Arrival In Canada

So you have received the official papers, you packed your stuff and off you go to travel to Canada. This is a very exciting moment for you. All the waiting has ended and you will be a permanent resident of Canada. So what next? This is a general information how your arrival should look like and information how to go about everyday life issues that await you in Canada.

First thing make sure you have following documents with you before you leave for Canada:

A Canadian immigrant visa (if neccessary. see here for more) and the letter of Confirmation of Permanent Residence that you received
A valid passport or other travel document
Two copies of a detailed list of all the personal or household items you are bringing with you (you can find official forms here)
Two copies of a list of items that are arriving later. (if you have stuff shipped to you at a later time)
You should also have enough money with you to cover your living expenses such as rent, food, clothing and transportation for a six-month period. You might be asked to show proof of your funds. For example a bank statement.

To start a new life somewhere else needs a little organization. Make sure to bring all important documents and items that you have with you. Here is a small list of things you want to bring with you.

Important documents

birth certificate
marriage certificate
adoption, separation or divorce papers
school records, diplomas, certificates
trade or professional certificates and licences
letters of reference from former employers
a list of your qualifications and job experience (this is also called a résumé or cv)
vaccination, dental and other health records
driver's licence, including an International Driver's Permit, and a reference from your insurance company (this can save you money when insuring a car in Canada)
photocopies of all important documents. just in case your originals get lost (keep them separate from you originals)

And just in case your documents are neither in English nor in French, have them translated by an official translator. This will help you tremendously for later.

Finding a place to live

You probably have something arranges for the first few days or weeks when you arrive in Canada. But soon you might want to look into renting a place or even buying a place.
You should not rush for a place or apartment. You should check out different neighborhoods, or suburbs, depending where you decided to settle and search the local newspapers or look for signs that indicate a rental. Look for "Vacancy" or "For Rent" signs on houses and apartment buildings, ask friends, contact a immigrant-serving organization or check bulletin boards in stores or community centres. Once you found something that interests you, get information about the neighborhood, neighbors and access to public transportation. These things can be important for you everyday life. If you decided for a rental, make sure that you will read the lease form given to you by the landlord (owner of the building or apartment) or supervisor (most big apartment buildings have a supervisor/superintendent/janitor who handles the lease form and rental). Be aware what appliances are included in the rent and which once are not. A rental term for a lease is usually a year. Sometimes shorter lease terms are negotiated. It all depends on the landlord. Once you signed the lease, you will be obligated to fulfill th contract for the amount and term. But if you need to move, subletting a place is a common thing. Most likely you will have to pay the first month up front. It is also likely you will be asked to provide a Canadian reference or have a co-signer sign the lease to guarantee your financial commitment.

Applying for provincial health-care coverage

One of the most important things you need to do as soon as you arrive in Canada is to apply for a health insurance card. You can get an application form from the provincial ministry of health office, any doctor's office, a hospital or a pharmacy. To apply for a health card, you will need your Confirmation of Permanent Residence and passport or your permanent residence card and two passport photos which are dated on the back. Most drugstores that service available. Just ask at the counter for photos done for a health care card.
In Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Quebec, there is a three-month waiting period before you become eligible for health care coverage. If you are staying in one of these provinces, make sure you will have a private health care for the first three months. Look in the yellow pages under "Insurance" of get information at a immigrant-serving organization.

Health-care services covered by medicare include examination and treatment by family doctors, surgery, treatments by specialists, hospital care, X-rays, laboratory tests and most immunizations. Services not covered by medicare (you will have to pay) are ambulance services, prescription drugs, dental care and glasses and contact lenses. Some of them can be covered by a work place benefit program, depending on the employment packages. Your health insurance card for the province you live in. If you are visiting another province and you have a medical emergency, you can also use your card. But if you move to another province, you will need to apply for a new card.

Applying for a social insurance number

In order to work in Canada, you need a Social Insurance Number. This is a nine-digit number that you will need to find for a job. It is also called the SIN number. You can get a SIN application form att the Human Resources Development Canada Centre or you can download one from the Internet at www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/sin-nas.

Looking for work

Once you settled into your new place, you will most likely want to find a job. Since your schooling and training hasn't been done in Canada, it is a good thing to get your documents evaluated. An evaluation of your professional training and schooling is important to be able to compete on the job market. Also most employers will ask for an equivalence to Canadian training and schooling.
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials Web site (www.cicic.ca) will help you find the appropriate offices you will have to contact.
To search for a job, you can look in local newspapers, job fares and on the internet.

Here are several sites that can help you find a job: