{"id":1774,"date":"2023-02-10T22:51:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-11T03:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aucanadavisa.com\/?page_id=1774"},"modified":"2023-02-21T16:20:25","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T21:20:25","slug":"your-first-week-in-canada-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aucanadavisa.com\/fr\/useful-infos\/moving-to-canada-2\/your-first-week-in-canada-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Votre premi\u00e8re semaine au Canada bougez en direct"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Here are some of the essential things you\u2019ll need to do during your first week in Canada.<\/span><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1. Get your SIN<\/strong><\/h2>

Your Social Insurance Number is a nine-digit number that you\u2019ll need to work in Canada. It\u2019s similar to the PPS number in Ireland, the National Insurance Number in the UK, the Social Security Number in the U.S., or the Tax File Number in Australia. If you\u2019re in Canada on a temporary work permit, your SIN will begin with a \u20189\u2019.<\/p>

You can apply for a SIN at any Service Canada office, and if the queues are short, you should have it all sorted within an hour. Be sure to bring your work or study permit with you. It\u2019s also possible to obtain a SIN online or by mail, but these options take a bit longer.<\/p>

Getting a SIN is something you should aim to do within your first week in Canada.\u00a0Our SIN Canada guide<\/a>\u00a0has more information on what you\u2019ll need.<\/p>

2. Set up a bank account<\/strong><\/h2>

Banking in Canada<\/a> is convenient, but\u00a0many\u00a0account types will have charges that may be higher than you\u2019re used to paying at home.<\/p>

Nonetheless, it\u2019s important to get one set up so you can manage bills and debit card payments, and avoid potentially costly withdrawals from your home account.<\/p>

Bear in mind that each of these banks usually have monthly fees associated with their chequing accounts (known as \u2018current accounts\u2019 in some other countries). The average Canadian will spend more than $200 in banking fees each year.<\/p>

3. Get a local cell phone plan<\/strong><\/h2>

\"7<\/p>

There\u2019s nothing enjoyable about researching and comparing phone plans<\/a>. It\u2019s even less enjoyable when you\u2019re jet-lagged, and inclined to explore your brand new surroundings.<\/p>

But this exploring will be made easier when you have a local data plan, and can find your way on Google Maps. The earlier you get a local phone, the more you\u2019ll avoid costly roaming charges from your home provider. And if you\u2019re on a two-year visa, and considering entering a two-year contract, you\u2019ll want to align these as best you can.<\/p>

Bear in mind that caller ID, and even\u00a0receiving<\/em>\u00a0local calls, can incur charges.\u00a0Our cell phone plan in Canada guide<\/a>\u00a0goes through what you need to look out for.<\/p>

4.\u00a0Begin your apartment search<\/strong><\/h2>
\"7
Beware of walking furniture when searching for an apartment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

If you have no Canadian credit history or local references (like most immigrants), you may be at a disadvantage, as some landlords will give preference to applicants who can provide these. If you come across this, you\u2019ll just have to keep trying until you find a landlord who\u2019s more flexible.<\/p>

In my experience, it also helped to make enquiries using a Canadian cell phone \u2013 I found landlords far more likely to answer a local number compared to\u00a0calls in my first few days from my Irish phone.<\/p>

Websites like\u00a0Craigslist<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Kijiji<\/a>\u00a0will have listings.\u00a0Padmapper<\/a>\u00a0also acts as a good aggregator. Some of these listings will be out-of-date \u2013 usually, the only way to tell is by calling or emailing the person who put up the posting and find out.<\/p>

5.\u00a0Make friends<\/strong><\/h2>

\"\"Once the dust settles on all the errands you have to do, it\u2019s time to get to know some people and start building a solid network of good friends and acquaintances that can help you feeling truly at home in your new city.<\/p>

Moving2Canada has Facebook groups for Canada\u2019s major cities where you can introduce yourself and say hello.<\/p>

6. Be good to yourself<\/strong><\/h2>

\"\"You\u2019ll be jet-lagged. You won\u2019t know where the best place is to buy your daily conveniences. You\u2019ll occasionally struggle with the knowledge that your entire support network is several time zones away. And the grind of apartment-hunting won\u2019t match the months of Utopian daydreaming you did when you planned this whole adventure.<\/p>

That\u2019s okay. Remember that it\u2019s normal to be cranky when you\u2019re tired, and it\u2019s normal after a few weeks in a hostel to miss having your own bed. Don\u2019t beat yourself up about this, and remember that other travelers are in the same boat.<\/p>

7. Tick something off the bucket list during your first week in Canada<\/strong><\/h2>

\"7Between the stress of winding down your life back home, and the stress of setting up your new life here, it can be easy to forget how exciting this whole thing actually is.<\/p>

Balance your jet lag and your studious efforts to build a\u00a0life in Canada\u00a0with reminders of why you decided to travel in the first place.\u00a0Go to the top of the CN Tower, climb the Grouse Grind, rent a car for the weekend and explore. Do something you\u2019ve been dreaming of.<\/p>

You\u2019ve arrived. Get out there and see the city.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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On the market since 2006<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u00a0know the industry inside out: the details of\u00a0the Due Diligence process for each citizenship and residence permit by\u00a0investment program, when an\u00a0affidavit is\u00a0needed and the best way to\u00a0resolve our clients\u2019 problems.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Licensed agent<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u00a0work exclusively\u00a0with government-licensed citizenship and residence permit by investment programs in the European Union and the Canadian.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Schedule a meeting<\/p>\t\t

Let\u2019s discuss the details<\/h3>
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Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.<\/p> <\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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