Canadian Immigration

Chapter 25

Preparation Before Going to Canada

Preparing for the big move to Canada can be really tiring, but very exciting ! Before you leave for Canada, you might want to consider the following tips that we have compiled for you. There are so many things that you would like to take along with you. It's really up to you to decide what to bring and what not to bring. But there are some stuff that you could not automatically carry with yourself in your new homeland.

Checklist of what you need to do before leaving for Canada and what to bring to Canada.

What I need to do
Buy airplane tickets for you and your dependents. If you are transiting in another country, be sure you have the required transit visa.
Know the luggage limit of your airlines. If you are over the limit, you may have to ship your personal belongings that you cannot bring along when you travel. Remember, it is often cheaper to use surface mail from your local post than to pay extra charges to the airline companies.
Prepare a list of "Goods to Bring" or those items which you are planning to bring along with you in your airplane flight to Canada. Include Model Numbers and Serial Numbers of products if they have such numbers. It is also a good idea to take photographs of any valuable possessions you are bringing.
Prepare a list of "Goods to Follow" or those items which you wish to take to Canada in the future. Include Model Numbers and Serial Numbers of products if they have such numbers. It is also a good idea to take photographs of any valuable possessions.
Do you dental work and purchase your medication or vitamins. The provincial health plans in Canada don't normally cover the costs of these so it might be cheaper if you have them done in your country.
If you don't want to hand carry all your settlement funds, you can open a bank account remotely with a Canadian bank to transfer your settlement fund.
There are strict regulations as to what possessions you can bring with you to Canada. If you are not sure, inquire at the Canadian diplomatic mission or write to: Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Customs, Excise and Taxation Information Services 2265 St. Laurent Boulevard Ottawa Ontario K1G 4K3 In Canada, toll-free: 1 800 461-9999 Outside Canada: (506) 636-5064
There are strict laws about the types of plants, food and pets you can bring to Canada. Before you leave your country, inquire at the Canadian diplomatic mission or write to: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Health Agriculture Canada 59 Camelot Drive Nepean, Ontario K1A 0Y9 (613) 225-2342 (ext. 4629)
Bring car registration, if you are bringing your car. Cars must meet Canadian safety and pollution control standards. Many cars are not allowed into the country. If you are not sure, contact : Transport Canada Place de Ville Tower C 330 Sparks Street Ottawa Ontario K1A 0N5 (613) 990-2309
If you don't have a place to stay upon landing in Canada such as friends and relatives, be sure to book an apartment or hotel for at least one month. It would be best if the apartment has a phone and other basic furniture. Most apartments in Canada have a fridge and stove so you don't have to worry about this.

What I need to bring
A valid passport and the Permanent Resident Visa documents will be required from you and your dependents when landing in Canada
It is also a good idea to have photocopies of you Permanent Resident Visa kept in your hand-carry luggage. Don't ever keep them in your check-in luggage which might get lost in your flight.
Proof of settlements funds may also be requested by the customs or immigration officer upon landing at the Canadian airport. It is good to have these documents handy just in case.
Birth Certificate/s of you and your dependents with English translation.
Marriage Certificate with English translation.
Adoption, separation or divorce papers
Letters from employers and a list of your qualifications and job experience
School records, diplomas, degrees
Trade or professional certificates
Immunization, vaccination, dental and other health records, if there's any
Driver's license as well as International Driver's Permit and accident record from your insurance company
If you are immigrating to Ontario, British Columbia or New Brunswick, you should acquire private health care coverage for the initial waiting period of three months, when you will not be eligible for provincial health care coverage. Private insurance companies are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book, usually under "Insurance".
Electrical appliances in Canada are 110-volt, 60-cycle current. Do not bring appliances that cannot use this current
If you are immigrating to Canada during the winter, you will definitely need warm clothing. You will need an overcoat, hat, boots and gloves. If you come from a warm climate, be ready to buy winter clothes in Canada soon after arriving. The coldest months are October, November, January, February and March.
If you have a credit card that is internationally acceptable like Visa, Mastercard or American Express, it would be advisable that you carry these with you.
Bring several copies of your resume so that you can immediately sent these out as soon as an opportunity comes along.

It is a good idea to hand carry any important documents. Do not pack them in your suitcases. Imagine the trouble that you have to go through if your suitcases get lost.

You might want to take photographs of your bags and luggage too, so that when they get lost during the flight , you can show these photos to the airline staff when reporting your losses.

