A guide to landing and settling in Canada as a Permanent Resident

Share Tweet Plus

Congratulations on getting your permanent resident (PR) application approved and successfully obtaining the confirmation of permanent residency (CoPR) and a visa (if you are from a non-
visa exempt country). The journey is not complete yet, the last stage of the application process is landing in Canada, and only after you physically land, will you become a landed
immigrant. The term “landed immigrant” (French: immigrant reçu) is an old classification for a person who has been admitted to Canada as a non-Canadian citizen permanent resident. The
current official classification for all people admitted into Canada as PR is “permanent resident”.

1. Where to land
After you obtain the CoPR and the visa, you can land at any port of entry in Canada, including Quebec. However, please be advised that upon landing, if you have not been approved as a
Quebec provincial nominee, you will have to show that you do not intend to reside in Quebec. As an admitted PR, you get the mobility rights described in the Canadian Constitution and can
move and settle in any part of the Canada, including Quebec. If you received your PR under the PNP, you have obligations to comply with.

2. Timeframe within which you have to land

After receiving the CoPR you have to land before your visa expires, i.e. on or before the date mentioned on your visa. The date on your visa will always be related to one of the following:
1. one year from when your medicals were issued;
2. date on which the passport of the primary applicant or any of the accompanying dependents will expire.
Because of the above, it is important to plan these things in advance when you file the PR application. The medicals should be the last thing done before submitting your application, and
make sure that your passport is valid. If the passport is expiring soon, renew it and update your PR application. This will ally you sufficient time to plan your landing and make travel plans
accordingly.

3. Who can land first?

The primary applicant has to land first, or along with the dependent applicants. Dependent applicants cannot land before the primary applicant lands and is admitted as a PR. However, there
is no requirement of all the family members to and together. As long as the primary applicant lands and is admitted as a PR, the dependent applicants can land anytime after that, at any port
of entry before the visa expires.

a. Documents required for landing

Irrespective of whether you enter Canada by land, air or sea, you should have the following documents in your possession:
i. Mandatory documents:
1. Passport with PR Visa (If you are from a visa exempt country, you will still need your passport)
2. Confirmation of Permanent Residency (CoPR – IMM 5292B)
3. Proof of Funds (PoF) also settlement funds – If you are not exempt.
4. Personal Affects Accounting Document , a.k.a. Goods to follow later.
5. Personal Affects Accounting Document, a.k.a. Goods Accompanying List.
ii. Optional documents (Recommended)
1. Additional Passport size photos.
2. PR Card Application (IMM 5444E) (only required if you do not provide an address on landing).
3. Social Insurance Number (SIN) application form (NAS 2120).
4. Immunization Record for dependent children.
5. Birth certificate or adoption paper
6. Family records (such as, marriage certificate or divorce papers)
7. Medical records (such as immunization records)
8. Dental records
9. Official school records for children
10. Diplomas, degrees and transcripts
11. Academic credentials evaluation report (if you had your education assessed before coming to Canada)
12. Reference letters from previous and current employers
13. Professional or trade licences or qualification certificates
14. Up-to-date résumé or summary of work experience
15. Valid driver’s licence or other identification documents
16. Vehicle registration documents (if you are importing a vehicle into Canada)

