List of Things You Need When Moving Out in Canada

Moving to Canada is exciting but can also feel overwhelming. To make the process smoother, it’s essential to pack wisely and prepare all necessary documents. A checklist can help you stay organized and ensure you have everything you need for your move.

Not sure about the things you need when moving out? You need not worry! We're professionals in international moves and we've put together the ultimate checklist to help you prepare for your move in no time. This extensive moving checklist will give you information on the list of things you need when moving out in Canada.

The Preparation for Moving Out in Canada

To ensure that everything is taken care of, you should make a list of things you need when moving out.  Start your preparations months before the day you’re supposed to move to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Here are some of the things you need to do in preparation:

• Research what vaccinations are required
• Book your plane ticket in advance
• Start looking for a place to stay. You can decide to stay at a hotel as you look for an apartment to rent or a house to buy.
• Find good schools for your kids if you have any, and get in contact with them to gauge one that best suits your needs.
• Start finding buyers for your household items if you decide to sell them
• Look for banking options in Canada where you can start saving the money you make after selling your household items
• Start looking for a job as early as possible because the employment process can take quite a while.
• Get a letter from your local licensing authority showing your past experience if you plan on getting a driving license in Canada.
• Ensure that all your travel documents are valid and won’t expire before the move
• Pack everything you’ll be bringing with you in suitcases and add labels if necessary. Don’t pack too early because you could pack some things you still need to use before leaving. Again, don’t wait till the last minute to start packing because you could easily forget important items.
• Don’t forget to pack any medications you might need to take while in transit in your carry-on bag.
• If you’re not planning on changing phones, purpose to have your current one unlocked so that you can use it with your new network provider.

The Checklist for Moving Out in Canada

It would help if you had a checklist when moving out to Canada to help you gather all the essential items before your departure. To help you plan properly for your move, we’ve compiled a list of all the essential documents you should pack for Canada regardless of what time of year you’re traveling there. Make sure that you pack them somewhere they can be easily accessed while at the airport. The documents include:

• Printed plane ticket with all your booking information
• An up-to-date passport
• Valid visa or work permit
• Valid national ID or driver’s license
• Bank statements to show that you’re financially independent
• Travel insurance documents
• Doctor’s prescription or medical records if you have any medication with you
• Proof of termination of previous employment. Tax forms work in this case
• A resume matching the Canadian format
• Evidence of the place you’ll be staying, including the physical address

Other items to pack in your handbag or backpack include:

• Cash and/or credit cards. If you’re bringing liquid cash, ensure that you have a currency exchange receipt from the currency exchanging company where you exchanged your money
• Your phone, laptop, portable speaker, iPod, tablet, and chargers. Don’t forget to bring a universal adapter too
• Nice canceling headphones
• Water bottle
• A hygiene kit containing wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, etc.
• Cosmetics, including skin and hair care products
• Sunglasses
• Neck pillow
• A scarf or travel blanket to keep you warm
• Compression socks

Start early on your application processes for moving to Canada; some documents can take weeks or even months. Don't book your flight until you have your passport and visa sorted out. This way, you won’t risk delays that could throw off your plans.

What Can’t I Bring to Canada?

You can’t bring just anything to Canada. The Canadian website is very clear on the rules. The Canadian Border Service Agency has put laws regulating personal items that fall under the duty-free category.

Some items that aren’t allowed across the border include:

• Illicit drugs
• Firearms
• Fireworks
• Firewood

Moving Out in Canada Tips

How can you make your ‘moving abroad’ experience? We’ve put together some tips to help make your moving and packing smooth and stress-free:

• Declutter everything you haven’t used/worn in the last half-year.
• Change your money from your local currency to Canadian dollars. Check the maximum amount of cash you can bring with you past customs.
• While healthcare is free for Canadian citizens and residents, get private health insurance as soon as you move there. Otherwise, you’ll be charged huge hospital bills upon hospitalization.
• While you have hard copies of the required documents, it’s advisable to scan all your paperwork and save the duplicates in your email. These will come in handy in case you lose the original documents.
• Take about an hour before going to the airport to check that you have everything on your checklist ready. Whether or not you bring all your documents can make or break your trip.

Conclusion

Moving is often associated with lots of stressful preparations and packing. Do you have any household items like furniture or appliance that you’d like to move with? Reputable moving companies like Highstream Moving will take the stress out of it all.

Thanks to their immeasurable international moving experience, they’ll help organize everything for you, ensuring that you don’t leave anything important behind. They’re just a phone call away – reach us at (800) 430-1537.

Happy moving, and we hope you found this list helpful!