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Essential Pre-Arrival Checklist For A Smooth Transition To Canada

Essential Pre-Arrival Checklist For A Smooth Transition To Canada

Posted by: Admin |01 Aug 2023 05:52

Are you planning to move to Canada? Then immigrating to the country will be a wise decision that can provide you with plenty of opportunities. Canada is immigration friendly and actively seeks immigrants from all over to call Canada their home. The Canadian government aims to bring in over 1.2 million immigrants through various immigration pathways, such as Student Visa Programs, Express Entry System, Provincial Nominee Programs, Family Sponsorship Programs and Immigration Pilots by the end of 2024. All these immigration programs are designed to ensure that immigrants can become permanent residents quickly in Canada. You also must choose an effective immigration visa approval procedure by applying for a Canadian visa that suits your requirements. Some options are Student Visas, Work Visas and Business Immigrant Visas. 
Transitioning to a new country is a big step; preparing for it can make the whole process smooth and trouble-free. However, a few essential things should be considered while moving to Canada.  Some of them are collecting and gathering all the required documents, finding a suitable place for accommodation and getting organized for your employment. Making a pre-arrival checklist before arriving in Canada is crucial to help you prepare for a new life and ensure a smooth transition. The below-mentioned pre-arrival checklist points will help you get going:

Gather all your essential documents
Ensure you have all the required and crucial documents ready before you travel to Canada. This includes the passports of every family member travelling with you and the customs declaration forms. Remember to keep these documents handy and never pack them in your luggage. It is highly recommended to visit the Canadian Government’s official website to get the complete list of travel documents needed for entry. 

Get a proper assessment of your work credentials
Getting a prompt assessment of your credentials is required if you plan to work in Canada. Doing so lets you determine the suitable jobs and whether you need further training. You can find more accurate information regarding the assessment for credentials of newcomers on the Canadian Government’s official website and additional information at the Canadian Information Centre For International Credentials or CICIC.

Get prepared for a job
The most fundamental thing to do when moving to Canada is to find a suitable job. The Canadian government’s job bank provides plenty of information to newcomers regarding job listings, the latest trends in the job market, and valuable tips for writing resumes and cover letters. 

Get financially prepared
Transitioning to a new country can be costly, and preparing yourself financially with sufficient money is essential. It is highly beneficial for you to collect all the vital information regarding the cost of living in Canada, which includes rates for accommodation, transportation and healthcare options.

Improve your language fluency
Canada is a multi-lingual country with English and French as the official languages. English is the most commonly used language in many Canadian provinces and territories. Therefore, it is a must to improve your fluency in either one of the languages before you arrive in the country. Strong command over the English or French language will help you in getting a job, going to study, accessing public services, and connecting with people. 

Select your location
Canada is a big country with many buzzing cities and happening provinces. It can be said that every region is unique in terms of geography, culture and scope of work available there. So, doing proper research is highly recommended to determine which Canadian city or province suits you the best based on your requirements.

Get prepared for the climate
Canada has four seasons:
spring, summer, autumn and winter. The spring season falls from March to May every year, bringing a mild and, at times, rainy type of climate. During this season, you see early flowers blooming and beautiful maple syrup festivals at different places. The summer season starts in June and will last until September. During this season, the climate can become warmer, with temperatures rising above 30 degrees Celsius, ideal for outdoor fun activities such as swimming, fishing and boating. Autumn is the most lovely and popular season in the country, with a perfect climate and splendid colours all around as the colour of the tree leaves changes to orange, red and gold from green.

Health insurance
Canada is a country with a robust healthcare system in place. However, you must note that becoming eligible for health insurance coverage might take some time. Purchasing health insurance would benefit you and your family to meet unexpected healthcare expenses. Additionally, gathering vital information regarding various types of health insurance coverage, such as private and travel health insurance packages, will be ideal.

Learn more about Canada
It is worthwhile to spend some of your time learning more about Canada in terms of its culture, people and unique culture before you arrive there. Additionally, you can gather information regarding Canadian history and government policies. 

Research newcomer services in Canada
The Canadian Government offers various settlement services and helps newcomers prepare for a new life in the country. Before you arrive in Canada, you can go through the pre-arrival Canadian services to gather more vital information regarding education, housing and employment opportunities.