Info and Tips for New Permanent Residents of Canada

• Once you land here in Canada, keep your stamped COPR safe until you get the PR card.
• You can track your PR card status by linking it to your express entry profile. It takes at least 8 to 10 times to link your COPR application try again and again 😅
• You can apply for your SIN (Social insurance Number) with your COPR at the nearby Service Canada Center and you get it instantly. Every landed member (even the kids) will have to apply for SIN.
• You will require your SIN and Passport as id proof (until you get ur PR card) for everything like opening a bank account and even to get a new phone connection.
• Check how to apply for your provincial Health care card or Medical card. It is essential for availing medical services for free. Otherwise, you end up paying a higher amount if there is an emergency (Note: Each province has a different procedure and wait times to get the health card. Dental is costlier here and it is not covered in the health care card, maybe your employer insurance can cover.)
• If you are accompanying with a kid check if you can apply for Child Benefits once you are settled ( all the details will be available in CIC Website).
• You can check Craigslist, Capreit, Kijiji, or even Fb Marketplace if you are looking for long term rentals. Try to maintain your credit score well, they will filter your rental applications based on it.
• In case if you are not feeling well during the day time, you might visit the nearby drop-in clinic, you should get an appointment in the morning and you can check your nearby clinics and wait times in medimap. If it is in the night you have to go to the emergency ward in the hospital.

Do not forget to take your government medical care card with you always!

• Are you planning to get a new phone? It is better to get it here because If you are coming from India you need to roam with an adapter to put your phone in charge.
• When you get a sim, you have two options 1)Bring your own device 2)Get a device with the sim at a little bit extra cost of your plan .The second option would be the best one because you can get high-end devices like Pixel or iPhone at an affordable cost (check-in Best Buy to see which carrier gives you the best offer).
• If you are looking to buy some household items like plates, bowls, shower curtains, cutlery items or kitchen storage boxes Dollorama would be the cheapest one.
• You might have heard or known about the climate of Canada by now! Try to get a good brand of a jacket like North Face, Columbia, Mountain Warehouse (it might be costlier but it will be a single time investment for you).
• If you are planning to get big items or a costlier one, wait for days like Remembrance day, Canada day, Thanksgiving day, Boxing day, Labour day. You get the highest offer during the Boxing and Thanksgiving days.
• Wallmart or Save on foods has all the basic Indian groceries item that you look for. There are even other stores like Real Canadian Superstore, Wholesale Club you might like (Note: There are Indian specific grocery stores in each province you will explore yourself as time goes by).

Happy landing and Welcome to Canada!