Steps to Settling in Canada

You've always thought about working abroad because you crave adventure or just think there's something better outside of your home country. The day has come, you're hired for a job somewhere in Canada and your employer also arranged for your place to stay.

Now, all you need to do is board the plane and travel across the globe for a hopefully good if not better life. It's both unnerving and exciting at the same time. But, while in transit, it's best to plan on the steps you should take before you reach your new/or temporary home.

Google Your Destination

Are you going to move to a city or a town? urban? suburban or rural?

Knowing where you'll live is crucial before you even arrive there. It will serve as a gauge and help you plan and decide better with how you will ease in to your new life. Follow up questions include: is everything close to one another? The hospital? Grocery store? Government and tourism services? Police station? Place of worship? etc.

Get Social Identification Number (SIN)

This is the very first thing that you must get as soon as you arrive in Canada. Head to the nearest Service Canada office (there's always one is every city or town) and present your passport, visa and other landing document. It's really that easy!

Open A Bank Account

Sometimes, your employer can help you with this because they may need a void cheque from you to be able to set up a direct deposit payment for payroll. A lot of companies pay their employees with a more secure direct deposit instead of giving out cheques. Although, you may get a cheque first for your first pay.

Banks like CIBC, TD Bank, Scotia Bank, Royal Bank of Canada(RBC) are very accessible in most cities and even rural areas. If you're opening an account by yourself, go to your chosen bank, bring your SIN #, passport and a bill or other important document that shows your current address. That's it! You will get your debit card within 5-10 minutes.

Get A Health Card

While you're at Service Canada, apply for your health card. Or, you can You will need your brand new SIN #, primary ID(in this instance, passport), visa or pr card/confirmation of permanent residence and paperwork (i.e. confirmation letter from the bank, lease agreement, bills, and paystub) showing where you live in Canada.

You may hold off applying until get a paperwork showing your current address. This requirement varies from province to province.

Get A Canadian Driver’s License

Typically, you can drive with your foreign driver’s licenses/international driver’s permit for 3 months from the date of your arrival to Canada. If you came from Australia, New Zealand, certain European and Asian countries you may qualify for reciprocity – which means, you can simply exchange your foreign driver’s license to a Canadian one. You will only need to provide a government-issued ID (passport w/ visa or pr card), a paperwork showing your address in Canada and a driver’s abstract from the country who issues your driver’s license. You usually get your new temporary license the same day, and the actual card license mailed to your address as little as 5 days or up to 3 weeks! But you can drive with your temporary license right away!

If you didn’t come from a country that’s part of driver’s license reciprocity with Canada, there will be more steps for youth take but don’t worry because you can still drive for 3 months with your foreign license.

The best thing to do is to start planning to get your Canadian license before your ability to drive with your foreign license expires. This means the early you start the process of getting your license, the better:

1. Pass your written exam

2. Get your Learner’s permit(learner license)

3. Drive for certain months as prescribed by your province’s driving authority.

4. Pass your road test

This is just an outline of how to get your license. You must call your province’s driving authority for a more accurate information of steps to take to obtain your provincial driver’s license.

Know Key Places to Make Your Life Easier

Since you’re very new to the area and don’t know anyone yet, here are places you should locate in your area to help you navigate life in a brand new place:

- Service Canada or other offices that provide immigration support

- Library

- Place of worship

- Police Station

- Hospital

- Police Station

There you have it. Give yourself a pat on the back for making it! More importantly, know the culture around you, meet good people and make new friends. Enjoy! You will be ok.