Are you considering a move to Canada? Embarking on a new life in a foreign land is an exciting prospect, especially when that country is Canada, a place known for its stunning natural beauty and its warm and welcoming people.
However, the logistics involved in relocating to another country can often feel overwhelming. There’s a multitude of tasks to complete, which is why we recommend starting a comprehensive checklist to keep track of everything.
This list should include essential items like duplicating important documents such as marriage and birth certificates, ensuring your pets are properly vaccinated, opening a new bank account, and selling or disposing of items you won’t need in your new home. And, of course, don’t forget to save money for your journey!
Here are five crucial items to add to your relocation checklist before making the move to Canada:
- Bringing Your Pet with You
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for managing international pet travel to Canada. According to the CFIA, only dogs, cats, and ferrets are considered pets. However, if you’d like to bring other animals like rabbits or parrots with you, it’s possible to do so by obtaining an import license.
If you plan to bring your dog, cat, or ferret with you to Canada, there are specific guidelines to ensure their comfort and demonstrate their health. These steps include contacting your airline to inquire about their pet travel regulations, vaccinating your pet at least 21 days before your flight (with vaccination documents in English or French), considering a microchip if required, and securing an appropriately sized pet carrier. It’s important to note that you cannot bring pet food into Canada unless it was purchased in the USA.
- Preparing Your Phone
Using your mobile phone in a foreign country can be expensive or even impossible without access to Wi-Fi. Swapping your SIM card might not be straightforward due to network locks imposed by many mobile carriers. This means that trying to use a Canadian carrier’s SIM card in your phone may not work.
If you don’t plan to buy a new smartphone or sign a new contract upon your arrival in Canada, it’s a good idea to get your phone unlocked for a small fee so you can use a Canadian SIM card right away. Choosing the right mobile provider in Canada will save you a lot of hassle. The three major providers in Canada are Rogers, Telus, and Bell, offering unlimited data plans, family plans, and extensive coverage across the country, including rural areas.
- Selling or Moving Your Household Items
Letting go of the possessions you’ve accumulated over the years to create a home is never easy. Depending on your financial situation, it might be more practical to sell your household items and start anew. In 2020, the cost of renting a 20ft container to move your household items to Canada was approximately $5,500, which can significantly impact your budget. Also, consider the size of your furniture in relation to your new home. Many Canadian apartments can be smaller, and your oversized furniture might not fit.
For these reasons, many people opt to sell their household items and use the proceeds to purchase new or secondhand furniture and other essential items in Canada. Fortunately, Canada has numerous garage sales where you can find quality secondhand goods to help you get started. Another option is to rent or buy a furnished apartment initially and gradually set up your new home. It’s essential to start listing the items you wish to sell online at least two months before your move to ensure everything is sold in time, from less essential to more critical items.
- Obtaining Your Driver’s License
If you plan to drive in Canada, you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) before your move. Depending on your country of origin, you might also need a new Canadian driver’s license. If you are moving from certain countries, including Austria, Australia, France, Germany, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Belgium, UK, or the USA, you can exchange your current license for a Canadian one without a knowledge or road test. However, you’ll need to prove that you have over two years of driving experience with specific documents that may need to be obtained before your move.
The required documents include your current driver’s license (if it’s your first license and the original issue date is indicated) or an original driver’s abstract issued by your country’s licensing authority or a letter of verification from that authority.
- Setting Up a Bank Account
You can apply to open a bank account in Canada before your move, allowing you to use your card and withdraw money without costly transaction fees when you arrive at a Canadian airport. Banks like Scotiabank can assist you in your native language from your home country to open an account and transfer funds. Additionally, as a newcomer, you can apply for credit with some of the available services. However, acceptable identification is required to open a Canadian bank account, and depending on your circumstances, one or more of the following documents will be necessary:
- A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
- A Permanent Resident card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document
- A Social Insurance Number card issued by the Government of Canada
- A provincial health insurance card, as allowed for identification purposes under provincial law
- Work or study permits
Canadian Immigration Made Easy
Don’t have your permanent residency visa yet? We can assist you. At CanadianVisa.org, we handle the entire immigration process on behalf of our clients. Located in Vancouver, Canada, our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) authorized by the Canadian Government can help people from around the world apply for visas to work, study, visit, or move to Canada. We handle every aspect of the process