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Useful tips and advice
Articles
Working Holiday news and updates.
In-depth guides and step-by-step how-tos
Plan your international adventure.
Stories from the road
First-hand experiences and feedback.
Guide to Working Holiday in Canada
Download it for free!
Pre-trip prep
Must-read articles for trip planning.
Social media
Join us on our social media!
Events
All our virtual and physical events.
Study abroad
Study abroad opportunities (academic, professional development and foreign languages).
Back
General
Job Offers
Explore
CV Database
Explore
Finding a job during a Working Holiday adventure
Explore
iA is hiring in Canada
Explore
Candidates
Employers
Back
Travel insurance solutions
WHV Insurance
Globe WHV
Pvtistes.net has been recommending the Working Holiday insurance policy since 2005.
Globe Partner
The insurance expert recommended by pvtistes.net for holidays, study abroad programs and round-the-world adventures.
Globe Traveller
A customisable multi-risks protection to travel with complete peace of mind.
Repatriation Assistance
The insurance policy to complement expats coverage with flexible, adapted solutions.
60 reviews

Welcome to Canada!

A welcome offer just for newcomers

At Desjardins, the leading financial cooperative group in Canada, we'll help you get settled with our welcome offer for newcomers1:

Everyday account with a free transaction plan and unlimited transactions for 2 years after your account is opened2.

A credit card,3 potentially with no annual fee,4 even if you have no credit history.

Free legal assistance5 for 2 years after your account is opened. This confidential phone service provides unlimited access to lawyers and notaries for reliable information about your rights and obligations.

The welcome offer for newcomers to Canada is for you if you are not yet a Desjardins member or if you have been a member for less than a year and you are:

- a permanent resident who has been living in Canada for 3 years or less or
- a temporary worker who has a work permit for more than 8 months
- age 18 or over

Complementary products and services:

  • Recognition of all previous driving experience when getting an auto insurance quote6.
  • Online international transfers of up to $5,000 per day7.

Why open an account with Desjardins?

  • You can apply online from your home country so it's easy to transfer your money before you leave.
  • Withdrawals are free8 and easy because of our extensive ATM network.
  • Insurance is also available.

Visit www.desjardins.com/newcomers to find out all the benefits of starting your new life with Desjardins.

  1. 1. This offer is available upon request and is subject to change without notice at any time. Other terms and conditions may apply. Contact an advisor to confirm your eligibility for this offer.
  2. 2. The fee waiver only applies to a member's Unlimited plan for a single folio (individual or joint account).
  3. 3. Credit cards are issued and credit limits are set based on the applicant's credit risk. Contact an advisor to confirm your eligibility for this offer. Some restrictions apply.
  4. 4. Depending on the card chosen, you have 21 or 25 days from the date the monthly statement is issued to pay the full balance on your account without interest (except on cash advances). The minimum payment due is 5% of the total statement balance. This includes the balance shown on your account statement for the previous period, any interest or monthly instalments that were not paid on the due date for that period, purchases made during that period, and any cash advances from the current statement period, plus the interest charged on those cash advances. This amount will also include any other amounts due under your credit card contract. Here are some examples of applicable interest charges for a standard 30-day billing cycle. If the regular annual interest rate is 19.9% and your average daily outstanding balance is $100, you'll be charged $1.64 in interest. If it's $500, you'll be charged $8.18 in interest, and if it's $1,000, you'll be charged $16.36 in interest. If the regular annual interest rate is 10.9%, and your average daily outstanding balance is $100, you'll be charged $0.90 in interest. If it's $500, you'll be charged $4.48 in interest, and if it's $1,000, you'll be charged $8.96 in interest.
  5. 5. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information, call 514-875-4137 or 1-877-435-6098 and mention that you have the Welcome Offer for Newcomers to Canada.
  6. 6. Applicable to principal drivers. In Quebec only. Certain restrictions, exclusions and limitations may apply. General insurance products are underwritten and distributed by Desjardins General Insurance Inc., provider of auto, home and business insurance.
  7. 7. Certain restrictions, exclusions and limitations may apply.
  8. 8. With an account including a monthly plan.

Useful information

Useful information for opening your account online

This section will help you answer the questions on the online account application.

Additional questions section

For the question What is the intended use of the account?

Select Budget management

Fiscal residence section

  • Select I am a tax resident of a country other than Canada or the United States.
  • Enter your taxpayer identification number (TIN), which you can find on your tax documents from your home country.

