# Moving to Canada from India: your newcomer plan > Moving to Canada to work or settle usually means five phases: choose the official pathway you are using, prepare documents, apply and track, land, and settle in your first months. StudentFlow organises these steps and links the official page for each. It does not assess eligibility or recommend a route. - Page: https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/newcomers/canada - Last verified: 2026-10-20 StudentFlow gives general information from official sources. It is not legal or immigration advice and we are not a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. For advice on your case, speak to a licensed professional. ## Your journey at a glance ### 1. Choose your pathway (Before you apply) Canada has several ways to move: permanent residence programmes, work permits and family routes. Each has its own official page, tools and rules. StudentFlow does not pick one for you; it points you to the government questionnaire and the page for the route you are using. - [ ] Use the official IRCC questionnaire to see programmes you could explore - [ ] Read the official page for the route you are using, from start to finish - [ ] Check whether a province or territory has its own steps - [ ] Decide whether you want help from a licensed professional Guides and official pages: [Canada immigration pathways: how each works](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-pathways-overview) · [Immigration scams targeting newcomers](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-scams-targeting-newcomers) · [Explore immigration programs (IRCC)](https://ircc.canada.ca/explore-programs/index.asp) ### 2. Prepare documents (While you prepare) Most applications need identity documents plus a few items that take time: language test results, an education credential assessment, police certificates, a medical exam and, for some routes, proof of settlement funds. Start with the checklist on your official page. - [ ] Check your passport and your family’s passports are valid - [ ] Book a language test and, if your route asks for it, an education credential assessment - [ ] Request police certificates from every country the checklist names - [ ] Arrange the immigration medical exam with an approved doctor when you are asked to - [ ] Prepare proof of settlement funds if your route requires it - [ ] Get translations and certified copies where the checklist asks for them Guides and official pages: [Canada proof of settlement funds, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-proof-of-settlement-funds-explained) · [Language tests and ECA for Canada, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-language-tests-and-eca-explained) · [Police certificates for Canada, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-police-certificates-for-newcomers) · [Canada immigration medical exam, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-medical-exam-explained) · [Documents for Express Entry (IRCC)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents.html) ### 3. Apply & track (After you submit) Most applications are made online through an IRCC secure account. After you submit, the government may ask for biometrics, extra documents or an interview, and it writes to you through your account. Keep every receipt and reply on time. - [ ] Create or sign in to your IRCC secure account - [ ] Complete the forms, upload documents and pay the fees shown by the government - [ ] Give your fingerprints and photo when you receive a biometrics letter - [ ] Check your account regularly and respond to any request - [ ] Tell IRCC if your contact details or family situation change - [ ] Keep the confirmation you receive when a decision is made Guides and official pages: [Applying and tracking your Canada application](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-apply-online-and-track-your-application) · [Biometrics for Canada: fingerprints and photo](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-biometrics-for-immigration-applications) · [Check your application status (IRCC)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html) ### 4. Land (As you travel) When your confirmation arrives, you plan your flight and your landing. The official guidance asks you to keep key documents with you, not in checked baggage, and to be ready for questions from a border services officer. Where it applies, your permanent residence is confirmed at the port of entry. - [ ] Book flights once your confirmation documents are in hand - [ ] Keep immigration documents and passports in your hand baggage - [ ] Prepare the lists of goods the border officer will ask for - [ ] Check what you may and may not bring, and declare what you must - [ ] Arrange where you will sleep for your first nights Guides and official pages: [Landing in Canada: documents and border steps](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-prepare-for-landing-and-port-of-entry) · [Prepare to cross the border as a newcomer (IRCC)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/border-crossing.html) ### 5. First 90 days (Your first months) The first weeks are a run of small official steps. Some depend on others: a bank account may need an address, and a health card application needs proof of status. StudentFlow puts them in a sensible order and links the provincial page for each. - [ ] Apply for your Social Insurance Number - [ ] Get a Canadian SIM or eSIM - [ ] Apply for your provincial health card and arrange private cover for any gap - [ ] Open a bank account and start building a credit history - [ ] Move from temporary to long-term housing - [ ] Set up a CRA account and check which benefits you may qualify for - [ ] Enrol children in school and look into childcare if you have children - [ ] Find free settlement services and language classes Guides and official pages: [Your first week in Canada as a newcomer](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-your-first-week-as-a-newcomer) · [Health insurance in Canada for newcomers](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-health-insurance-for-newcomers) · [Bank accounts and credit history in Canada](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-banking-and-credit-for-newcomers) · [Finding a home in Canada: tenant basics](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-finding-a-home-and-tenant-basics) · [Driver’s licence for newcomers to Canada](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-drivers-licence-for-newcomers) · [Taxes and benefits for newcomers to Canada](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-taxes-and-benefits-for-newcomers) · [Schools and childcare for