Making the decision to relocate to a new country is a big step, and it includes a lot of organizational, logistical and financial planning.
We at LIVIN Immigration Services Edmonton, have collected feedback from new immigrants, added some of our personal experience, which resulted in this guide for new immigrants.
We’ve divided this article into the following sections:
Let’s dive right in!
Preparing to Immigrate to Canada
The most important thing to think about is your future source of income. Yes, you will have savings that will keep you afloat during your first several months, but you’ll need a stable source of income in the long term. Before we get to this part, consider the following:
Where in Canada Will You be Living?
This is arguably the most important question you need to ask yourself before coming to Canada.
Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories, and each province has its own profile.
- For example, if you’re an IT professional, you’ll be better off in big cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary etc.
- If you’re from the oil & gas industry, you’re better off settling in Alberta, which is famous for its natural resources.
- If you’re a fisherman, you’ll be better off in one of the coastal provinces.
- Likewise, if you’re into farming, you’ll likely want to live in one of the Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba).
How to Check What Jobs Are in Demand in Canada?
The best way to find out what the labor market is like, is to go to one of the job sites and see what employers are looking for. The best site for that is Indeed Canada, just make sure you select the region you’re interested in and dig in.
Here is what one of our clients says about this approach (Express Entry, immigrated to Canada in 2019):
During my research noticed that there are a lot of job openings for digital marketers.One thing that I noticed in job postings was that employers would often require a certification in Google and Facebook ads. For more advanced positions a project management certificate was required.
Based on what I saw, I started preparing and got certified a couple of months ahead of landing in Canada. I also started working towards my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, but then saw it wasn’t helping me in my career, and I decided not to complete my certification.
Doing this research way before landing saved me at least 6 months of work and took a lot of stress out of the adaptation process.
Salary Levels
Research salary levels for your industry and province. This site will show salary levels by industry and by province
Note that all salaries are indicated before taxes, so will need to calculate your net income using this salary calculator.
How Much Do You Need to Make in Canada?
This is a nuanced question. Every person leads a different life – some are ok using public transportation and shopping for inexpensive, affordable things, while others live a life filled with luxury, driving top cars, visiting expensive restaurants and shopping at expensive boutiques.
To better answer this question, we suggest the following: determine the cost of living in your city based on your monthly expenses and then compare it to the numbers this website is giving. This will give you a good understanding of how much you need to lead a lifestyle that you like.
Fig 1. Cost of living in Warsaw vs Edmonton
You would need around 16,895.88zł (5,286.76C$) in Edmonton to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 14,000.00zł in Warsaw (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation (source).
When is it Best to Land in Canada as a New Immigrant?
Generally speaking, any time of year is good, however things tend to slow down around the holidays, so you might want to avoid November & December.
The main reason being that you will need to apply for your personal documents (driver’s license, SIN number, health insurance etc) and you want to get them without any delays.
If you’re arriving with kids, it’s best to land shortly before the school year starts (July-August) so that your kids don’t miss the start of the new school year.
Proving Your Driver’s Experience
Being able to prove your driver’s experience can potentially save you a good buck when you shop for insurance. Make sure you get a written statement from your local authorities AND your insurance company confirming your driving experience and especially that it was accident-free.
Car insurance is expensive in Canada and you can save at least 50% on your insurance bill if you can prove your accident-free driving experience.
Example: Our client in Ottawa was first quoted $425/mo for his 2011 Santa Fe. The quote was later reduced to $127 once the client was able to prove 15 years of accident-free driving experience. As you can see, this simple move saved our client at least $3500/year, so it’s well worth it.
Financial Matters
You won’t be able to open a bank account while you’re outside of Canada, and you’re likely going to have to bring cash with you. The best solution is to bring a small amount of cash with you, and transfer greater amounts via bank transfer.
You must also be ready to show where your money originated from (sales of real estate, gift, savings etc) – Canadian government wants to make sure the money is legal and you will be getting a lot of questions regarding the source of your funds.