Airports All Over Canada

Abbotsford Airport

Aklavik Airport

Anahim Lake Airport

Arviat/Eskimo Point

Atikokan Airport

Baie Comeau Airport

Baker Lake Airport

Bathurst Airport

Bella Coola Airport

Berens River Airport

Blanc Sablon Airport

Bloodvein River Airport

Boundary Bay Airport

Brampton Airport

Brandon Airport

Brantford Airport

Brochet Airport

Calgary International Airport

Cambridge Bay Airport

Campbell River Airport

Camrose Airport

Cape Dorset Airport

Castlegar Airport

Chapleau Airport

Charlottetown Airport

Chatham Airport

Chesterfield Inlet Airport

Chilliwack Airport

Churchill Airport

Churchill Falls Airport

Clyde River Airport

Comox Valley Regional Airport

Cooking Lake Airport

Coral Harbour Airport

Cornwall Airport

Cranbrook Airport

Cross Lake Airport

Dauphin Airport

Dawson Creek Airport

Deer Lake Airport

Delta Heritage Air Park

Digby Municipal Airport

Dryden Regional Airport

Edmonton City Centre Airport

Edmonton International Airport

Edmundston Airport

Flin Flon Airport

Fond-Du-Lac Airport

Fort Chipewyan Airport

Fort McMurray Airport

Fort Nelson Airport

Fort Simpson Airport

Fort Smith Airport

Fort St. John Airport

Fredericton Municipal Airport

Gander International Airport

Gjoa Haven Airport

God's River Airport

Gods Lake Narrows Airport

Goose Bay Airport

Gore Bay-Manitoulin Airport

Grand Prairie Airport

Greater Moncton Airport

Grimsby Airpark

Guelph Air Park

Halifax International Airport

Hall Beach Airport

Hay River Airport

High Level Airport

High River Airport

Igloolik Airport

Innisfail Airport

Inuvik International Airport

Iqualuit Airport

Island Lake Airport

Jack Garland Airport - North Bay

John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport

Kamloops Airport

Kapuskasing Airport

Kelowna International Airport

Kincardine Airport

Kingston Airport

Kugluktuk Airport

Kuujjuarapik Airport

La Ronge Airport

Lac Brochet Airport

Lake Simcoe Regional Airport

Langley Regional Airport

Leaf Rapids Airport

Lethbridge Airport

Little Grand Rapids Airport

Lloydminister Airport

London International Airport

Lynn Lake Airport

Mackenzie Airport

Medicine Hat Airport

Miramichi Airport

Mont Joli Airport

Montréal-Dorval Airport

Montréal-Mirabel Airport

Nanaimo Airport

Nanisivik Airport

Niagara District (St.Catherines) Airport

Norman Wells Airport

North Battleford/Hamlin Airport

Norway House Airport

Okotoks Air Ranch

Oshawa Municipal Airport

Ottawa (Macdonald - Cartier) International Airport

Peace River Airport

Pentiction Airport

Peterborough Municipal Airport

Pine Dock Airport

Pitt Meadows Airport

Pond Inlet Airport

Ponoka Industrial Airport

Port Hardy Airport

Powell River Airport

Prince Albert Airport

Prince George Airport

Prince Rupert Airport

Princeton Airport

Qualicum Beach Airport

Qubec City - Aéroport International Jean-Lesage

Quesnel Airport

Rainbow Lake Airport

Rankin Inlet Airport

Red Deer Regional Airport

Red Lake Airport

Repulse Bay Airport

Resolute Airport

Revelstoke Airport

Sachs Harbour Airport

Saint Catharines Airport

Saint John Airport

Sandspit Airport

Sanikiluaq Airport

Sarnia (Chris Hadfield) Airport

Saskatoon - John G. Diefenbaker Airport

Sault Ste Marie Airport

Shamattawa Airport

Sioux Lookout Municipal Airport

Slave Lake Airport

Smithers International Airport

Smiths Falls/Montague Airport

South Indian Lake Airport

Southport Airport

Springbank Airport

St. Andrews Airport

St. Anthony Airport

St. Johns International Airport

St. Leonard Airport

St. Theresa Point Airport

Stephenville Airport

Stony Rapids Airport

Sudbury Airport

Swan River Airport

Swift Current Airport

Tadoule Lake Airport

Taloyoak Airport

Terrace Airport

The Pas Airport

Thompson Airport

Thunder Bay International Airport

Timmins Airport

Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport

Toronto City Centre Airport

Toronto Island Airport

Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport

Trois-Rivières Regional Airport

Uranium City Airport

Val-d'Or Regional Airport

Vancouver International Airport

Vanderhoof Airport

Vernon Regional Airport

Victoria International Airport

Villeneuve Airport

Wabush Lake Airport

Waskaganish Airport

Waterloo Regional Airport

Watson Lake Airport

Wekweti Airport

Westlock Airport

Wetaskiwin Regional Airport

Whale Cove Airport

Whitehorse Airport

Williams Lake Airport

Windsor Airport

Winnipeg International Airport

Wollaston Lake Airport

Yarmouth Airport

Yellowknife Airport

York Landing Airport

Yorkton Airport