newcomer families](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-schools-and-childcare-for-newcomer-families) · [Finding work in Canada and credential checks](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-finding-work-and-credential-recognition) · [Free settlement services and language classes](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-settlement-services-and-language-classes) · [Settle in Canada (IRCC)](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada.html) ## Which pathways do people use? StudentFlow does not assess eligibility or recommend a route. Each pathway below links to its official page. - **Express Entry (permanent residence):** Express Entry is an online system IRCC uses to manage permanent residence applications from skilled workers. It covers three federal programmes: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. In outline you create a profile, enter the pool, and may be invited to apply in a round of invitations. If you are invited, you submit a full application. Official page: [Express Entry — IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html) - **Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):** Provinces and territories can nominate people whose skills and experience suit their economy and who want to live there. Each one has its own streams and requirements. Depending on the stream, you then apply for permanent residence through Express Entry or through a separate process. Quebec selects its own skilled workers through its own programme. Official page: [Provincial Nominee Program — IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html) - **Employer work permit:** An employer-specific work permit lets you work for one named employer under the conditions printed on the permit. A job offer is required. For some permits the employer must first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment. IRCC has a questionnaire that shows which type of work permit applies to a situation. Official page: [Employer-specific work permits — IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/employer-specific.html) - **Family sponsorship:** A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be able to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent children, and under separate rules certain other relatives, to become permanent residents. The sponsor and the person being sponsored each have responsibilities. Some categories are paused from time to time, so check the current status on the official page. Official page: [Sponsor your family members — IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html) - **Joining family as a dependant:** If your partner or parent already has status in Canada, for example as a worker, there are routes for spouses and dependent children, including open work permits for some family members. What is available depends on the status of the person you are joining and on the rules at the time. Official page: [Work permits for family members — IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/special-instructions/spouses-dependent-children.html) - **Another route / not sure yet:** Other routes include Quebec programmes, caregivers, regional pilots and business immigration. Start with IRCC’s questionnaire, which lists programmes to explore. If you are unsure, speak to a licensed professional before you spend money or time on an application. Official page: [Explore immigration programs — IRCC](https://ircc.canada.ca/explore-programs/index.asp) ## Official tools - [Explore immigration programs](https://ircc.canada.ca/explore-programs/index.asp): IRCC’s questionnaire: answer a few questions to get a list of programmes to explore. - [Find the work permit you need](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/need-permit.html): IRCC’s tool for work permits: whether you need one, which type, and any special instructions. - [Express Entry: check your score](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score.html): The government’s own tool. StudentFlow does not calculate scores. - [Check processing times](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html): Current times published by IRCC. They change, so we never quote them. - [IRCC fees](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp): The official fee list for every application type. - [Check your application status](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html): How to find your status, depending on what you applied for. - [Find out if a representative is authorised](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigration-citizenship-representative/choose/authorized.html): If you pay someone for immigration advice, IRCC expects them to be authorised. - [Foreign credential recognition](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/foreign-credential-recognition.html): For regulated professions and compulsory trades: how credentials are recognised. - [Find free newcomer services](https://ircc.canada.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp): Settlement services funded by the Government of Canada. ## Where to start in each province or territory - **Alberta:** health card — [Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan](https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-eligibility); driver’s licence — [Licensing and owning a vehicle](https://www.alberta.ca/licensing-and-owning-a-vehicle) - **British Columbia:** health card — [Medical Services Plan: how to enrol](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol); driver’s licence — [ICBC: moving to BC](https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/moving-bc) - **Manitoba:** health card — [Manitoba Health Insurance](https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/index.html); driver’s licence — [Manitoba Public Insurance](https://www.mpi.mb.ca/) - **New Brunswick:** health card — [New Brunswick — via IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/provinces-territories/new-brunswick.html); driver’s licence — [New Brunswick — via IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/provinces-territories/new-brunswick.html) - **Newfoundland and Labrador:** health card — [Medical Care Plan](https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/mcp/); driver’s licence — [Motor Registration Division](https://www.gov.nl.ca/motorregistration/) - **Northwest Territories:** health card — [Health and Social Services](https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en); driver’s licence — [Driver services](https://www.idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca/Drivers) - **Nova Scotia:** health card — [Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program](https://www.novascotia.ca/programs-and-services/nova-scotia-health-insurance-program); driver’s licence — [Exchange an out-of-province licence](https://novascotia.ca/exchange-your-out-of-province-drivers-licence/) - **Nunavut:** health card — [Nunavut — via IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/provinces-territories/nunavut.html); driver’s licence — [Nunavut — via IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/provinces-territories/nunavut.html) - **Ontario:** health card — [Apply for OHIP and get a health card](https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-ohip-and-get-health-card); driver’s licence — [Exchange an out-of-province licence](https://www.ontario.ca/page/exchange-out-province-drivers-licence) - **Prince Edward Island:** health card — [Apply for a PEI health card](https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/apply-for-a-pei-health-card); driver’s licence — [Getting a PEI driver’s licence](https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/transportation-and-infrastructure/getting-a-pei-drivers-license) - **Quebec:** health card — [Settle and integrate in Quebec](https://www.quebec.ca/en/immigration/settle-and-integrate-in-quebec); driver’s licence — [Settle and integrate in Quebec](https://www.quebec.ca/en/immigration/settle-and-integrate-in-quebec) - **Saskatchewan:** health card — [Apply for a health card](https://www.ehealthsask.ca/residents/health-cards/apply-for-a-health-card); driver’s licence — [Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)](https://sgi.sk.ca/) - **Yukon:** health card — [Yukon — via IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/provinces-territories/yukon.html); driver’s licence — [Yukon — via IRCC](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-canada/provinces-territories/yukon.html) ## Costs to plan for No amounts are quoted here on purpose: they change. Each line says where the real number lives. - **Government application fees:** Paid to IRCC when you apply. The official fee list shows the current amount for each application type and for family members. - **Biometrics fee:** Usually paid with your application. IRCC explains who gives biometrics and what the fee covers. - **Language tests:** Paid to the test organisation. Prices differ by test and by test centre. - **Education credential assessment:** Paid to the assessment organisation IRCC designates, where your route asks for one. Fees and speed vary by organisation. - **Police certificates:** Paid to the issuing authority in each country you lived in, plus any courier or translation costs. - **Immigration medical exam:** Paid to an approved panel physician, not to the government. Your own doctor cannot do the exam. - **Proof of settlement funds:** Not a fee, but money you may need to show and keep available. IRCC publishes the current requirement for the routes that ask. - **Translations and certified copies:** Documents not in English or French usually need a certified translation. - **Flights and baggage:** Fares and baggage rules change with the season and the airline. - **Temporary housing, deposit and first rent:** Deposit and advance-rent rules differ by province. Budget for somewhere to stay while you search. - **Private health cover for any gap:** Some provinces make new residents wait before public cover starts. A private plan can bridge the gap. - **Phone plan, winter clothing and first essentials:** A SIM or eSIM, warm clothes if you land in winter, and the household basics. - **Licensing and credential recognition:** Regulated professions and compulsory trades charge for assessment, exams and licences. - **Professional help, if you choose it:** A licensed immigration professional sets their own fee. Ask for a written contract. ## Services newcomers usually need - **SIM or eSIM:** Data and calls from the airport, plus a number for banks and landlords. - **Temporary housing:** A place for your first nights while you look for a home you can verify. - **Private “gap” health cover:** Cover for any wait before your provincial health plan starts. - **Flights and baggage:** Fares timed to your confirmation, with a baggage allowance for a new life. - **Money transfers and forex:** Move money through authorised channels and compare the rate and the fee together. - **Airport pickup:** A pre-booked ride from arrivals when you land with heavy bags and little local knowledge. ## Immigration scams: warning signs - Anyone who guarantees a visa, a job or permanent residence. No one can. - A call, text or email that threatens arrest or deportation over unpaid fees. - A request to pay into a personal bank account, with gift cards, prepaid cards or money-transfer services. - Contact from an “official” using a free email address or social media. - Pressure to pay or reply right away, or special deals for people who want to immigrate. - A “representative” who tells you to include false information. That can end your application. ## Guides for newcomers to Canada - [Applying and tracking your Canada application](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-apply-online-and-track-your-application): Most Canadian applications are made and tracked online through an IRCC account. How it works, what happens after you submit and how to stay on top of it. - [Bank accounts and credit history in Canada](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-banking-and-credit-for-newcomers): You can open a Canadian bank account even without a job. What ID banks ask for, what to compare and how credit history works for newcomers. - [Biometrics for Canada: fingerprints and photo](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-biometrics-for-immigration-applications): Biometrics are your fingerprints and photo. Who gives them, when IRCC asks, where to go and what the fee covers, with the official page. - [Canada immigration medical exam, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-medical-exam-explained): Many applications need an immigration medical exam with an approved doctor. Why it is needed, who does it, when to book and what to bring. - [Canada immigration pathways: how each works](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-pathways-overview): How Canada’s main routes work in outline: Express Entry, provincial nominees, employer work permits and family sponsorship. No advice, just official pages. - [Canada proof of settlement funds, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-proof-of-settlement-funds-explained): Some routes ask you to show you have money to settle in Canada. Here is what proof of funds is, what a bank letter shows and how to prepare. No amounts. - [Driver’s