Canada is the second largest country in the world, and is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. The country measures at nearly 10 million square kilometres. If that doesn’t sum it up for you, think of it like this: The United Kingdom could fit over 40 times in Canada. Wood Buffalo Park is bigger than all of Netherlands. Get the idea? First things first, well done on taking a call to work/study in Canada! It’s a massive decision and we wish you nothing but the best. While you’ve made the first initial step on your own, you can count on us canadiansim.com on assisting you to make the move to Canada even smoother. With that said, let’s take a look at the top-5 priorities of any international student moving to Canada.

Top 5 Priorities While Moving to Canada

Canada offers a lot of services for newcomers, so you’d have a lot of help every step of the way. However, there are a lot of things that one has to prepare for once they plan to move to Canada to prepare for a new life. It can get a bit overwhelming. So, here we have noted the top 5 priorities that you have to prepare for.

Housing

The top priority for any student moving to Canada is to find a place to live. Unless you have family and friends that you can stay with or help you with accommodation you are going to be house hunting with the best of them. There are quite a few companies out there that offer short-term and long-term rental options for furnished apartments and it is important you look them up. Usually short-term means you pay rent on month-to-month basis, without signing a 12-month contract. There are however, a few things you should take into consideration when you’re looking for long term housing according to your priorities like budget, desired location and transit. You would do well to figure out how much you can afford to spend on rent along with other utilities like electricity, water and other expenses. This would give you a fair idea of your budget and help you narrow down your options considerably. Transit is going to be a big part of your life when in Canada (10 million sq. miles, remember?). Your commute to the college or place of work is going be pivotal in helping you make the decision of choosing a place to stay. Whether you are going to walk, use public transport, or use your own vehicle are all important factors when choosing your first living quarters.

Health Insurance

Usually your health insurance is covered with your student loan in your GIC. It is however, still an important priority to go through Canada’s public health insurance. Each province and territory has its own health insurance plan, once you know the province your settling in you could do some research about their provincial plan covers. Having health insurance is a given when moving to Canada and is one of the first things that you are requested to claim when applying for higher education. It is however, important to make sure that you know what the insurance entails and be updated if you have any medical or health requirements that are not covered under the same.

Social Insurance Number

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need to work in Canada. For this you need to access the government programs and benefits. To apply for it you can send an e-mail or visit the Canada Service Office. Over there, you would have to provide them with an original primary document to prove your identity and status for e.g.- Permanent resident proof or confirmation of permanent residence proof. Your SIN number is crucial to getting a job in Canada.

Connect with Your Community

Moving to a new place can be scary, especially if you don’t know anyone in your new community. Socializing will help you sow and nurture your personal life and professional network ensuring job security and a close-knit support system in Canada. There are quite a few organizations that connect newcomers with other immigrants or Canadians, which can be very helpful. Volunteering at your local community centres, schools or charitable organizations can also help you kick start your social life.

Getting a Canadian SIM Card

You’ve made your plans to come to Canada, booked your flight, and now you’ve just stepped off the plane and taken your first steps on Canadian soil. What’s the first thing you do? Call your mom right?Or maybe look up directions to your new apartment?Or maybe you want to post a story on Instagram announcing the momentous occasion. Well, for any of the above, you’re going to need a cell phone with a Canadian SIM card! Having a phone plan that meets all your requirements is crucial to ensuring that you can reach your loved ones at a moment’s notice. You need the best SIM card for international students in Canada.A phone plan preferably from one of Canada’s largest service providers, with a Canada wide coverage, high LTE data speeds, unlimited Canada wide calling, unlimited incoming calls, unlimited international texting, 1000 international minutes to several countries including India, no activation or account setup fees and no contracts! Sounds impossible right? Not with Canadian SIM. We provide Canadian SIM cards to students before they depart for Canada, enabling them to be in communication the moment they land in the maple leaf country. When moving to Canada you will have a host of tasks to fulfil as mentioned above. We, at Canadian SIM are all about making your life easier. Get in touch with us to learn more about how you can get your Canadian SIM card even before you leave for Canada.