Before I Arrive

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provide a checklist of important things to do before and after you arrive in Canada. You can also watch a Before You Arrive to Canada video that CIC has made available. Common documents include:

• birth certificate or baptismal certificates
• passport
• marriage, separation or divorce papers
• adoption records for adopted children
• death certificate for a deceased spouse
• school records, educational diplomas and certificates, including transcripts listing the courses you took to obtain a degree or certificate
• medical records (prescriptions, test results, x-rays, allergies, etc.) and dental records
• letters of reference from former employers
• car registration documents (if you are importing a motor vehicle into Canada)
• photocopies of all essential and important documents in case the originals get lost (be sure to keep the photocopies in a separate place from the originals)

The Ontario government provides an excellent guide for both before and after you arrive, The Orientation to Ontario Workbook.