Landed Immigrant

You are on: Get Organized tabs

Get Organized

Now that you are here, you want to get set up as quickly as possible. Here are tips that we hope will help you get settled and feel more at home.

Finding a place to live

When looking for a place to live, one of the most important things you will need to consider is transportation. If you are not planning to buy a car in the near future, you may want to look at locations that are close to public transport. Other things that you will need to consider are:

• Proximity to shopping areas, school & medical care facilities
• The cost of living in the area

You can search listings in your local paper. You’ll also find helpful sites online, such as RentCanada and Viewit.ca where you can even look at pictures of accommodation for rent.

 

Glossary - Rent

The amount of money, usually paid monthly, that a tenant pays a landlord in exchange for living accommodations.

 

Sometimes, you are required to sign a lease when you rent an apartment. A lease is a formal contract between you (the renter) and the owner, or a representative of the owner, of the property. Before you sign the lease, read it thoroughly and make sure you understand it. If your language skills prevent you from understanding the lease, you may want to have someone else there to translate.

 

Glossary - Lease

An agreement under which a person pays a monthly amount for the right to use a specific asset, such as a car, for a specified length of time.

 

Save money on public transit

Apply for a library card

The public library system is free for all Canadian residents. Aside from the opportunity to check out books, your local library will often offer free Internet services, which can help you out until you have home Internet service. In most cities, you will need to bring two pieces of identification with your name and address (for example, your rent agreement, utility bill or passport) to your local library to apply for your library card.

You are on: Prepare for Work tabs

Prepare for Work

Finding a job that suits your skills and interests requires research, preparation and quite possibly, patience. In time your hard work will pay off and you’ll find the job you’re looking for. The important thing is to never give up and to take advantage of helpful online resources, informal networks of friends as well as resources offered by your local community groups.

Applying for Jobs

In Canada, applying for a job involves three steps:

1. Preparing a resume – tells the potential employer who you are, what you have done in the past along with your achievements, what your qualifications are and why you want the job. There are many online resources for jobs such as www.workopolis.com , www.monster.ca and www.careerbuilder.ca that will illustrate what Canadian-style resumes should look like and what employers are looking for. You can also work with immigrant serving agencies that help newcomers prepare their resumes. Most of these agencies are free for newcomers.
2. Preparing a cover letter – this is a concise introduction of yourself to a potential employer. It should be written specifically for a particular job.
3. Researching the company/job – learn more about the company in order to prepare your resume, cover letter and hopefully, for an interview.

Going to Interviews

Before going on a job interview, you should do some preparation. You can search online for probable questions that may be asked in interviews. Prepare answers to these questions in advance. Your answers should not be more than one to two minutes long. If you are scheduled for a job interview, you should bring the following with you:

• A copy of your resume for each interviewer (you may want to ask ahead of time how many people will be there.)
• Copies of your reference list.
• Paper and a pen, so you can write down any information you might need later.
• Copies of letters of recommendation, if you have any.

Consider your References

A reference is someone who can speak to a potential employer about your character and, if relevant, work experience. Some Canadian employers may prefer Canadian references. Think carefully about who can accurately answer questions about you and ask them if they would agree to be your reference. Include the names, recent phone numbers, job titles and addresses of up to three references on a separate piece of paper with your resume. Provide them only when asked by a potential employer.

Look into Career Planning and Placement Services

Many settlement agencies such as COSTI and YMCA provide free employment services ranging from job shadowing to subsidized on-the-job training to direct hires.

Setting up phone, internet and cable services

There are many service providers that offer phone, internet and cable TV. Some companies may offer you all these services as a bundled plan at a discounted rate. There are also a variety of price plans, determined by the number of features you use. You may want to sign up for the basic plan initially and then add on extra features as you feel you need them.

Improving your language skills

To successfully work in Canada, you will need to know one of the official languages – English or French. If your language skills in English or French are still lacking, consider going to free LINC programs that are run by immigrant serving agencies. Even if you feel confident in your English/French language skills, you will need to learn words, terms and phrases that are commonly used in Canada. The best way to improve your skills is through conversation, watching and listening to Canadian programs on television and radio, and reading Canadian newspapers and magazines.

Visit LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada)

LINC offers eligible adult immigrants (not just those looking for jobs) an opportunity to learn English or French for free. LINC can also direct you to education services in your community.

You are on: Arrange Finances tabs

Arrange Finances

Now that you’re in Canada, the first thing you’ll want to do is open a bank account, if you haven’t already. As a newcomer, we recommend you open your account in person at a bank branch.

Here are a few more things you might want to consider when it comes time to set up your finances:

Set up your bank account

An RBC advisor will help you through the account opening process. For your convenience, choose a branch that’s close to where you live or work. For legislative and regulatory purposes, we require you to bring two pieces of identification with you to open a banking account. Click here for a list of valid identification. When you open an RBC Royal Bank bank account, you’ll be given a personal Client Card for convenient and secure access to your money. You can activate this client Card immediately by choosing a numeric, confidential Personal Identification Number (PIN) that acts as your “electronic signature” whenever you use your Client Card.

 

Glossary - Client Card

This is provided to you when you open an account. It allows you to access your accounts while in your bank branch, at an ATM or store, or through online banking, often in combination with your Personal Identification Number (PIN) or RBC Online Banking password. Also known as a bank card or debit card.

 

 

Glossary - Personal Identification Number (PIN)

A password, usually four digits, created by the user to access his or her account, in combination with a Client Card, when making an ATM or point-of-sale transaction.

 

One of the most convenient ways to manage your funds is through Online Banking. You can use Online Banking to check your account balances, transfer funds between different accounts, pay bills and even send money overseas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through RBC International Remittance^®.

