Preparing for your Move to Canada: A Checklist

Congratulations! You’d be moving to Canada in a few weeks. While you are excited about making this move, you must sort out a few things ahead of your trip. Moving to a new location is never easy.

Canada is a great country to move to. A testament to this fact is the recent number of immigrants moving to Canada. Now that you have joined the bandwagon, we want to help make your transition seamless. We’ll show you a checklist to help you prepare for your move to Canada in the next few weeks.

Preparing for your Move to Canada in a Few Weeks

Some months ago, you made the decision to move to Canada. Just like other immigrants, you are probably moving for educational purposes, job opportunities, better quality of life, a low crime rate, or better healthcare. Whatever your reason is, moving to Canada requires you to be as prepared as possible. Now that your move to Canada is closer than ever, here are a few things you should add to your checklist:

Medicals

Canada has an excellent healthcare system, one of the best in the world. However, we suggest you prepare adequately to care for your health until you settle in properly. First of all, you need to bring along some medications; our suggestion is a six-month supply. This is because you are likely going to see different brands in Canada. Also, you may spend a fortune if you have to buy these supplies with cash.

Another aspect of your medicals that you need to sort out is medical insurance. When you come to Canada, it will take around 90 days for your government-sponsored medical plan to become active. Your best bet is to purchase “Visitors to Canada” insurance to cover yourself during this period just in case you fall ill.

Essential documents

Before moving to Canada, you need to gather certain documents. You will be presenting these documents before you are allowed to enter the country. Some of these essential documents include:

• A valid passport (or another travel document, where applicable). Ensure you and all other family members traveling with you carry this document.
• Two copies of a list of the household and personal items you bring into the country.
• Two copies of a list of the items you expect to arrive later. Make sure to include their monetary value.
• Your Canadian immigrant visa (where applicable). You will also need to provide a confirmation of permanent residency for you and all the members of your family traveling with you.

Click here for a complete list of the essential documents you should provide.

Cash at hand for out-of-pocket expenses

It is always advisable to have some cash at hand when moving to a new location. These funds come in handy when you have to handle out-of-pocket expenses. We suggest that you order some Canadian currency before leaving your location. With this, you can handle your needs before your Canadian bank account gets activated.

There is something you should note when moving to Canada with cash. If you will be crossing into the country with $10,000 CDN (or more), you must report the amount to the Canada Border Services Agency. It doesn’t matter if the money is in Canadian dollars (cheques or cash) or your country’s currency.

Funds in the bank

As it is with most countries that you migrate to, Canada expects you to have some funds in your account before moving. This means that you will likely be asked to show a proof of funds in your bank account before you enter the country. We suggest that you open a Canadian bank account and have the funds saved in there in your name. Doing this before you move to Canada makes the process a lot easier.

There are several ways to open a Canadian bank account before moving. Your best option is to talk to a Canadian bank to inquire how to open a non-resident account. Alternatively, you can work with your current bank to help out if they have a relationship with banks in Canada.

Conclusion

Moving to Canada is a remarkable feat, and we are glad to help you make the move and settle in seamlessly. This post has provided you with a checklist to make the process easier. Getting a residential property is one crucial need when you move to Canada. OneStopBroker.ca can help you buy or lease one. Email us today at info@onestopbroker.ca or visit our website, and we can help you before you move to Canada.