Moving to Canada from another country is no easy task. Whether you plan to settle in Canada permanently or relocate for better career or study options, it takes a lot of time and organization to ensure a smooth transition into life in a new country.

This is a handy moving to Canada checklist, which will provide you with a step-by-step guide of all the things you need to do, from deciding which immigration program to apply for to preparing for your life in Canada.

How to Move to Canada – Checklist for Newcomers planning

Moving to Canada: A Checklist for Newcomers | Arrive (arrivein.com)

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The Government of Canada has information to help you find a job, get your credentials assessed, learn English and French, and find out what to expect when you get to Canada—financially, socially and culturally.

Government of Canada – Prepare for life in Canada

Prepare for life in Canada – Canada.ca

You and your family can get free in-person and online services to help prepare for and adjust to life in Canada. We call these pre-arrival services.

Get Help before arriving in Canada – About Pre-arrival services

Get help before arriving in Canada: About pre-arrival services – Canada.ca

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Moving to Canada is an exciting opportunity, but also a great challenge. The publications on this page can help you find what to expect in your first few weeks of coming to Canada and learn how to find a place to live, work and go to school, access health care, connect with your community, and manage money and finances in Canada

You will also find information on Canadian laws, health care and how to get help settling in Canada.

Government of Canada – Welcome to Canada – Publications for Download

Welcome to Canada: Publications for newcomers – Canada.ca

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The months and weeks before your move to Canada can be quite hectic and stressful. There’s so much to be done to wrap up essential tasks at home and prepare for your initial weeks in Canada. As a newcomer, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the length of your to-do list or unsure about what’s essential and what can wait until you arrive.

This is why we’ve created this comprehensive pre-arrival checklist for moving to Canada with inputs from newcomers who’ve travelled this path before you. Arrive’s downloadable pre-arrival checklist will help you navigate your move and settling-in processes in Canada with ease and confidence.  With Arrive’s moving to Canada checklist, rest assured that you won’t miss any crucial steps and will be well-prepared for your arrival. Just print it out, pin it up, and start checking tasks off!

Moving to Canada – Pre Arrival Checklist – Downloadable

Moving to Canada Checklist: things to do before you leave home (arrivein.com)

Your Canada Journey starts here.  Arrive is your destination for information you can trust and expert guidance for your new life in Canada.

Arrive – Your Canada Journey Starts Here

Arrive | For your life in Canada (arrivein.com)

The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) is a collaborative community initiative dedicated to improving immigrant integration and retention in St. John’s. Aimed at helping newcomers fully engage in all aspects of social, economic, and cultural life and building on the knowledge gained through other LIP’s across the country

My New St. John’s

St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership – Home (mynewstjohns.ca)

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Are you new to the City of St. John’s? Welcome! We are glad you chose to live here.  St. John’s is the capital city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are one of the most exciting, distinct, natural and livable cities in Canada. St. John’s offers all the amenities of a larger Canadian community with a distinct Newfoundland flavour. With easy access to nature and our rich arts and cultural community, life in St. John’s has many advantages.

If you are new to our City, this is where you will find all the information to help make the move to St. John’s an easy transition.

Living in St. John’s – Newcomers

Newcomers – City of St Johns

Housing Information for newcomers to Canada.

If you’re new to Canada and looking for a safe and affordable home, we can help.

We offer information in many languages on renting and buying apartments and houses. We can also help you plan for and manage a mortgage.

Find our information and tools in the language of your choice:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Information for Newcomers

Housing for Newcomers to Canada | CMHC (cmhc-schl.gc.ca)

A one-stop online source for housing-related information for newcomers to Canada, covering home purchase and maintenance. Available in English, French, Mandarin/Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu, Arabic and Spanish, this online guide provides useful worksheets for each step in the process of buying and maintaining a home, including estimating costs, budgeting, choosing a homebuying professional, planning a move and creating a maintenance calendar.

Homebuyers Checklist for Newcomers – Downloadable

Homebuyers Checklist — A Newcomers’ Guide and Workbook (cmhc-schl.gc.ca)

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Depending on the Canadian city you are moving to, it can take a while to find more permanent, long-term accommodation. That’s why most newcomers, when they first land in Canada, book temporary accommodation: hotel, hostel, or an apartment, condo or house for a couple of weeks or even the first few months.