Choose from different account types

In Canada, we have many different account options including:

• A banking or transaction account: This allows you to deposit and withdraw money from anywhere, any time you want.
• A savings account: This is for cash that you want to keep accessible but don’t need for day-to-day expenses.
• A G.I.C. (Guaranteed Investment Certificate): This is an individual investment with a guaranteed rate of return. GICs generally provide higher interest rate returns than savings accounts but access to your funds is limited to the GIC maturity date.
 

Glossary - Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
A type of deposit investment that guarantees the investment principal and usually pays a predetermined rate of interest for a specified amount of time (the term).
 

Getting a Canadian credit card

One of the easiest and most effective ways to start building a credit history is to get a Canadian credit card such as an RBC Royal Bank credit card. As you use your credit card and make monthly payments, you will create a credit history. When you need more credit later on, your good credit history will help you achieve a more favourable credit score. Your credit history will help you qualify for a mortgage, a car loan or even a loan to start a business in the future.

Outside of building a Canadian credit history, a Canadian credit card will offer you the following benefits:

 

Glossary - Credit history

A list of facts, gathered from financial institutions, retailers and other lenders, about how you have handled credit in the past. Most of this information stays in your file for seven years. This information forms a profile of your credit-worthiness, called your credit rating. Your credit rating is used to help banks and other companies to decide whether they will allow you to borrow money, and how much.

 

 

Glossary - Credit card

A plastic card that enables you to purchase items or services from a range of stores and establishments and pay for them at a later date. A minimum amount must be repaid each month. If you pay the full balance by the due date, no interest is charged.

 

 

Glossary - Mortgage

A loan secured by real property, typically a home.

 

 

Glossary - Loan

An agreement under which a borrower receives cash from a lender (often a bank) for a predetermined length of time at a given interest rate, generally with a stated repayment schedule. The principal must be paid back at a specified future date. Interim payments may consist of interest only or a blend of interest and principal. With a fixed-rate loan, the interest rate stays the same for the term of the loan. With a variable-rate loan, the interest rate changes with market rates.

 

• It’s a convenient way to shop and pay for services.
• A credit card is often needed for certain purchases, such as setting up contracts for a mobile phone, renting a car or shopping online.
• It enables you to make everyday purchases without carrying large amounts of cash.
• You’ll make purchases in Canadian funds and avoid exchange-rate costs.
• You can often use it as a form of identification.

Here are some good credit card practices that will help you build a strong credit history:

• Use your credit card only to make purchases you know you can afford to pay when the statement comes in.
• Pay off your credit card balance in full each month.
• If you choose not to pay off your balance in full, try to pay more than the minimum payment due.
• Ensure that your payment is received by the bank on or before the payment due date indicated on the statement.
• Limit the number of credit cards you use, so it’s easier to keep track of the money you owe.
• Memorize and protect your PIN at all times.

Check out our Banking Tutorial: Build your Credit History

Protecting your valuables with a safe deposit box

Need a safe place for your valuables? A safe deposit box is a convenient way to keep important documents and valuables secure yet accessible when you need them. Identification papers and jewelry are among the most common items people store in safe deposit boxes, which come in various sizes.

Visit an RBC Branch today

Create a budget to help manage day-to-day expenses

A budget is a key part of a financial plan. It can help you meet your short-term expenses and obligations and begin saving towards short and long-term goals. Talk to an RBC advisor about setting up a financial plan that will help put you on the path to success in Canada. Call 1-800-769-2511 and we’ll be happy to speak to you in the language of your choice.

 

Glossary - Budget

A document you create that lists all your fixed expenses (such as rent/mortgage, utilities, food), as well as discretionary spending, usually on a monthly basis.

 

Budget Calculator

You are on: Apply for Services

Apply for Services

While you can wait until you’re more settled to apply for some government programs and services, here are a few that you might want to look into right away.

Applying for a SIN Card

All Canadian citizens, newcomers and temporary residents who want access to government programs or who want to work in Canada are required to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) – a unique number that identifies each individual. There is no fee to apply. You will need this number to file an income tax return and to receive government benefits and allowances. You will also need this number to access essential services like opening a bank account, as well as when you need to have a credit check done.

Applying for a SIN is easy to do through Service Canada with the following documentation:

• Landing Papers or Permanent Resident Card
• Passport

Your new SIN number will be given to you immediately and your SIN card will be sent to you in the mail.

Applying for Child Tax Benefit and GST/HST credit

The Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free, monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. The amount of this benefit is calculated using the information you provide on your income tax returns. Applications may be submitted by mail or online

The GST/HST (goods and services tax/ harmonized sales tax) credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low or modest incomes offset all or part of the GST or HST that they pay.

Learn More

 

Glossary - Income tax returns

A form that a person files each year to the Canada Revenue Agency (and Revenu Quebec for Quebec residents) that states the amount of earnings, investment and other income, as well as eligible deductions, to reconcile the amount that he or she has actually paid in income tax with the amount owing or owed.

 

 

Glossary - GST/HST

Goods and Services Tax (GST) — A federal tax (currently 5%) applicable on the sale of most goods and services in Canada. It is collected by the vendor on behalf of the government.

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) — A tax on goods and services, applicable on sale, that reflects both the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) and provincial sales tax. HST exists in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

Applying for a health card

When you arrive in Canada, you must apply for a provincial health card in order to access Canada’s public healthcare system. Health card application forms are available from all provincial/territorial Ministries of Health and at some doctors’ offices, pharmacies and hospitals. You can also get one from an immigrant-serving organization. To apply, you will need proper documentation: passport, landing papers or permanent resident card, and confirmation of residence.