Official Documentation Required When Moving to Canada

Canada is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With hot summers and snowy winters, it is no wonder that it is one of the most popular countries for Expats to reside. As with all foreign countries, Canada is no exception to the rigorous rules and regulations for entering the country. The immigration application process is tedious and can prove quite stressful for you and your family. If you plan on living in Canada, there are certain documents that are required and must be kept on your person.

Documents Required for Entry

You must obtain a Canadian immigrant Visa in order to enter the country. You will also need confirmation of parental responsibility of any dependent applicants arriving with you, plus the Passport of the main applicant and the other family members travelling with you.

Additionally, you are required to supply details of personal household items being transferred to Canada. These must be listed separately in terms of the ones that are with you now and the ones that are arriving late, along with the money value of each household item.

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Other Documentation

When moving to Canada you need to provide proof of your bank assets and generally condition financially. The easiest way to provide such proof is through bank statements. Health documents including official documentation as to what vaccinations you and your family members have taken are important when moving to your new country. Other records such as birth and marriage certificates, education records, employer references etc will go a long way to supporting your entry.

As with all countries, entry to Canada depends upon a number of factors. These include your family circumstance and whether you have relatives in Canada, employment circumstances and job offers, financial circumstances, just to name a few. Depending on your reasons for moving to Canada, and the employment you are about to take up, you may require further documentation to support your entry. Possibilities include a medical examination, a police certificate, if you require one as part of your criminal and security check and sometimes language testing, as required, in English and/or French.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Applications

During your time in Canada and beforehand, you will have to complete a number of application forms. Make sure that these are all completed correctly and signed, enclosing the appropriate supporting documentation and fees. If you miss something on your application, it will inevitably slow the process and cause you some difficulty, as it will be sent back to you to resubmit. Make sure you use any document checklist that comes with the application. It is also advised that you employ an experienced immigration agent or advisor to help with your application. They will be much savvier with the visa and immigration process, and what is required to enter legally and successfully. Their fee will be money well-spent, compared with the hassle of making sure you do everything correctly.

Top Tips

Always keep copies of all your documentation on your person whilst you settle in. This will help if you need to show proof of your circumstances at any time. Additionally, it may be worth having your documents translated to French to make sure that they are accessible to all. Think about whether your job will require you to speak a language. If your English isn’t great or you need to top up your French, it may be worth taking some lessons.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Moving Abroad Checklist Builder lets you build a personalised checklist for emigrating. Covers visas, finances, healthcare and more. Try it now →