IMPORTANT: Upon landing, you will have to declare any amounts in the excess of 10,000 (USD, CAD or EUR). Once you fill out your declaration, make sure you take a picture of it as the border office won’t give you your copy, while it might help you a lot later (for example, you might be asked to show where your money is from)
Find Programs for New Immigrants
Once you land in Canada, you’ll need help driving around. If you don’t know anyone in your area, find a local organization that helps new immigrants. For example, in Alberta there is a number of programs aimed to help new immigrants settle quickly.
Landed in Canada. What’s Next?
These tips are all based on experience of past immigrants and are listed in order of priority. With this list, you can collect all your documents within the first 30 days of your landing in Canada.
Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
First and foremost, get your SIN number. You’ll need it to legally work and receive government benefits in Canada. It’s a national identification number that’s unique to you. Visit a Service Canada office to acquire one and remember to keep it confidential.
Fig 2. Canadian Social Insurance Number
Open a Canadian Bank Account
To ease your transition to Canadian life, open a bank account in the country. It will give you easy access to your funds and help you when you’re applying for housing and jobs. The biggest banks in Canada are:
- RBC (Royal Bank of Canada).
- TD Bank (Toronto-Dominion Bank).
- Scotia Bank (Bank of Nova Scotia).
- BMO (Bank of Montreal).
When you choose a bank to open an account at, it’s worth checking all the offers and choosing the one that gives you a credit card for new immigrants as it helps a lot to have one at the beginning.
In the end it doesn’t make a huge difference what bank you choose as the level of service is roughly the same, – talk to people in those banks and go with someone who you like most. Banking is all about people, so make sure your banker is someone who you’re comfortable with.
Find a Place to Live
Finding a place to live is undoubtedly one of your top priorities. When relocating to Canada, you can either rent or buy your own property.
The most common option is to rent. You can find information on rentals using resources like Facebook marketplace or kijii.ca. Just make a list of all the rental properties you’re interested in and methodically work through it. Some landlords might be hesitant to sign agreements with new immigrants, but there will also be others who are totally open to it.
Buying your home is the second, less common option. Typically, with a 40% down payment most banks will approve your mortgage application without you having to build up a sufficient credit score.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has developed tools for newcomers. These can help you understand home rentals in the country. Likewise, if you choose to buy a home, then they also have tools specifically designed for homeowners.
Get Your Provincial Health Insurance
Canada’s healthcare system gives Canadian citizens and permanent residents (and some temporary residents) free access to hospitals and physicians services.
You’ll have to check for information about your eligibility conditions and healthcare services available in your province or territory of residence. Health Canada’s website is a great place to start for this information.
Get a Driver’s License
The driver’s license from your country will likely be valid for the first 60 days of your stay in Canada, however you will have to obtain a one in the long term.
To do so, you will have to pass your knowledge test first, and then a practical driving test. Once you have successfully passed both tests, you will be getting a temporary driver’s license, while your main one will be mailed to you.
Fig. 3. Driver’s License in Alberta (source).
Testing centers in big cities are usually heavily booked, so make sure you book your appointment right away.
Each province and territory have its own regulations, so you’ll need to do research for your specific area.
Start Shopping For a Car
You’ll most likely need a car – the distances are most likely going to be significantly greater than in your country. Decide whether you want to buy or lease and if it’s going to be a new or a used car.
The best websites to shop for a car are kijjii.ca or https://www.autotrader.ca/
Just make sure you take the time to shop around and find the right fit for you!
Register with your country’s consulate
Notify your native country’s consulate or embassy that you moved to Canada. This is often helpful when it comes time to renew official papers or maintain voting rights in your country of origin.
Consider Getting Life Insurance
Various types of insurance are often a necessity if you were to contract a critical illness, become disabled, or die. Consider enrolling in a life insurance, disability insurance, or critical illness insurance policy so you’re covered no matter what happens.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve recently moved to Canada, it can take time to get settled. Don’t hesitate to reach out to LIVIN Immigration Services. Our immigration consultants in Edmonton are happy to provide all the immigration services you need to choose Canada and live your dream.
Visit LIVIN Immigration Services for more information.
