Welcome, or as they say in French, Bienvenue! We are delighted that you chose to settle in Canada, and not only do we want to help you have a safe and comfortable transition as a newcomer, but we also want you to get excited about everything Canada has to offer.

We curated partnerships from some of the best companies to help you prepare, settle, and thrive for those who are new to Canada.

This guide will help newcomers to Canada as permanent residents or temporary residents, including international students. We can assist you in starting your life here.

Our partners will help you:

• Settle into a home in Canada, whether you decide to rent or buy
• Manage your money day to day and invest for the future with a Canada banking package
• Stay connected with friends and family locally and back home
• Travel and get around in a variety of ways
• Develop your career or build your own business
• Explore Canada!

If you are at an earlier point in your move to Canada, you may need help with you immigration journey. Consider a licensed immigration consulting firm. You may also wish to read our immigration to Canada FAQ.

Welcome to Canada!

This guide is designed as a checklist of steps you need to take before and after you arrive to help with getting started in Canada. 

Before You Arrive

You have been accepted to Canada! Now what? Here are some important things to do to help you prepare for your move

Before You Arrive Checklist

1. Passport and Other Documents
2. Decide Your Destination
3. Choose Your Arrival Date
4. Get A Canada Banking Package
5. Consider Your New To Canada Housing
6. Get Some Canadian Currency
7. Find A Health Insurance Provider
8. Decide What To Bring And What To Leave Behind

Step 1: Passport and Other Documents

• Ensure your passport is valid, and if not, apply for one immediately. This can take a while, so it is important that you do it as soon as possible. If you are coming to Canada as a permanent or temporary resident, a passport is a must.

Confirmation of Permanent Residence

• If you are coming to Canada as a permanent resident, you need to bring your Confirmation of Permanent Resident (CoPR), received from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It shows that you have been approved for permanent residency.

Temporary Residents: Coming to Canada on a Work Permit

• If you are coming to Canada to work, you may need a visitor visa to be allowed in. You may also need to show a letter of introduction as proof your work permit application was approved.
• You may also need:
  • Proof of work experience and education
  • A copy of your employer’s positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
  • A copy of the attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for Quebec only
  • An offer of employment number from your employer

Temporary Residents: Coming to Canada as an International Student

• To come to Canada as an international student, you may need the following:
  • Letter of introduction with your study permit reference number
  • Letter of acceptance from your school
  • Electronic Travel Authorization, visitor visa or US green card

Further Documents

• You need a variety of other valid documents, so start collecting them and storing them in a safe place, including:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage or divorce certificate
  • Immigration medical exam results
  • Educational certificates or diplomas
  • Updated vaccination and medical records
  • A driver’s license (if you have one)

English or French Copies

• Make sure all the above documents are photocopied and translated into English or French (depending on where you are going in Canada).

Step 2: Decide Your Destination

• Decide where in Canada you want to go. Do research on the labour and housing market in those areas to help you make a decision. If you can, find a job before you arrive.

Step 3: Choose Your Arrival Date

• Pick a date for your arrival and book your tickets.

Step 4: Get A Canada Banking Package

• You need to get a Canada banking package, and that’s something you can take care of before you arrive. This will enable you to get paid by your employer and access and move your money.
  • We recommend Scotiabank. Welcome to Canada! The next several months will be full of excitement and new beginnings. Scotiabank is here to help you navigate this process with banking programs that help newcomers succeed financially. Learn more about our StartRight™ Program that allows newcomers to earn up to $1,800* in value.^{1
    1} Potential value in 1st year. Conditions & assumptions apply.

Step 5: Consider Your New To Canada Housing

• Find suitable newcomer housing in Canada and book it.
  • We recommend SparrowLiving. Discover budget-friendly room and basement rentals across Canada with Sparrow! Flexible lease terms from 2 months to 12+ months, plus the added benefit of building your credit through rent payments. Your ideal space is just a click away. Explore Now

Step 6: Get Some Canadian Currency

• Exchange money for Canadian currency so you can use it right away. Some banks will also allow you to open an account before you arrive, and you can transfer money so it is waiting for you when you get there.