4. Entering Canada by Air

Upon landing at the airport, you will queue up in the immigration line, make sure you ask for the newly landed immigrants section, which is usually different from the regular immigration
section at most airports. When your turn comes, you will inform the immigration officer (CBSA) that you are landing as a Permanent Resident and produce the CoPR and passport. The officer
will ask you the statutory questions, which are also mentioned on the CoPR, and then will stamp the visa, ask you to sign the CoPR, then he will date and sign the CoPR. At this stage if you
have an address in Canada, provide that, this is where your PR card will be mailed. At this point most officers will say, “Welcome home!”
Depending upon which airport you land and what time you land, there will be a Services Canada desk. If the desk is open, you can get your Social Insurance Number here. If the desk is
closed, you can get the SIN the next day at a location near you.The SIN application form is available at all service desks, or you can carry a pre-filled Social Insurance Number (SIN)
application form (NAS 2120) to save time. If the service desk is closed, you can obtain the SIN the next day from a Service Canada office close to you.
Your next encounter will be with the Customs. Before you leave for Canada, you should prepare two copies of a list of all the goods you intend to bring into Canada as part of your personal
effects. The list should indicate the value, make, model and serial number (where applicable) of all the goods. Divide the list into two sections. In the first section, list the goods you are
bringing with you; in the second, list the goods to follow. Goods that arrive later will only qualify for duty- and tax-free importation under your entitlement if they are on your original list. You can
use the personal affects accounting document form issued by CBSA, a.k.a. goods to follow later and personal affects accounting document, a.k.a. Goods Accompanying List. These forms are
not mandatory, and instead you can use plain sheets of paper. For jewellery, and expensive artefacts, or prohibited items, especially which will come later, make sure to write an accurate
description and have pictures of them. Make sure you have two copies of the both the documents, accompanying goods, and goods to follow later. You will give both copies to the officer and
he will stamp both and return a copy of each to you. Keep this list of goods accompanying later safe, you will need it when you get ship or bring the goods to Canada at a later date.
a. Items you can import duty- and tax-free
You can include the following personal and household effects in your duty- and tax-free entitlement:
clothing and linen
furniture
furnishings
appliances
silverware
jewellery
antiques
family heirlooms
private collections of coins, stamps and art
personal computers
books
musical instruments
hobby tools and other hobby items
personal vehicles
pleasure boats and the trailers to carry them (trailers are subject to Transport Canada requirements)
mobile trailers, no more than 2.6 metres (9 feet) wide, that the owner is capable of moving on his or her own
utility trailers
motor homes
private aircraft
tool sheds or garages that do not attach to or form part of a dwelling
b. Wedding gifts –
If you got married within three months of coming to Canada or if you plan to marry within three months after arriving in this country, you can bring in your wedding gifts free of duty and taxes.
However, you must have owned and possessed the gifts before you arrived in Canada. In this instance, the requirement to have used the goods does not apply.

c. Jwellery
Describe each item of jewellery you plan to bring into Canada on the list of goods you submit. Since jewellery is difficult to describe accurately, it is best to use the wording from your insurance
policy or jeweller’s appraisal and to include photographs that have been dated and signed by jeweller or gemologist. This makes it easier to identify the jewellery when you first enter Canada,
and later when you return from abroad with the jewellery.

d. Ownership, possession and use requirements

To import goods duty- and tax-free, those entering Canada with the intention of establishing for the first time a residence of one year or more, must have owned, possessed and used the
goods abroad prior to arriving in Canada. In the case of former residents, you must have owned, possessed and used the goods abroad for at least six months before returning to resume
residence. The six-month stipulation will be waived if you have resided abroad for five years or more. If you have bills of sale and registration documents, they can help you prove that you
meet these requirements. Leased goods are subject to duty and taxes because the CBSA does not consider you to own them.
Note: even if your goods meet the ownership, possession and use requirements, they must still meet requirements of other government departments. For information on other restrictions and
requirements for goods being imported into Canada, refer to Restrictions.
e. Currency and Monetary Instruments
There are no restrictions on the amount of money you can bring into or take out of Canada, nor is it illegal to do so.However, any time you cross the border, you must declare any currency or
monetary instruments you have in your possession that are valued at CAN$10,000 or more. The CAN$10,000 can be any combination of Canadian or foreign currency and monetary
instruments, such as stocks, bonds, bank drafts, cheques and traveller’s cheques. This requirement applies to you whether you are travelling on business, pleasure or if you are carrying
money on behalf of someone else. When you arrive in Canada with currency or monetary instruments valued at CAN$10,000 or more in your possession, you must report it on Form E311,
the CBSA Declaration Card (if one was provided to you), on an Automated Border Clearance kiosk or a Primary Inspection Kiosk, or in the verbal declaration made to a border services officer.
For more details see Travelling with CAN$10,000 or more.