Arrive – How to find a temporary accommodation in Canada

How to Find Temporary Accommodation in Canada | Arrive (arrivein.com)

There are rules in place to protect both the landlord and tenant, this guide provides general information about the Residential Tenancies Act, 2018 and Regulations as well as the process of dispute resolution offered by the Residential Tenancies program. It is essential for both landlords and tenants to understand their rights and responsibilities so that they each make informed decisions and take appropriate action when a dispute between the parties arises.

Residential Tenancies Act 2018 Guide.

landlord-guide-for-landlords-tenants.pdf (gov.nl.ca)

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Information about the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords under Newfoundland and Labrador’s residential tenancies legislation Public Legal Information Association – Residential Tenancies

https://publiclegalinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Residential-Tenancies-2018.pdf

Managing 476 residential rental units, the City of St. John’s is one of the largest affordable housing providers in St. John’s. These houses and apartments vary in size from one to four-bedroom units. They are available for rent to low-income earners based on their family net income. Net income is defined as gross income minus mandatory income tax deduction, EI and CPP deductions.

City of St. John’s Affordable Housing

Housing – City of St Johns

City of St. John’s Housing resources (in particular the rights and responsibilities doc): https://www.stjohns.ca/en/living-in-st-johns/housing-resources.aspx

Community housing inventory (i.e., list of non-market housing):  https://www.stjohns.ca/en/living-in-st-johns/community-housing-inventory.aspx

City of St. John’s housing application: https://www.stjohns.ca/en/living-in-st-johns/resources/Documents/NPH-Application-for-Accommodation.pdf

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation housing is a crown corporation whose mandate is to develop and administer housing assistance policy and programs for the benefit of low to moderate income households throughout the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

Home – Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (nlhc.nl.ca)

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation housing application: https://www.nlhc.nl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FCN-11001-Rental-Housing-Application-ARO.pdf

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Finding a place to call home is one of the first items to check off your to-do list as a newcomer.  Luckily, Canada has a large variety of housing options. Your ultimate choice will depend on your budget, your location, and the needs of your family. Let us help you get started with a breakdown of the housing types available in Canada.

Types of Housing in Canada

Types of Housing in Canada | Arrive (arrivein.com)

The Association for New Canadians (ANC) is a non-profit, community-based organization delivering settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees in Newfoundland and Labrador. For more than 40 years, the Association has delivered programs and services that support all aspects of immigrant integration, ranging from settlement information and orientation to language learning, skills development and employment.

Association for New Canadians

Home – Association for New Canadians NL (ancnl.ca)

Fixed-route public transit services within the municipalities of St. John’s, Mount Pearl & Paradise, NL.

Metrobus – St. John’s

Metrobus | Home

GoBus Accessible Transit is the St. John’s area para-transit system. It operates within the municipalities of St. Johns and Mount Pearl only.

The GoBus mandate is to provide persons with disabilities and those who are unable to access conventional transit, equal access to a transportation system so as to enhance their participation in all aspects of community life.

Accessible Transportation – GoBus.

GoBus Accessible Transit (metrobus.com)

DRL-LR provides daily motor coach service with 25 stops across the Island of Newfoundland. The westbound coach departs St. John’s at 7:30 a.m. en-route to Port aux Basques; the eastbound coach departs Port aux Basques at 8:00 a.m. en-route to St. John’s.

Public Transportation – Island Wide

Home — DRL (drl-lr.com)

Mount Pearl is a municipality  on the Avalon Peninsula and is part of the St. John’s Metropolitan area.

City of Mount Pearl

Mount Pearl | Website for the City of Mount Pearl

Paradise is a municipality  on the Avalon Peninsula and is part of the St. John’s Metropolitan area.

Town of Paradise

Town of Paradise

Eastern Health is the largest health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada serving residents on the Avalon, Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas.

Health and Medical

Eastern Health – Eastern Health Newfoundland and Labrador, Regional Health Authority

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador – Public Health Services

Public Health – Health and Community Services (gov.nl.ca)