Documents should I bring

What documents should I bring with me when landing in Canada as a new immigrant?

When you come to Canada, you must show your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) to a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officer at the Port of Entry. The officer will make sure your travel and immigration documents are correct.

• The CIC officer will check that your visa has not expired. You cannot use a permanent residence visa after it expires. The expiration date is shown on the visa. Permanent residence visas cannot be extended, so make sure you use your visa in the proper time.
• You must bring a valid passport with you. Your passport must be a regular, private passport. You cannot immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic, government service or public affairs passport.
• You will have to answer questions like the ones you answered on your Application for Permanent Residence in Canada. The CIC officer asks these questions to make sure you are of good character and are in good health.
• Prepare to show proof of funds at this time. The officer may ask you about your settlement funds or for documents to prove your funds.

The above list of items is the minimum of what you will bring with you. Below is a list of documents that you will want to make sure you have with you. These will be useful and helpful for you and your family in the areas of employment, health, education and finding housing.

Bring what you think you'll need. If you have attended the Resettlement seminar when you buy your resettlement package in Canada, you will get to know what is good and what you should not bring from your country.

If you cannot bring with you all the things that you own and would like to bring along, Canada allows you to bring in such items duty free at a later date after "Landing".

It is important to know that at the time of "Landing" you will need to provide a complete list of all such items. The list should provide detailed descriptions as well as Model Numbers and Serial Numbers of items if they have such numbers. Bring two copies of this list of "Goods to Follow". Canada Customs will stamp one copy when you "Land" and give it to you. (They will keep the other copy.)