Before you land and after you arrive

This page is for families who have received, or are about to receive, their Confirmation of Permanent Residence, and for anyone helping them prepare. The visa is the end of one process and the start of another: what you bring, what you arrange before you fly, and what you do in the first weeks shape how quickly the family settles.

Five weeks before you fly: documents

Gather these for every family member travelling, and carry them in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag:

• the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR);
• a valid passport, with the permanent resident visa in it if one was issued;
• birth and marriage certificates, and school records for the children;
• the educational credential assessment (ECA) you used for Express Entry, if any, and your original degree certificates and transcripts;
• employment reference letters from your past employers, on letterhead, describing your duties;
• driving licence and driving history, if you plan to drive;
• medical and vaccination records, especially for children.

Some of these, such as transcripts and reference letters, can only be collected in person from your college, university or employer in India. Get them now: it can be very hard to obtain them once you are in Canada. It also helps to tell former managers that a Canadian employer may call them for a reference.

Proof of funds

If you were selected through Express Entry (other than the Canadian Experience Class, or with a valid job offer while already authorized to work in Canada), you had to show settlement funds. IRCC requires that the funds remain available to you both when you apply and when your permanent resident visa is issued. Carry recent proof of those funds when you travel.

Express Entry settlement funds, updated 7 July 2025:

These figures are a minimum for immigration, not a budget. Rent, deposits, winter clothing and the months before your first pay cheque usually cost more. See Express Entry.

Credentials and work

If you work in a regulated profession — nursing, teaching, engineering, medicine, many trades — you will need a licence from the provincial regulator before you can practise. Find out from the regulator what you can start before you leave; recognition can take time. The Government of Canada's foreign credential recognition pages explain where to begin.

Canada also funds free pre-arrival services, in person and online, to help newcomers prepare for work and life before they arrive. Use them.

At the border

At your port of entry, the officer will check your documents and may ask questions like those in your application. Have ready:

• the COPR, passport and visa for each family member;
• two copies of a detailed list of the personal and household items you are bringing with you;
• two copies of a list of items arriving later, with their value in Canadian dollars.

Goods that arrive later must be on that list when you land, so prepare it carefully, even if you are shipping nothing yet. If you are carrying more than CAN $10,000 in cash or similar instruments, you must tell the border officer.

Your first weeks

• Social Insurance Number (SIN). You need a SIN to work and to receive government benefits. Apply as soon as you arrive.
• Health card. Apply for your provincial health card early. Coverage may take up to three months to start, depending on your province, so buy private health insurance for the waiting period. Rules differ by province; check your province's health ministry.
• PR card. Your first PR card is free if you send IRCC your photo and Canadian address within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident. Give IRCC a reliable address.
• Bank account, phone and housing. Open a bank account, set up a phone, and look for long-term housing once you know where you will work.
• Schools. Register the children with the local school board for your address.
• Taxes. File a Canadian tax return for your first year. Tax filing years also count toward citizenship later.

Looking ahead

Your days in Canada as a permanent resident now count toward citizenship, which needs at least 1,095 days of physical presence in five years. Keep a simple record of every trip outside Canada from the day you land; you will need it. See Canadian citizenship.

If your spouse or partner is not yet with you, see Sponsoring a spouse or partner; for parents who want to visit, see Parents and grandparents: sponsorship and Super Visa.

How Polinsys helps

Before you fly, we go through this checklist with your family: the documents to collect in India, the goods lists for the border, and the first steps in your new province. For professionals, we point you to the right regulator and the order in which to apply. After you land, our offices in Canada can answer the practical questions that come up in the first weeks, and Joy Stephen, RCIC (CICC licence R419719), remains your representative for anything that touches your status, your family's applications, or citizenship later. Join our free Friday Q&A: FREE Webinars: Resource Guides and AR Q&A.