What is the first thing I do when I arrive in Canada?

You are probably wondering what to do now that you have arrived at your desired destination. If you prepared your logbook from home and left it until your arrival at the airport, then you still have a bit more to do, but don't worry, at Immiland Canada, we make sure that you and your family arrive safely and well oriented to your new country, that's why we prepared this article with the 10 most important things to do once you arrive at your new home. Let's get started!

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1. Request Social Insurance Number

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This step is important because the Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the one that allows you to work; in fact, your employer will ask for it in order to pay your salary. So, as soon as you arrive in Canada, apply for your Social Insurance Number. If you would like advice, visit our Establishment web section and learn how to apply for your SIN number.

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2. Buying a metro card for transportation

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The subway service in Canada has an integrated network of lines that will give you access to many places, but you have to buy your card first. In some cities, the metro card is monthly, but be careful, if you arrive near the end of the month and buy it, it will expire and you will lose those trips and your money. It is better to calculate your arrival date, for example, if you arrived on January 5th, then it may work if you buy it then, otherwise, wait a bit and opt to pay for the single ticket until next month arrives and buy your monthly card at the machines in the metro stations. 

Learn more about the monthly pass, it is valid for the whole month and you can use it as many times as you want during that month paying a fixed value. Learn more about metro passes in Canada.

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3. Furnish your home

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This task can be cheaper than you think. If your house or apartment is not furnished with everything you need, don't worry, here we share some stores where you can buy your utensils at a lower price. Here are the ones recommended by Immiland:

• Ikea.com: Immiland Canada has an amazing partnership with Ikea where we have created an exclusive space for you to shop from home furniture to kitchen utensils and much more. You can learn about all the products offered by Ikea at the best price by clicking here.
• Marketplace Canada: here you will always find new and used products for sale, many of them quite inexpensive.
• Kijiji.ca: here you can also get new and used items at good prices.
• Watch out for this option because it's free! July 1st is Canada Day, and Quebec celebrates the traditional Quebec Moving Day, and many people move for individual reasons, looking for a bigger house or closer to work. The truth is that if you want to, you can take advantage of discarded items that are in good condition, for example, washing machines, dryers, furniture, beds. Of course, moving trucks will be at their peak during these days, so plan ahead. 
• At immiland, we have a discount agreement with a large Canadian company that deals with real estate for our clients. If you want the discount, please write to our email settlementcanada@immilandcanada.com.

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4. Rent or buy a car

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If you came to Canada with your family or if your university or work is far from your residence and you want to save time, learn about the vehicle options you can consider:

• If you have enough money, buy a used car, but remember that it has to be cash until you build your credit history. 
• Lease a car for a year or two while you raise all the money to buy it.
• Use the Communauto car sharing available in the different provinces. This option is practical, economical and very innovative because it will allow you to use your metro card to activate it from one point in the city, use it as much as you want and then park it at another point and go home. Important fact, you must have a valid driver's license.

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5. Open a bank account

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In our article on the five most important things to do before traveling to Canada, we recommended you to open a bank account from your home country, but if you did not manage to do so, then open a bank account as soon as possible. At Immiland Canada, we accompany you in your process of adaptation to the new country and we offer you the service of opening an account after your arrival. Once you have your account, move on to the next task.

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6. Apply for your credit card and start working on your credit history.

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Remember that in order to acquire new goods and products such as cars, motorcycles or trucks, you must have a credit history. At Immiland, we have a department that helps you start your credit history; request a free quote.

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7. Locate the cheapest markets

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Once you have arrived in Canada you should get to know your surroundings and, of course, just as you did in your home country, get to know the cheapest markets. You will get to know this task with every visit you make to the supermarkets in the area, but at Immiland we recommend some of the cheapest ones in Montreal. Take note of the list:

• Super C: this supermarket has good prices, offers, memberships and benefits for its customers.
• Adonis: This supermarket has special offers, savings and weekly product highlights.
• Supermarché Pa: also has discounts, weekly products and online shopping. Supermarkets such as Provigo or IGE Canada are an option, but much more expensive.
• For buying food in quantity, if you are a large family, Costco is a good option.
• At Immiland, we offer a shopping escort service; this option is very practical if you want to start learning the dynamics of shopping in Canada, we will guide you from the location of your stores to the handling of the currency and more. 

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8. Playing sports

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Learn a little about one of the most popular Canadian entertainments such as sports and outdoor activities, so you will begin to integrate into the culture in a healthy and fun way. The most popular sports in Canada are ice hockey and lacrosse, but you can also play soccer, tennis, among others.  

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9. Make Canadian friends

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This recommendation may seem obvious, but it is not. Many foreigners think that Canadian natives are closed to interact and are not interested in meeting Spanish speakers and Latinos, but the opposite is true. Canadians are very friendly and the society appreciates the new things that foreigners bring to their country, so be encouraged to make friends because you are sure to get them, also show your best habits and customs, they will value you.

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10. Looking for a job

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If you are a student or a student's partner and you did not manage to find a job from your home country, then start sending your best resume Canadian style. In this blog, you will get the experience of Silvia, a client who found a job in Canada and told us how she found a job.

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So far the 10 tips we give once you are in Canada, we hope this article will allow you to better integrate into the country and make your trip a more bearable one. We invite you to read What is the first thing I should do to travel to Canada? and What is the first thing I do when I arrive at the airport in Canada?  

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If you want our establishment service, please write to settlementcanada@immilandcanada.com. 

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With love,

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Immiland

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