5. Entering Canada by land

When you enter Canada by land, the same procedure described above applies. When you enter in by a car, you will inform the duty officer that you are landing as a permanent resident. The
officer will ask you to park your vehicle and proceed to the office. You will wait for your turn and meet the CBSA officer who will perform the activities described above. Make sure you have the
vehicle documents if you intend to import it. If it is a borrowed vehicle, you will have to have a authorization to take the vehicle across the border.

6. Setteling
After the tiring journey, and navigating the gruelling wait times at the airport, you are finally in Canada. However, the first few days will be really hectic as you navigate to start you life and this
guide will be really helpful.

a. Housing
Having a pre-arranged housing is the best deal where you can just come and rest without having to worry. However, not all new immigrants will be able to manage this as may be reluctant to
sign up something online without actually seeing it. Upon your arrival to Canada, you will probably have to stay in temporary accommodation before moving in something more
permanent. Our housing project will be launch this month, and it would be an ideal place to keep in mind when starting your search.
Apart from that check the online listings. The view things to keep in mind are as follows:
i. Get familiar with the surroundings in which you plan to rent the accommodation
ii. If you have children, do your research on the local schools, and get an accommodation where you would like your kids to go.
iii. See the public transportation system around the prospective accommodation. (you will be using this a lot initially)
iv. Overall area, proximity to grocery stores and you liking will also be factors to look into.
b. Banking
Canada has a national system of banking where, in addition to many smaller and regional banks that provide local competition, the five largest banks compete across the country with
branches in each of the ten provinces.You should start with the national banks, as they would be best suited to meet your initial needs. The Big 5 are:
1. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
2. Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)
3. Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotia)
4. Bank of Montreal (BMO)
5. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
To open an account, you have to go to the bank in person and show acceptable identification. You must use original, valid identification (ID). Photocopies will not be accepted. You will need
two IDs to open the bank account.
Acceptable Identification
i. Foreign Passport
ii. Confirmation of Permanent Residency – CoPR
iii. A Permanent Resident Card
iv. A Social Insurance Number (SIN)
v. A provincial health insurance card
All the above listed banks also provide a credit card to all newly landed immigrants. Make sure you get one and use it to build your credit score. You will need the credit score to finance a car,
or a house later. Be responsible with the credit card and ask any questions to the bank employee if you may have any concerns.

c. Health
Health care in Canada is delivered through a publicly funded health care system which is managed provincially. Which means you will have to comply and apply and register with the
provincial health authorities to get the health benefits. Most provinces have a wait time after registering, and when you can avail health coverage under the universal health care system. From
the time of registration and the activation of your health coverage, you will be personally liable to obtain health insurance. It is advisable to have a private health insurance for the first 3
months, until you are covered by the provincial health coverage. There are many private health insurance companies providing affordable policies.
ONIP
To Apply for a Health Card
Fill an application form online or from your local Service Ontario OHIP Office.
Collect the documents you need.
Canadian Immigration Identification Card
Valid Permanent Resident Card or a Permanent Resident Card that has been expired for less than 5 years
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM5292 or IMM5688)
Record of Landing (IMM1000)
Take your application and documents to your local Service Ontario OHIP Office.
You can apply as soon as you have the documents that you need. However, you will not get a Health Card until you are eligible – after the 3-month waiting period.

d. Driving License
Driving license is regulated by each province. The International Driving Permit, valid for 1 year, is a translation of your driver’s licence from another country into many languages. You must
have a valid driver’s licence from another country to use an IDP in Canada. You must obtain IDP from your home country and also have a driving history record. If you plan on living in Ontario
as a permanent resident – you need to get an Ontario driver’s licence within 60 days of moving to Ontario. More information is available online about the requirements of obtaining a driving
license in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and other provinces.

e. Cellphone
You will need a cellphone as soon as you land in Canada to be in contact with your friends, family and in case you need it in an emergency. Depending on the province you decide to settle in,
there are many carriers to chose from who provide a range of options. Always shop around and keep and eye for special discounts to be the best offers.