licence for newcomers to Canada](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-drivers-licence-for-newcomers): Driver’s licences are issued by each province and territory. How exchanges and tests work, why car insurance matters and where to start in your province. - [Finding a home in Canada: tenant basics](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-finding-a-home-and-tenant-basics): From temporary housing to a lease: how renting works in Canada, what landlords may ask, tenant rights by province and how to avoid fake listings. - [Finding work in Canada and credential checks](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-finding-work-and-credential-recognition): How to look for work as a newcomer, what changes if your job is regulated, how foreign credentials are recognised and what your rights are as a worker. - [Free settlement services and language classes](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-settlement-services-and-language-classes): Federally funded settlement services help with jobs, language and housing, and some can be used before you land. Who is eligible and why to start early. - [Health insurance in Canada for newcomers](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-health-insurance-for-newcomers): Each province runs its own health plan, and some have a waiting period for new residents. How it works, what it covers and how private cover fills the gap. - [Immigration scams targeting newcomers](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-immigration-scams-targeting-newcomers): Fake officials, guaranteed visas, fake job offers and tax schemes target people moving to Canada. The warning signs, what IRCC never does and how to report. - [Landing in Canada: documents and border steps](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-prepare-for-landing-and-port-of-entry): What to carry in your hand baggage, the lists of goods the border officer asks for, what to declare and what the port-of-entry interviews cover. - [Language tests and ECA for Canada, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-language-tests-and-eca-explained): Many routes ask for an approved language test and some ask for an education credential assessment (ECA). What each is, who does it and what to know. - [Police certificates for Canada, explained](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-police-certificates-for-newcomers): A police certificate shows you have no criminal record, or shows it. Here is who may need one, how to get it, why timing matters and how to submit it. - [Schools and childcare for newcomer families](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-schools-and-childcare-for-newcomer-families): Each province runs its own schools. How to enrol a child, which documents to prepare, what happens on the first day and where to look for childcare. - [Taxes and benefits for newcomers to Canada](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-taxes-and-benefits-for-newcomers): How the CRA treats newcomers, why a CRA account and your first tax return matter, and the benefits many families look into, such as the Canada Child Benefit. - [Your first week in Canada as a newcomer](https://travelsorted.grihaam.online/resources/canada-your-first-week-as-a-newcomer): A calm order for your first week: a place to sleep, a phone, your SIN, your health card, a bank account and the ID to carry. With official links. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a job offer to move to Canada? It depends on the pathway. An employer-specific work permit needs a job offer. Other routes, such as some permanent residence programmes, work differently. IRCC’s official questionnaire lists programmes to explore, and each programme page states what it asks for. StudentFlow does not tell you which one applies to you. ### Which pathway should I choose? We cannot say. Choosing a route is immigration advice, which only a licensed professional can give. We explain how each official pathway works in outline and link the official tools, so you can read the real rules and decide with the right help. ### Can StudentFlow check my eligibility or calculate my Express Entry score? No. We do not assess eligibility, score applications or predict outcomes. The government publishes its own questionnaire and score tool, and we link both in the official tools section above. ### Can my family come with me? Many routes allow you to include a spouse or partner and dependent children, and some let family follow later. The rules depend on your pathway and on your family’s situation. Check your pathway’s official page, and tell StudentFlow about your household so your checklist includes everyone’s tasks. ### How long will my application take? IRCC publishes current processing times for each application type, and they change. We do not quote them. Leave generous buffer time, and avoid non-refundable bookings until you have your confirmation. ### How much money do I need to show? Some routes ask for proof of settlement funds and others do not. The required amount depends on the programme and your family size, and it is updated by the government. Our guide explains what the proof looks like; the official page has the current figures. ### Will I have health cover from the day I land? Not always. Each province and territory runs its own health plan, and some have a waiting period before new residents are covered. Apply for your health card as soon as you can, and consider private cover for any gap. Check your province’s official page. ### What should I do in my first week in Canada? Common first steps are applying for a Social Insurance Number, getting a SIM or eSIM, arranging temporary housing, applying for your health card and opening a bank account. The order depends on your situation and your province. ### Do I have to hire an immigration consultant? No law makes you hire one. If you do pay someone for immigration advice or representation, IRCC expects them to be authorised, meaning licensed to practise. Check before you pay, and be careful of anyone who promises a result. ### I am moving to Quebec. Does this plan work for me? Quebec has its own selection rules and its own services for newcomers. Much of the Canada-wide guidance still applies, but check the Quebec government pages first. Our provincial table links the Quebec newcomer portal. --- StudentFlow gives general information from official sources. It is not legal or immigration advice and we are not a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. For advice on your case, speak to a licensed professional. Confirm current rules, fees and processing times on the official pages linked above.