Step 7: Find A Health Insurance Provider

• Get health insurance to ensure you are covered in case something goes wrong. Once you are eligible for provincial healthcare coverage, you can cancel it.

Step 8: Decide What To Bring And What To Leave Behind

• Read and understand what you can and cannot bring with you into Canada.

Have you done all the above? Great! Now it’s time to get really excited as you are all prepared to arrive in Canada! 

Have you read down this far and realised you are earlier in your immigration adventure? Consider an immigration Canada consulting firm to get you started.

After You Arrive

You just arrived and you are excited about being new to Canada. Here are some important things to do right away to help you settle.

After You Arrive Checklist

1. 1. Emergency Contact
   2. Get A Local Cellphone Plan
   3. Get a Permanent Resident Card
   4. Consider Using Canadian Settlement Services
   5. Get A Social Insurance Number
   6. Consider Healthcare For Newcomers In Canada
   7. Newcomer Housing In Canada
   8. Get Internet
   9. Get broadcast TV
   10. Get Out And About In Your Neighbourhood
   11. What Are Your Transport Options?
   12. Consider Getting Your Credentials Assessed
   13. Employment For Newcomers In Canada
   14. Find a School
   15. Get a Family Doctor
   16. What Benefits Do You Qualify For?

Step 1: Emergency Contact

• Memorize the number 911. This can be used to access the police, fire department or ambulance in an emergency anywhere in Canada.

Step 2: Get A Local Cellphone Plan

• You will want to communicate to friends and family, and even navigate your way around Canada. A cellphone plan can help you get and stay connected.

Step 3: Get a Permanent Residence Card

• Do not forget, that you should receive your Permanent Residence Card from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada within two months of your arrival date. If you have not received it after two months, contact the IRCC office.

Step 4: Consider Using Canadian Settlement Services

• There are several organizations or community groups that provide settlement services to help a newcomer to Canada. The federal and provincial government fund these settlement services to ensure a smooth start to your new life. Consider finding one in your local area.

Step 5: Get A Social Insurance Number

• Go to the nearest Service Canada Centre and apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN). This will enable you to work and apply for certain banking products. It is also important for when you need to file taxes in Canada.

Step 6: Consider Healthcare For Newcomers In Canada

• Go to the nearest Provincial Service Centre and apply for healthcare coverage. Do not forget to cancel your travel health insurance once you are accepted. Different provinces have different requirements, so make sure to do your research.

Step 7: Newcomer Housing In Canada

• If you have only found temporary housing, start looking for something more permanent.
• Consider a tax-free home savings account to help you save for your first home in Canada.

Step 8: Get Internet

• Getting internet will help you work from home, stay connected to friends and family and access products and services you will need, not to mention it’s a great source of entertainment.

Step 9: Get broadcast TV

• For sure you can get a ton of entertainment from the internet, but make sure you do not miss out on local news, sports and other broadcasting anywhere, even on your home television.

Step 10: Get Out And About In Your Neighbourhood

• Get to know your new neighbourhood and what new immigrant services are available near you such as libraries, parks and pools.

Step 11: What Are Your Transport Options?

• Figure out how you will get around. You may want to buy a car or rely on public transportation. There are also local ride-sharing companies you can consider. Get a Canadian driver’s license if you plan to drive.

Step 12: Consider Getting Your Credentials Assessed

• If you have a degree or diploma from back home, consider getting it accredited in Canada.

Step 13: Employment For Newcomers In Canada

• Get a job to help you earn income.

Step 14: Find a School

• Enroll yourself or any of your family in school.

Step 15: Get a Family Doctor

• Find a family doctor.

Step 16: What Benefits Do You Qualify For?

• Discover what newcomer tax credits and benefits you can apply for.

