Comprehensive Checklist of Things to Bring to Canada

Moving to Canada as an immigrant involves detailed planning and preparation. Ensuring you have everything you need for this significant transition is vital for a smoother experience.

This guide is designed to help you identify the essential things to bring to Canada, ranging from important personal documents to financial records, including personal belongings and job preparation tools.

Additionally, we will discuss items that are prohibited in Canada and those that require declaration.

By understanding what to pack, you can alleviate the uncertainties and challenges associated with the beginning of your new life in Canada.

Remember, each immigrant’s situation can be unique, so you might need additional documents depending on your specific circumstances. It’s always a good idea to make electronic copies of these documents and keep them securely stored in a cloud service or on a USB drive.

Other identification documents like birth and marriage certificates and your driver’s license are equally important for setting up your life in Canada.

Academic and professional certificates, along with references, should be brought along to facilitate job searches and potential educational pursuits. These documents prove your qualifications and can be essential for employment or further studies in Canada.

Understanding Canada’s banking system and having financial documents at hand can significantly reduce initial stress and aid in a quicker adjustment to the new financial environment.

Vaccination records are necessary for both adults and children, as they may be required for school registrations or certain employment. Carry prescriptions and a detailed medical history to ensure continuity in healthcare and to assist new healthcare providers in Canada. These records help in getting timely and appropriate medical care, which is crucial for maintaining good health in a new environment.

Additionally, personal items like photos, keepsakes, and other sentimental objects can provide comfort and a sense of home in a new country. These belongings are not just necessities but also help ease the emotional transition to a new life, making your new environment feel more familiar and welcoming.

However, it’s important to note that Canada uses Type A and Type B electrical plugs. Therefore, packing appropriate adapters for your devices is essential to ensure they can be used without any issues.

When arriving in Canada, completing a Customs Declaration Card is a mandatory step for all travelers, including non-Canadian citizens. This should ideally be done before you disembark from the airplane.

On this card, you need to declare what you are bringing in, including specific items, such as:

• Gifts
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Currency: Amounts exceeding CDN $10,000.
• Business goods
• Plants
• Food
• Animals
• Firearms or other weapons

Here is the information on what personal and household goods you may bring with you without paying duty.

In Canada, strict regulations govern the import of certain goods to protect the country’s environment, public health, and cultural heritage. When considering things to bring to Canada, it’s essential to be aware of prohibited items that you are not allowed to bring into the country. These items include:

• Cannabis: Despite being legal in Canada, it remains illegal to cross the border with it.
• Risk-posing Food, Plants, Animals, and Related Products: Items that could harm Canada’s ecosystem or agriculture.
• Endangered Species and Derivatives: This includes any souvenirs made from parts of endangered species.

Additionally, there are goods for which you might need special permission or written authorization, such as:

• Health Products and Prescription Drugs: Ensure you understand the specific requirements for these items.
• Antiques or Cultural Objects: Items with historical significance to their country of origin.
• Explosives, Fireworks, and Certain Ammunition Types: Strict controls apply to these items. It must be declared upon entering Canada.