Your Ultimate Checklist of What to Pack for Canada

Starting a new life in a new country is not as easy as you may think. You have just finished all of your paperwork and all of a sudden you realize that you have no idea of what to pack for Canada. Sometimes, it is just too tough to pack your life into 2 or 3 bags. Sometimes, you can bring some items from your home country that might be very expensive in Canada, in comparison. Maybe you should check out the cost of things in Canada.

Another thing to check is what you can and cannot bring into Canada; check out the links to the government sites.

What to Pack for Canada: Documents, Clothing and Other Essentials

Certain things you need to know before moving to Canada. Winter in Canada will be critical for you if you have no prior experience living in below freezing weather. You will find that for Canadian winters, you will need specific clothing that you may not have ever needed before. Most areas in Canada have four distinct seasons, so you will need clothing suitable for each of them. Considering the weather and lifestyle, we have noted down the ultimate checklist of what to pack for Canada. Some suggestions are:

1. Make the best use of cardboard boxes and or zippered, reusable shopping bags (This will save money and increase your item carrying capacity.) Tape and/or strap both the boxes and bags.

2. Always put a list of the contents on each box/bag you are taking with you. Carry a copy of the list with you. The list will not only help you to retrieve items easily from any box/bag but may also help you during immigration.

3. Unless you're from the US, buy an adapter as your device most likely won't fit electrical plugs in Canada and might need a different voltage than the domestic 110V found everywhere in Canada.

4. A few pairs of spectacles/eyeglasses, as they are very expensive items in Canada. Carry a copy of your prescription too.

5. Bring plenty of contact lenses, if you wear them.

6. Take care of your eye and dental issues in your home country if possible. (It will almost certainly cost you more in Canada, depending on the health insurance you have.)

7. Take your officially labelled, prescribed medicine, along with a doctor’s prescription for each. Ahead of time, make sure you are permitted to bring each of your prescription medications. Your prescription must be labelled using the latin alphabet. The doctor's prescription must be in English or French, but English is the only acceptable one for many other countries, if not in their language. Carry these in your carry-on luggage!

8. If you are from the Indian Subcontinent and like spices, take quite a few of them so that you can survive eating those for a few days, though most, if not all, are available in Canada. They must be in a commercially sealed package.

9. Clothing to carry [only in few numbers]

   • Raincoat/Umbrella

   • Wallet and/or purse

   • Belt/watch/jewelry

   • Underclothing

   • Towel

   • Sleepwear
     

   • Summer Jacket (all jackets should be waterproof)

   • Heavy Jacket (Except for Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. and Windsor, Ontario) should be good to -20 C at least if you won't be visiting an even colder area of Canada. These cost new from $100, for a cheaply made jacket, up to and over $600. A new, decently made, winter coat can be found in Canada, for between $200 and $300. You may want to check out a second-hand store if you're living on a smaller budget. You will definitely need winter boots. Waterproof, lined boots are the best choice. Rugged soles are also wise (It can get icy!)

   • T-shirts/shorts/skirts

   • Formal shirt and pants or dress and stockings/pantyhose
     Casual shirts and pants or jeans

   • Socks - thin for summer and thick and/or woolen, for winter.
     

   • Hoody/ Sweater

   • Sandals/shoes/sneakers (running shoes)

   • The following are optional:

   • Traditional clothing, blazer, athletic wear, swimwear, overcoat, scarf/scarves (especially if you like silk scarves which are extremely expensive in Canada)

Tech Products - Pack all these in your carry-on luggage:

• Headphones
• USB mouse
• An adapter
  
• Alarm Clock, if you don't have a cellular/mobile phone
• Scientific Calculator, if you don't have a cellular/mobile phone
• Pen drive/memory stick
• Laptop
• External hard drive?
• A digital camera?

Before You Fly To Canada - Checklist 

1. Designated Learning Institution (DLI) acceptance letter.

2. Passport (Make sure your passport has at least six months after your return date to your home country)

3. Study Permit

4. Buy airline ticket(s)

5. Should have an idea about the best travel insurance for getting to Canada. Also, try to have an idea regarding the health insurance for your school's province. Check with your university since many schools include it with your fees.

6. Get copies of your medical and immunization records. Make sure you have all the required vaccinations for Canada.

7. Arrange for housing.

8. Plan/arrange transportation from the airport to home in Canada.

9. Plan your banking needs. Research what banks are available, including online-only banks (Save a lot in fees).

10. Find out baggage limitations ($$$!) and customs requirements.

11. Make sure you have all the necessary documents from your educational institution(s).

12. Scan or make photocopies of all essential documents to leave at home and/or to send to your email address.

13. Learn as much as possible about the town you are going to live in. Visit the EDUCANADA website.

14. Bank statement and student loan paperwork for proof of funds. Proof of scholarship(s).

15. Letter of Introduction issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

16. Temporary Resident Visa issued along with study permit.
    

17. Travel Insurance in Canada

18. Letter of Reference for your accommodation

19. Student Transcripts

20. Driver’s license and any other govt. issued ID card.

21. Some Canadian Currency (If you are carrying $10k+, you have to declare it at the port of entry). Canadians don't carry a lot of cash, in Canada. They use debit cards for most purchases. Also, if you are carrying a large amount of cash, the Canadian Border Services may delay you and ask you to prove that you got the funds legally. Carry the proof! Paystubs, bank statements, cancelled cheques...

Before you depart, delete most, if not all your texts on your cell phone. Don't carry your C.V./Resume, for Immigration can interpret it as a sign you are planning to work and not study. More advice on how not to be refused entry will soon be posted under Entry to Canada.

Checklist of the items that you can carry.