These are the most important steps to take first, but you did not just come to Canada to settle, you came here to thrive. Here are some additional things to do to help you make the best of your life here.

Longer Term Considerations

Language Programs For Newcomers

• Improve your English or French by taking in-person or online classes. There are several tax-funded language classes that you can take for free.

Laws and Rights

• Learn about Canadian laws and your rights.
• Learn about your rights as a tenant if you decide to rent, or your obligations as a landlord if you become one.
• Once you have a job, understand your rights as an employee and the need to file taxes.

Education For Newcomers In Canada

• Consider upskilling to get a better job and improve your income.
  • We recommend the True North newsletter.  This weekly newsletter comes out every Wednesday and is designed to help you thrive in your career and life in Canada. Sign up here.

Travel

• Explore Canada! You came here for a reason. Make sure you explore your local neighbourhood, and province and try to see other parts of the country as well.
  • We recommend the Oh Canada newsletter. This weekly newsletter comes out every Friday and is designed to help newcomers explore the best Canada has to offer. Sign up here.

Citizenship Canada

Start accruing the amount of time you need in Canada as a permanent resident so that you can apply for citizenship!

Welcome Package FAQ

Q. What services does Canada offer new immigrants?

The federal and provincial government fund settlement services like job assistance, language training, housing, and health care to ensure that newcomers are smoothly integrated into their everyday life in Canada. Settlement services for new immigrants are offered for free by several organizations or community groups, and newcomers should look for one in their local area.

Q. What province is the best for newcomers in Canada?

While each province offers its own set of benefits, Ontario is the most popular choice for new immigrants. It has a wealth of career opportunities in finance, health care, manufacturing, and IT, and its capital city of Toronto is known for being one of the largest metropolitans in the world. Not only that, but Toronto is also one of the most multicultural and immigrant-centric cities in the world. In fact, 53% of its residents were born outside of Canada!

Q. What to know before moving to Canada?

Moving countries is a big step, and prospective immigrants need to research a variety of factors to undergo a smooth transition to their life in Canada. Consider immigration processes and programs, residency status for tax purposes, healthcare coverage, regional climates, cost of living, job opportunities, cultural diversity, language proficiency, education options for children, and settlement services. It is imperative to seek personalized advice to make this part of the immigration journey easier.

Q. Is Canada still welcoming newcomers?

Yes, more than ever! Canada is committed to welcoming newcomers who bring the skills needed by its economy, while also acknowledging the importance of family reunification and refugee resettlement.

In 2022, Ottawa welcomed more than 437,000 new permanent residents, and surpassed its target of 465,000 newcomers for 2023. What’s more, the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, tabled in Parliament on November 1, 2023, projects stabilized levels in permanent resident admissions with targets of 485,000 in 2024; 500,000 in 2025; and 500,000 in 2026.

Q. Do immigrants pay taxes in Canada?

Whether newcomers need to file taxes depends on their residency status and income.

Newcomers become residents of Canada for income tax purposes when they establish significant residential ties in Canada, which usually happens the day they arrive in the country. They must therefore report their world income (all income from inside and outside Canada) to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and file a tax return. However, all or part of the income may be exempt from Canadian tax.

If newcomers do not have residency status but are earning a Canadian income, they must also file a tax return.

Q. Can you get a tax refund if you have no income in Canada?

Even those without a Canadian income could get a tax return from the CRA because of the many tax benefits made available to newcomers, such as the Canada child tax benefit (CCTB) and the GST/HST credit. Learn more about how to apply for benefits and tax credits as a newcomer to Canada here.

Q. What do you need to move to Canada?

There are some important logistical considerations to be made to move to Canada. You should:

• Ensure that your passport and other immigration documents are in order
• Decide on your province of destination
• Choose your arrival date
• Get a Canada banking package
• Consider your Canada housing
• Get Canadian currency
• Find a health insurance provider

Decide what to bring and what to leave behind, as there are certain items you cannot bring with you into Canada.