Going to a new country to study is really exciting. You may want to spend most of your time with friends and family. In the period of January to September 2021, approximately 115,000 Indian students were approved to study in Canada. This exceeded the previous record of 111,110 students in 2019.
However, there is so much you have to do before you take your flight to Canada to study.
In this article, we will talk about everything you need to take care of before going to Canada to study. It will help you save your time, and you can spend that time with your loved ones.
1. Documents
The first on the list is documents and perhaps the most important as you cannot leave the Canadian airport if you don't have all the necessary documents. Ensure your keep your passport, visa, driving license, and all the required documents your university has mentioned. You can check the university website and double-check your document bag - all documents should be there in it.
2. The food items
The one thing you will miss there in Canada is the Indian food. Hence, you better prepare yourself for it. You cannot take fresh fruits and vegetables to Canada, and it does not make any sense to do so. If you want to carry dried and packaged food, you can do that, but you must declare it to customers. If you don't, you will have to pay a penalty.
Also, carry some instant food packets as you will need them in the initial days as you must be settling down in the new country. If you don't like bland food (you will only get that there), you should plan to get pickles with you.
3. Currency/Bank accounts
Most banks in Canada offer free basic banking to full-time students, which means no fees for checking accounts. However, there may be limitations or conditions. Canada offers many student banking plans that allow you to open a chequing and savings account, both of which can be accessed with a debit card. A bank account will help youtransfer money to Indiaeasily.
Consider carefully before securing a credit cardwhile you are in Canada. Be careful about building up credit card debt. It is important to have a good credit rating in Canada, as a poor credit score could affect you later. In general, having a credit card is the easy and preferable option for your daily spending as you can earn minimum 1-5% cashbacks.
4. Electronics items
If you have your own laptop in India, you should carry it with you. However, if you plan to buy a new one, you should buy it from Canada. You can make use of the free services, warranty, etc if you buy from there. Whether you buy your India or Canada, check the specification your university has recommended for laptops.
All the phones work in Canada so you are carrying your existing phones - ensure the camera quality is good as you will have some breath-taking views to capture. You will have to bring in at least two universal adaptors for your Indian electronics as the socket are different there from India.
5. Utensils
You will have to take some basic utensils with you. Some of the Indian utensils are super expensive there. So even though they will take considerable space in your luggage, it is worth taking them. One essential item on the list is a pressure cooker - you can cook a lot of things with it, and they are expensive there. If space is not a concern, it is better to take Tawa and Kadai with you - it will save you on the budget. Just make sure you are not carrying these items in your cabin baggage; it must go in the check-in baggage.
6. Medicines
You should carry some basic medicines with you as they are terribly expensive in Canada. You should carry medicines for fever, common cold, cough, body pain, etc. Sometimes, you can get in trouble with these medicines at the security check-up, and hence it is essential that you carry a prescription of all the medicines.
7. Mobile Plans
Being a student in Canada, you should search for a cost-effective plan for your phoneThe cost of cell phone plans has greatly decreased in the past few years, but the competition has grown, making it difficult to find the plan that meets your needs. Check out plans from providers like Koodo, Fido, Telus and more.
8. Shared Accommodation
When they arrive at university, every international student's top priority is to find housing. If you haven't done your research well, finding a place close to school, within your budget, and that meets your needs can seem overwhelming. Start by determining your budget and get in touch with fellow students. Shared accommodation will prove to be very convenient and cost effective. Search University Facebook and WhatsApp groups in which you can post related to your student accommodation requirement. It is the best and easiest way to find a shared apartment in abroad.
9. Clothing and Footwear
You should bring in the basic clothes that will keep you warm and cozy. Check your university site for the kind of clothes you will have to wear mostly.
You should not overpack your baggage with clothes as the clothing is inexpensive in Canada. The other items we have mentioned above should be in your luggage first. You will need some good jackets to stay warm in Canada. However, it is better you don't buy them in India. The climate there is completely different from India, and you may end up buying something that may not work there. You should get your thermals, socks, sweaters, and accessories like gloves in your luggage.
Do not worry too much about the footwear as you can easily find them in Canada at a very reasonable price.
10. Other important items
You must carry bedspread, pillowcases, and bath towels from India as they are quite expensive in Canada. Do not bring in blankets from India, as you can get good ones in Canada. Get some money with you so that you can meet your initial expenses. If your layover time is more than 4-8 hours at any intermediate airports, please make sure if you require Transit Visa or not. It is easy to obtain, but still having prior knowledge will help to reduce your last-minute stress.
If you are taking more than C$10,000 then declare it with the customs else Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can seize all your money.
You can follow the guidelines from the above points, and you are good to start a new phase of your life.
Google Source: Indian Students Before Going to Canada
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