Canada (CA)

Valid passport is essential for all immigration applications, banking setup, health card applications, and identity verification. Bring the original and at least 3 certified photocopies. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stamps your passport on each entry — retain all stamps as evidence of physical presence in Canada (important for PR residency obligation and citizenship counting).

The primary document confirming your legal status in Canada. Permanent Residents receive a PR Card (credit-card format, valid 5 years). Temporary residents receive a paper permit (work or study). Required to open a bank account, enroll in provincial health insurance, register children in school, and access government services.

Required for citizenship naturalisation applications, school registration of children, marriage in Canada, applying for a Canadian passport for Canada-born children and some financial accounts. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 11 January 2024; foreign birth certificates from Hague member countries now use apostille for Canadian purposes. Non-English/French documents require a certified translation.

Required for family sponsorship applications, adding a spouse to benefits (CCB, RRSP spousal contributions), spousal tax credits, and name-change processes. Must match the name on your passport.

Required for school registration, applying for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), PR card applications for dependent children, inclusion on your provincial health card, and any immigration applications involving your children.

Needed to exchange for a Canadian provincial licence. Bring the original licence. An International Driving Permit (IDP — issued by your home country's automobile association) is useful during the transition period. Exchange deadline is typically 60 days (Ontario) or 90 days (BC) from establishing provincial residency. After this deadline, you may need to restart the graduated licensing process.

Required for permanent residency applications, some work permits, and many regulated professional licences (nursing, teaching, law, childcare). Obtain from your home country's national police authority before departure. Must typically be issued within the 3–6 months before your immigration application. A Canadian criminal background check (RCMP) is a separate process available after arrival.

Degree certificates and official transcripts. Required for credential recognition with regulated professional bodies (Professional Engineers Ontario, College of Nurses of Ontario, Ontario College of Teachers, etc.) and for Express Entry points calculations. Assessment by World Education Services (WES), ICAS, or another designated assessment body is typically required. WES assessments take 7–12 weeks and cost $240 CAD.

Your IRCC immigration medical examination is done by a panel physician designated by IRCC — results are sent directly to IRCC (you do not need to carry them). However, bring personal vaccination history records for school enrollment (children must meet provincial immunization requirements) and for establishing care with a Canadian GP who will need your medical history.

Required for some immigration applications as proof of settlement funds (Express Entry requires proof of sufficient funds unless you have a valid job offer). Also useful for rental applications where landlords may request financial proof, and for establishing banking relationships in Canada.

Pay stubs, employer reference letters, or work experience letters from previous employers. Required for Express Entry points (NOC-code work experience must be documented), professional licensing applications, and some credit applications. Canadian employers prefer reference letters on company letterhead with contact details of the reference.

Useful during the provincial health insurance waiting period — typically 3 months from landing in Ontario, BC, and several other provinces (no waiting period in Alberta, Quebec, or Saskatchewan for new immigrants). Bring documentation of any pre-existing conditions, current medications (with generic names), and specialist letters — Canadian doctors will need this for continuity of care.

Required for pets entering Canada: CFIA-accredited veterinarian health certificate, rabies vaccination proof (if arriving from a country not classified as rabies-free by CFIA), and microchip record. Dogs from the USA need a valid rabies vaccination certificate. Specific requirements depend on species and country of origin — check CFIA guidelines at inspection.canada.ca at least 3 months before travel.