily available.
- Pack Strategically: Pack essential items, medications, and seasonal clothing in your checked luggage, but keep all documents, valuables, and a change of clothes in your carry-on.