Prepare financially

Your cost of living may be different

The information in this section will help you to estimate how much it will cost you to live in Canada.

Your life in Canada will be different than in your home country. You may have to take a job with lower pay while you upgrade your skills or get experience working here. That means your financial status could change. Even if you earn a higher salary in Canada than you were earning in your home country, the cost of living in Canada may be higher than you are used to.

Prepare financially before you leave

Find out how much it costs to live where you are planning to settle in Canada. The cost of living will vary depending on where you decide to settle. Some costs will be typical for items and services across Canada.

Check with your banker, lawyer or financial adviser to find out if your home country has a limit on how much money you can remove. Find out more about bringing money with you to Canada and items you can import duty-free and tax-free on the Canada Border Services Agency website.

If you will be immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker, investor, entrepreneur or as a self-employed person, you will have to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada. You will need to provide proof of your funds to the Canadian visa office in your home country when you submit your application for immigration.