After going through the whole tiresome and complex Canada immigration process, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief because you have landed your Canada Permanent Residency! It’s time to celebrate but don’t forget to prepare yourself in the midst of your excitement to move to Canada.
As a newcomer in Canada, and one that has been granted permanent residency, it is important for you to do a few things before everything else. For instance, you must have already received a CoPR. What is CoPR , you ask? The Confirmation of Permanent Residency, sent by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is an official document that confirms your PR application. More important things are talked about below.
Must Know: Are You Legally Entitled to Work in Canada?
8 Things to do after landing in Canada as a Permanent Resident
The top 8 things to do after landing in Canada as a permanent resident are:
- Identity Check
- Get PR Card
- Apply for Social Insurance Number
- Buy SIM Card
- Open up Bank Acc
- Apply for Child Care Benefits
- Get Health Card
- Search for Accommodation
Download Free Immigration and PR Guide PDF
1. Identity Check
The moment you arrive in Canada, you will go through an identity check. The border services officers will ask you for your passport, travel documents and such identity proving documents. So, make sure that you have them in hand to complete the verification process.
2. Get PR Card
After landing in Canada as a new permanent resident, you don’t need to apply for a PR card. Actually, IRCC will send the PR card to the Canadian address that you would provide them.
In case you don’t have a residence of your own right after arriving in Canada, provide a reliable address and you can pick up the PR card later on.
Until you receive the PR card, you can use the CoPR to confirm your identity as a PR in Canada.
3. Apply for Social Insurance Number
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit long, unique identification number which is provided by the Government to all temporary residents, permanent residents, and Canadian citizens.
SIN is an important number to own if you want to access government benefits and schemes. Also, there’s no fee to apply for the SIN. All you need to do is just go to a Services Canada Centre and apply for it, or mail it.
4. Buy SIM Card
Buying a SIM card would probably make it easier for you to keep in touch with your relatives and friends. Also, if you have a Canadian SIM card, it would be much easier for employers to contact you.
5. Open up Bank Acc
After landing in Canada as a permanent resident one of the first things you should do is open up a bank account. Now that you will be living in Canada permanently, it is best to open up a bank account as soon as you can. You can then keep your assets safely there.
Submit all the necessary documents and identity proofs required and get the account opened soon.
6. Apply for Child Care Benefits
In case you have children, or you are a guardian of a child who is under 18 years old, you may be eligible for Child Care Benefits. So applying for childcare benefits is one of the first things to do after landing in Canada as a new permanent resident.
7. Get a Health Card
Health is one of the most important aspects of life that one should not ignore. Hence, try to apply for a health card as soon as you can after landing in Canada as a permanent resident. A health card will help you access various health services that are actually covered under public health care.
8. Search for Accommodation
Searching for a place of residence is also an important task. In the first few weeks of landing in Canada as a permanent resident, you can explore around the country to look for the right accommodation based on various factors.
Some factors to keep in mind when looking for your ‘forever’ home could be checking out the neighborhood, educational institutions around, transport facilities, local markets, your budget, etc. Hence, try to finalize the house only after you have done proper research and you are ‘almost’ sure. However one can never be too sure.
Now that we have covered some important topics, it is time that you move to Canada, and after landing in Canada as a permanent resident, you can take help from the above pointers to begin the new season of your life.
How long to get PR card after landing in Canada?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes around 36 days to process a new PR card.
What to do after landing in Canada on PR?
After landing in Canada, one of the first things you need to do is get your Permanent Resident (PR) card; apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN); buy a Canadian SIM card; open up a bank account; search for a residence; apply for a health card, etc.
How do I get my PR card after landing?
You don’t need to worry about the PR card as IRCC will mail the card to the address provided by you.
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