by Are you planning on immigrating to Canada? Have your immigration application been processed and approved for you to immigrate to Canada and you are trying to figure out what you would do when you arrive the country?
Well, moving to a new country and starting a new life can be overwhelming but this shouldn’t be a problem for you as you are not alone on this. We are with you on this and we are going to show you tips to help you settle in Canada easily.
Canada is a wonderful country and it is even seen as one of the most welcoming countries of the world reason why a lot of immigrants are choosing Canada as their top destination to immigrate to.
So if you are among the immigrants that will be moving to Canada, then you should fret about how you would settle into Canada as we are going to show you what you should do when you arrive in Canada.
Without further ado, let’s get into the article proper…
Things You Should Do When You Arrive In Canada
Once you land in Canada, it’s a new place and a new life for you and so it is normal that you get a strange feeling and confused too. It is a wonderful time of your life and no one can take it away from you.
One thing you shouldn’t do is trying to make everything perfect, try to take things slow and not stress yourself too much about everything that you need to get done. There is no rush and if at all there is, you should take a deep breath and enjoy this great country.
So here are some things that you will need to do when you arrive Canada for the first time:
1. Get a SIN
This is the first and most important thing that you will need to do when you arrive in Canada. The Social Insurance Number needs to get be gotten first if not, you can get a job in Canada.
The SIN provides you will a lot of benefits and government services. It is a nine-digit number and you will see it displayed on your permit documents if you received a temporary work permit.
You can apply for the SIN at a Service Canada office which won’t take more than 30 minutes to get.
2. Open a bank account
This is another important thing to do when you arrive in Canada.
Canada has about 88 banks and 5,820 branches across the nation. Regardless of where you are moving to in Canada, you will find a bank close to you which means that you won’t find it difficult to find a bank where you can open an account.
Try to take you time to get a suitable bank for you because in as much as banking in Canada is convenient, the bank charges involved may be much higher than what you are used to. Every bank in Canada charges monthly fees and so you should look for a bank that charges fair. Remember that it is very important to save while you are in Canada.
You can open a personal account in Canada even if you don’t have a job, permanent address or money to put in the account. You just need to go to the bank and present valid personal identification.
3. Apply for healthcare card
You will need to apply for a health care card when you land in Canada to receive free medical coverage in the province or territory where you plan to live.
The waiting period of the card depends on the province you are living in so it is very important that you apply for the card as soon as you land in Canada.
Each of the provinces in Canada has its own health insurance plan, so you will have to do some research about what the provincial plan covers.
4. Get your cellphone sorted
When you arrive in Canada, you should do well to get a new cellphone as it will help reduce the roaming costs from the internet provider at where you live. There is nothing to enjoy in researching and comparing phone plans.
When you buy a new cell phone, ensure that you check if the additional charges will incur on the given phone plan which can include receiving local calls and caller ID costs.
5. Find accommodation
You will need to find a place to stay in Canada when you arrive and you can do this before you come to Canada or after you arrive in Canada. You could book some temporary accommodations when you arrive in Canada and when you know more about where you will live, you can start looking into a more permanent place to stay.
As an immigrant, you don’t have a Canadian credit history and this might place you at a disadvantage to get a house in Canada as many landlords are used to giving people with a Canadian credit history preference above anyone else.
But if you get rejected by a landlord, you will just have to continue your search until you see someone that is willing to lease a house to you.
You can use Craigslist, Padmapper and Kijiji to find listing that doesn’t require a Canadian credit score.
6. Make friends
For you to settle easily in Canada, you will have to make friends. so after you must have gotten some of the other things done, you can get to know some people and start building a solid network of good friends that will help you feel at home in your new city.
If you already have a job, you can get to know your colleagues at your workplace, if you are studying, you can get to know other students and be friends with them.
You can also decide to make friends with your neighbors and people in other gatherings you find yourself.
You should know that getting to know and meet new people could open doors to new opportunities in Canada and provide you with a city guide. This could also help reduce your cost of living in Canada.
There are Immigrant-serving organizations that connect newcomers with other immigrants or Canadians. You can volunteer in your local community centres, schools or charitable organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in Canada?
The first things you should do when you arrive in Canada are:
- Apply for SIN
- Open a bank account
- Get health insurance
- Get accommodation
- Make friends
2. What do I need when I arrive in Canada?
When you arrive in Canada for the first time, you will need your valid passport containing your unexpired Canada immigration visa, a document titled Confirmation of Permanent Residence and completed customs card (you will receive this one the plane). Once you arrive, they will direct you to immigration to process your documents and customs paperwork.
3. Is life in Canada easy?
Life in Canada is quite easy although it might be actually tough at the beginning but when you become more familiar with the people, the country and its lifestyle, it becomes easier for you to settle in the country.
4. What are the negative sides of living in Canada?
In as much as Canada is a great place to live, there are some negative sides. Here are some of the negative sides of living in Canada:
- Life in Canada is expensive
- Taxes are high
- Houses are expensive
5. Do they stamp your passport when you enter Canada?
When you arrive at the point of entry in Canada, a border services officer will make sure you meet the requirements to enter Canada and the officer will authorize your stay by stamping your passport and issuing another document.
6. Can I get my SIN at the airport?
No you can’t. Social Insurance Number (SIN) falls under Service Canada and they do not have any booth at the airport. You could apply online after you arrive Canada.
Final Note
A lot of people dream of living in Canada and enjoying all the perks that comes with living in the country that is blessed with milk and honey.
If you manage to make it to the Great White North, there are a lot of opportunities waiting for you there and be sure that you are going to have lots of fun.
Reference
moving2canada.com – 7 things to do during your first week in canada
canadianvisa.org – your first week in canada
canadim.com – 5 first things you should do when you arrive in canada
prepareforcanada.com – first things to do after landing in canada
