If you are planning to relocate to Canada, you most likely feel excited about the upcoming move. However, don’t let your emotions overwhelm you — otherwise, you’ll risk turning the process of packing into a mess. This article features exhaustive checklists on preparing for relocation. Even if you have experience in long-distance moving, it makes sense to glance through this text, and maybe save the lists to manually tick the boxes in them.
What to Do Before You Leave Your Previous Place of Residence
If possible, it would be wise to start the preparations several months in advance. Here are the steps that you should complete:
- Find out whether you need to vaccinate yourself, your family members and pets and do it according to the medical norms
- Purchase your plane tickets or arrange using an alternative means of transport
- Decide where you will stay — some people buy a house or apartment before the relocation, while others rent accommodation upon arrival and start looking for a property to purchase on the spot
- If you have kids, find suitable educational establishments for them in the area where you will live and contact these schools
- Unless you relocate to Canada because you got a job offer there, start looking for open positions — interviews can take weeks, especially if the hiring process consists of multiple steps
- Find a bank who conditions suit you and make sure it enables you to conduct financial operations as soon as you need it
- If you drive and want to get a new license a Canada, obtain an official letter from your local authorities to confirm your previous experience
- Find out whether you will be able to use your current smartphone in Canada or it is locked to your native mobile operator
- Ensure that all your travel documents are valid and won’t expire before the move
- If you want to sell something before leaving, look for buyers, be it your home, bicycle, old clothes, or anything else
- Double-check that all the necessary documents won’t expire before your relocation
As for packing, start with the items that you’ll hardly need any time soon, such as warm jackets and winter shoes in summer. Consider attaching labels to your bags and boxes to avoid confusion upon arrival. Don’t postpone packing the items that you use regularly till the last moment because it will take time to handle them. Put everything you might need on your way in a bag that you’ll always have by your side.
What to Put in the Bag That You’ll Always Carry with You
Most likely, you’ll entrust most of your belongings to professional movers, and will leave just one or two smaller bags with you. There, you should put all the documents that you might need during your trip and the items that can make your journey more comfortable.
Let’s start with the papers. Here is a checklist for the documents that it would be wise to carry with you, both in digital and printed formats. You can store the digital ones in a cloud or simply send them to yourself via email:
- Passport and ID
- Plane tickets
- Visa
- Work permit
- Driver’s license
- Bank statements to prove that you have enough funds for the relocation
- Travel insurance
- Doctor’s prescription in case you bring drugs to Canada
- Proof that you are no longer working for your previous employer
- CV for a new job in Canada
- Proof of having somewhere to live in Canada
Pack all of these papers so that you can access them in a couple of seconds at any moment, such as when going through customs.
Now, let’s have a look at the items that can make your trip more enjoyable:
- Gadgets — these can include your smartphone, tablet, and laptop, as well as a charger and a universal adapter to them
- Noise cancelling headphones
- Drinkable water
- Hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrush, wet wipes, and other hygiene items
- Products to take care of your hair and skin
- Makeup, if you use it
- Sunglasses
- Neck pillow
- Travel blanket
- Compression socks
And of course, don’t forget about the money. To play safe, it would be better to have both cards and cash with you. If you want to bring bills and coins to Canada, put an exchange receipt into your wallet.
Which Items to Avoid Bringing to Canada
According to the laws, Canadian residents and foreigners should avoid brining potentially dangerous products to the country. Here are the most obvious examples:
- Medications that are illegal on the Canadian territory
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Firewood
The rules can get updated at any moment. Please double-check the official information on the online resources of the Canadian authorities before your departure.
What Else to Keep In Mind When Relocating to Canada
Here are four extra tips that can come in handy for travelers:
- If you haven’t used a specific thing in the last six months, consider throwing it away, donating it, or selling it. Thanks to this, your amount of the belongings that you’ll entrust to movers will decrease, and you’ll need to pay less for their services.
- Find out about the maximum amount of cash that you can bring with you. It would be illegal to exceed this limit.
- Obtain private health insurance right upon your arrival in Canada. Technically, medical services are free there, but without insurance, hospitalization can cost you dearly.
- Use the checklists from this article one hour before leaving for the airport. Make sure you don’t forget anything.
Besides, it’s vital to contract a reliable moving company to bring your belongings to Canada. We’ll be glad to help you, and our prices are affordable. We have substantial expertise in the field, and we will ensure maximum safety of your things. Our staff members are thoroughly trained, punctual, polite, and professional.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the information from this article will enable you to better prepare for your upcoming relocation to Canada and enjoy your trip to the max. Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss the moving process and get a free quote!