The * beside a Yes means there are restrictions, special circumstances, special packaging rules….

ITEM	CARRY-ON	CHECKED
Aerosol Insecticide	X No	Yes*
Alcoholic Beverages - 24% alcohol or less	Yes*	Yes
Alcoholic Beverages over 140 proof	X No	X No
Ammunition	X No	Yes*
E-Lighters	X No	X No
Baby Powder - More than 350mL/12oz should be put in checked baggage	Yes*	Yes
Explosives, Firecrackers...	X No	X No
BB Guns	X No	Yes*
Bear Spray	X No	X No
Bicycles	X No	Yes*
Bobby Pins	Yes	Yes
Bottled Water	Yes*	Yes
Bows and Arrows	X No	Yes*
Box Cutters	X No	Yes
Musical Instruments	Yes*	Yes
Brass Knuckles	X No	Yes*
Food Items (Not in Liquid or Gel form)	Yes*	Yes*
Canes	Yes*	Yes
Cell/Mobile Phones	Yes	Yes
Chapstick, Lipstick	Yes	Yes
Chocolate	Yes	Yes
Chocolate Syrup	Yes*	Yes
CO2 Cartridge for a Life Vest	Yes*	Yes*
Cologne or Perfume	Yes*	Yes
Contact Lens Solution	Yes*	Yes
Cream/Body Lotion	Yes*	Yes
Cremated Remains	Yes*	Yes*
Crutches	Yes	Yes
Darts	X No	Yes*
Deodorant - Liquid	Yes*	Yes
Deodorant - Solid	Yes	Yes
Deodorant - Aerosol	X No	Yes*
Digital Camera	Yes	Yes
Disposable and Zippo Lighters	Yes	Yes*
Disposable Razor	Yes	Yes
Drone	Yes*	Yes*
Dry Batteries (AA, AAA, C, D)	Yes	Yes
Electric Razor	Yes	Yes
E-Cigarettes and Vaping Device	Yes*	X No
EpiPens	Yes	Yes
Medical Devices	Yes*	Yes*
Make-up - Liquid or Gel Less than 100 ml/3.4 oz	Yes*	Yes
Magnets	Yes	Yes
Make-up Remover	Yes*	Yes
Maple Syrup	Yes*	Yes
Medications - Liquid	Yes*	Yes*
Medications - Pills	Yes*	Yes*
Nail Clippers	Yes	Yes
Nail File - Metal	Yes	Yes
Nail Polish	Yes*	Yes
Nail Polish Remover	Yes*	Yes
Nebulizers and CPAPs	Yes*	Yes
Nuts (Not peanut butter)	Yes*	Yes
Oils and Vinegars	Yes*	Yes
Peanut Butter	Yes*	Yes
Pen	Yes	Yes
Pepper Spray - Illegal in Canada	X No	Yes*
Phone Chargers	Yes	Yes
Portable Oxygen Concentrators	Yes*	Yes*
Powder Makeup	Yes	Yes
Power Banks	Yes	X No
Power Charger	Yes	X No
Power Inverter	Yes	Yes
Printer	Yes	Yes
Printer Ink Cartridges	Yes	Yes
Protein or Energy Powders	Yes*	Yes
Realistic Replicas of Firearms	X No	Yes*
Matches	Yes*	X No
Samsung Galaxy Note 7	X No	X No
Scissors	Yes*	Yes
Shampoo	Yes*	Yes
Shaving Cream	Yes*	Yes
Shoe Inserts	Yes	Yes
Skateboards	Yes*	Yes
Skates - Ice and Roller	Yes	Yes
Slingshot - Illegal to Import Into Canada	X No	X No
Smart Luggage	Yes*	Yes
Snow Globe	Yes*	Yes
Snowboards, Skis and Poles	X No	Yes
Soap (liquid)	Yes*	Yes
Speakers	Yes	Yes
Spices - Dry: Must be in Sealed Commercial Packaging for Import into Canada	Yes	Yes
Spray Paint	X No	X No
Spray Starch	X No	X No
Sunscreen	Yes*	Yes
Swiss Army Knife	X No	Yes
Tea - Dry Bags or Loose Leaf: Must Be in Sealed Commercial Packaging for Import into Canada	Yes	Yes
TENS Unit - Depending on Make	Yes*	Yes*
Tobacco	Yes	Yes
Tobacco Pipes	Yes	Yes
Toothpaste	Yes*	Yes
Toy Guns and Weapons	Yes*	Yes*
Umbrellas	Yes*	Yes
Vacuum-Sealed Bags	Yes*	Yes*
Vitamins	Yes	Yes
Walking Sticks (Not a cane)	X No	Yes
Xbox	Yes	Yes

If an item is not listed above, that doesn’t mean you are allowed to bring it on an airplane in carry-on or checked baggage. 

For more information: Carry-on baggage - Travel.gc.ca. Also check with your carrier, because they can have their own policies.

What could happen if you don’t follow the law:

Don’t try to bring banned items into Canada. Declare any cash, bonds, cheques… (monetary instruments) worth over C$10,000 (If you’re not sure, declare it) If you have more than $10,000, have official documents to prove where you got it from. If it was given to you, you will most likely have to prove that the ‘giver’ acquired it legally. Be honest!

Though cannabis is legal in Canada, it is illegal to bring it across the border of Canada.

The CBSA is allowed to search all your electronic devices. You MUST unlock them. This is what happens when you aren’t honest & they start searching. Make sure you don’t have anything questionable on any of your electronic devices.

Have your paper prescriptions with you for any drugs or medication that you are allowed to legally bring into Canada. You are responsible to make sure that you can legally bring everything you are bringing with you into Canada.

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