Table of Contents

Checklist 1: Documents to Bring to Canada | An Overview

Checklist 2: What You Can Bring to Canada | Personal and Household Items

Checklist 3: Transferring Finances

Checklist 4: Medical and Immunization Records

Checklist 5: What to Know about Medical Insurance

Checklist 6: Professional Documents to Bring

Checklist 7: Tips for Shipping Personal Effects

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 1.

Critical checklists before

you immigrate

Important Things to Know and Do

Before You Move to Canada
One of the biggest mistakes would-be immigrants make is moving to Canada unprepared. For
example, they may leave behind critical documents that they’ll need in Canada, or forget to purchase
insurance to cover themselves and their belongings while they travel. Or they leave so much behind
and then face enormous costs after they arrive.

The good news is you can get organized and avoid the stress of forgetting the important things to
know and do. Our pre-arrival planning guide and essential checklists will help you prepare to move
to Canada with confidence!

www.prepareforcanada.com
 Documents to Bring to Canada
1. Birth certificates and passports of each family member

2. Adoption papers (if applicable)

3. Marriage certificate (and/or divorce, separation papers)

4. School records for all your children. These records will help the school to place your children into the right
grade in Canada.

5. Children’s immunization records. You will require immunization records when you enrol your children in a
Canadian school.

6. Copies of all post-secondary diplomas, degrees and even academic transcripts for all adults. You may
need to show proof of your educational credentials and even get them evaluated by a professional evaluation
service, academic institution or professional association. Check with the relevant agencies to find out how to
provide the documents to them before you arrive in Canada. This will save you time and money if you do this
before you arrive.

7. Reference letters with contact details from former employers. You will need reference letters when you
apply for work in Canada.

8. Samples of your professional work or achievements

It’s helpful to have samples of your work when you apply for jobs in Canada.

9. International Driver’s Licence. You can drive in Canada with an international driver’s licence for the short
term, until you get a Canadian driver’s licence.

10. Copies of international automobile insurance. If you have a good driving record in your country of origin,
this may help you get a better auto insurance rate in Canada.

11. Medical records, including X-rays, dental files, optical prescriptions, other prescriptions

12. Documents related to travel health insurance to cover you in case of medical emergency in your first
few weeks in Canada. You can apply for provincial health care coverage as soon as you arrive in Canada.
However, some provinces, including Ontario, have up to a 90-day waiting period for health care coverage after
landing. You are responsible for private health insurance in the interim.

13. Certificates of valuation and authenticity (including photos) for jewellery and other valuables and
belongings you’re bringing with you. You’ll need a list of effects when you land at the airport.

14. Copies of financial records that show credit history/rating. It can be difficult for newcomers to access loans
and credit in Canada because of a lack of credit history. However, it may be easier if you have a record of your
international credit rating.

15. Record of any current foreign income, properties or investments

www.prepareforcanada.com
3 More Things You Need When
You Land
And remember you need the following documents at the airport when you first land in
Canada:

1. Your passport and/or travel documents (including ArriveCAN information)

2. Your permanent resident visa and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence
(COPR)
3. Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family when you
arrive in Canada.

When you arrive at the airport, an immigration officer will ensure that you are entering Canada
on or before the expiry date shown on your permanent resident visa; it cannot be extended. If
there are no problems, the officer will allow you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The
officer will also confirm your Canadian mailing address. Your permanent resident card will be
mailed to this address.
Checklist 2.

What You Can Bring | Personal and

Household Items
As a landed immigrant, you can bring with you, free of duty and taxes, any personal and household
items that you owned before you arrive in Canada. These may include any of the following:

1. Furniture 8. Family heirlooms

2. Housewares 9. Antiques, stamp or coin collections

3. Kitchen Appliances 10. Musical instruments

4. Linens 11. Paintings

5. Books 12. Valuable jewellery

6. Clothing 13. Power tools

7. Jewellery 14. Pets

Consider whether it is cheaper to ship these items or to buy new items when you arrive in Canada.

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 2.

Don’t forget receipts!

Wherever possible, you should retain the receipts for these goods to prove that they are your
personal items and for your personal use.

Furnishings and electronics

While furnishings are a good choice to ship, electronics may not be worth the effort, as they may
not work in Canada. The electrical current used by small appliances like lamps, radios, televisions
is 120 volts, 60 cycles in Canada. If your appliances don’t conform to this voltage, leave them
behind. Converters burn out too quickly to use them for any length of time.

Cars and pets

If you want to bring a vehicle to Canada, you must check to see that it meets the safety and
pollution standards of Canada. See Transport Canada’s guidelines on importing a vehicle.

If you want to bring pets to Canada, check the guidelines on bringing animals to Canada set by the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Pets can be refused entry if they do not meet specific
requirements. While pet cats and dogs do not need to be quarantined, you do have to provide
proof of their age and rabies status.

Immediate essentials
Make sure you have the types of clothing that will be appropriate for the weather when you land in
Canada. Pack of a box of other essentials that you’ll need for your first few days in Canada.

What Can I Bring Into Canada in Terms Of Food, Plant, Animal and Related Products?
Click here to find out.

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 3.

Transferring Finances & Valuables

One of the first things you should consider before your move to Canada is how to transfer your
cash and your other investments. Here are six options to consider.

1. Talk to your banker in your country of origin for advice.

2. Transfer some cash into Canadian funds for immediate needs after landing.

3. Put some money into traveller's’ cheques for security and immediate access to your funds.

4. Bring your international credit cards for immediate out-of-pocket expenses and for
identification purposes, too.

5. You can get an international wire transfer using the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank
Financial Telecommunication) system. It operates a worldwide network that can transfer funds
between different financial institutions. Allow a week to 10 days for international banking
transfers.

6. Once you’re in Canada, open a bank account at a bank or credit union in your city. To do this,
you’ll have to show your landed immigrant papers and identification.

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 4.

Medical and Immunization Records

Remember to bring important medical documents and forms for the whole family when you
leave your country of origin. It’s important for continuity of care, as well as to register your
children in school.

1. Medical records, including X-rays

2. Dental files

3. Optical prescriptions

4. Other medical prescriptions (a single course of treatment or a 90-day supply)

5. Copy of children’s immunization record

6. Copy of adult immunization record.

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 5.

What to Know about Medical Insurance in Canada

Canada’s universal health care system is one of the best in the world. But
not everything is free. Here are 7 things you need to know.

1. Doctor’s services, care, surgery and inpatient and outpatient hospital services are covered.

2. Things like eye care, and dental care are typically not covered, although it may depend on
your province. Some services like chiropractic and physiotherapy may be partially covered.

3. Prescriptions are not covered.

4. Many employers offer extended medical benefits to offset costs for things like dental care,
eye care and prescriptions. There are also some government-funded assistance programs for
low-income persons.

5. Depending on which province you settle in, you may have to pay a mandatory monthly
premium i.e. British Columbia and Alberta). In other provinces, taxes are simply deducted
from your paycheque i.e. Ontario.

6. For brand-new residents, some provinces also have a three-month waiting period before
you are covered under the health care plan. So apply right for you provincial health care
coverage as soon as you arrive in Canada!

7. You should purchase private medical health insurance to cover you during the
three-month waiting period. You never know what kind of emergency care you may need.
Without insurance, you’ll have to pay a medical bill if you access health care services. Ensure
the insurance will cover you as an immigrant, not just a visitor to Canada i.e. travel insurance.

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 6.

Professional Documents to Bring

Some of the most important things you need to bring to Canada are your professional
documents. Finding a job will be your primary goal when you arrive in Canada. And, this can
be challenging.

Many immigrants are often surprised by the barriers they face to get hired, even though they
are approved to come to Canada based on their education and professional experience.
Immigrants who can’t seem to find a job in their field are often told that they do not have
“Canadian experience.” And so they turn to survival jobs like taxi driving or flipping burgers to
support their families.

You might think that this won’t happen to you. But one way to minimize this challenge is to
prepare for the realities of the Canadian job market. Part of that is bringing your professional
documents from your country of origin. Having these can make it easier to find a job in
Canada.

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 6.
1. Copies of all post-secondary diplomas, degrees, licences
and even academic transcripts.
You may need to show proof of your educational credentials and have
them evaluated by a professional evaluation service, academic institution
or professional association. These evaluations can help you to find work
more easily. Or you may need more training to work in a regulated
occupations or attend post-secondary schools in Canada.

Professional associations, universities, colleges and assessment agencies

may require that they receive your academic documents directly from the
institution you attended to evaluate them. They may not accept original or
copied academic documents that you may come with. Check with the
appropriate agency to find out what they require before you move to
Canada. This important step will save you time and money.

2. Reference letters with contact details from former

employers.
You will need these when applying for work in Canada.

3. Samples of your professional work or achievements

Work sample are helpful when you apply for work in Canada.

4. Bring your resumé or curriculum vitae, too, but note that

you will have to likely use it only as a foundation and
create a completely new Canadian style resumé.

Notes:

www.prepareforcanada.com
Checklist 7.
Shipping Personal Effects

Tips for shipping personal effects

Choosing what personal items to bring, packing

and shipping them safely can seem
overwhelming. Where do you begin? Here are
10 things to consider.

1. Bring items that are have emotional and

nostalgic value to you i.e. family photos,
heirlooms, etc.

2. Bring items that will be cheaper to ship than

to buy new i.e. furnishings.

3. Leave items that are better replaced with

new versions in Canada i.e. appliances,
electronics and items that cost more to ship
than to buy new in Canada.

4. If you use professional movers to pack your household, they will itemize and label your
belongings. This will also make it easier to unpack at the other end. Ensure that the
movers provide you with a detailed packing list as well. If you pack yourself, follow the
same method.

5. Check if your moving company offers shipping only, or if they include an unpacking
service.

6. Ensure you insure your belongings against loss or damage while in transit.

7. Ensure you have the shipping company’s contact details and they have yours.

8. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations to find a reliable mover.

9. It could be some time before you’re able to buy day-to-day items such as cutlery and
dinnerware, you might consider bringing a box of such necessities with you on the plane.

10. You will have to go to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office to collect your
personal effects when they arrive in Canada. This is a simple procedure and if your papers
are in order, there will be no delay.

www.prepareforcanada.com