Address in Canada section

Enter the address where you’re planning to live, even temporarily, so we can choose the caisse (branch) that’s closest to you. When you arrive, we’ll update it with your permanent address.

Status section

Canadian residency status:

  • If you have a Working Holiday Visa: Working Holiday Program.
  • If you’re a young professional: Temporary foreign worker.

Occupation section

  • Type: Other
  • Position: Looking for job, working holiday or young professional

How to take advantage of this offer?

  • Apply online to open a bank account before you leave for Canada so you can become a member of a Desjardins caisse.
  • Have a valid Working Holiday Visa when you open the account or be a permanent resident living in Canada for 3 years or less or be a temporary foreign worker with a work permit valid for more than 8 months (Young Professionals or VIE permit, for example).
  • When you arrive in Canada, go to the office located at 1101 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montreal QC H3B 1H8, if you can, to complete the account opening process.

After that, your account will be managed by the caisse of your choice in Quebec or Ontario.

If you’re not planning to travel through Montreal, you can pre-open your account online, transfer your money, then finish the process at the caisse where you’re going to have your account.

Coming to study in Canada?

With Desjardins, get a bank account with a free monthly plan and unlimited free transactions. We’ll help you manage your money without the headaches.

Find out more about the student offer

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Desjardins

Desjardins, a trusted financial institution

As the largest cooperative financial institution in Canada and the leading financial institution in Quebec, Desjardins has a solid reputation. Desjardins Group ranks 4th among the Safest Banks in North America according to Global Finance, and its capital ratios and credit ratings are among the best in the industry.

Desjardins has over 7 million members and clients spanning over 290 caisses in Quebec and Ontario (Ottawa and Toronto), and gives you access to over 2,000 ATMs and nearly 1,000 service outlets.

OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT IN CANADA BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE
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60 Reviews

Please leave your feedback or ask questions

AlexV7V7X
0 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello, I would like to know in detail the difference between the free Desjardins current account offer (2 years) and that of the BNC which is 3 years so that I can make my choice. Additionally, I wanted to know if you have an agency in Alma (Quebec).
thanks in advance

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Alexandra
0 1
This review was posted in French. Show original

Good morning,
When opening an account I am asked if I am resident for tax purposes in Canada so I check yes but what about the question for the purposes of a country other than Canada?
I arrived in Canada in November and will therefore only be a Canadian resident for the next taxes.
My friend has the same question with the same dates but he has real estate in France which will make him declare taxes in France. Should he check yes to 2 and me yes to only Canada?
thank you for your reply

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Aurélie
8 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Good morning,

If you arrived in November, you had to file a tax return in 2024. If this is the case, then you must answer yes to the question, the same for your spouse. (do not check both)
Concerning this, in Canada it is obligatory to make the double declaration (declare the goods in France) but, I reassure you, there is no double taxation.
I invite you to contact a tax professional to help you with your efforts if necessary.
Good day.

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Yasmina
0 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Good morning ! I have two questions that come to mind:

– I am staying in Montreal for 4 months, but I need to open an account for my employer. Is cancellation free of charge? I don’t see any info

– Concerning residence in Canada, as I am staying 4 months, I only have Airbnb accommodation. So it’s not in my name. Am I still required to include this address?

Thank you for your time !

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Aurélie
8 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello Yasmina,
All accounts closed after 90 days of use can be canceled without charge (Less than 90 days after opening is $20).
To open an account in Canada, you must provide a Canadian address (personal, hotel, Airbnb, friends, family… make sure you receive your statement by email 🙂
Good luck in Canada!

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Tristan
0 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello, I will soon open my bank account and I wonder if we could send funds several times before our arrival?

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Aurélie
8 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello Tristan,
Once the pre-opening request has been made, you have the right to a single transfer before your finalization in Canada.

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pimpek
0 1
This review was posted in French. Show original

Good morning,
I wanted to know if the transfer of money from a French account to a Desjardins account is free of charge and if not, to what extent are there any fees on the transfer?
THANKS,
Agnes

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Aurélie
8 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello Agnes,
To transfer your funds from an account in your home country to the Desjardins account, the costs of this transfer are:
 on issue: to be checked with the bank in your country of origin
 exchange rate: check with the bank of your country of origin
 upon receipt: 15 CAD by Desjardins, regardless of the amount

In order to optimize transfer costs, we strongly suggest that you
• transfer funds in Canadian dollars directly
• prefer less frequent transfers

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Anaïs
14 28
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello, I sent an email to [email protected] 10 days ago and I did not receive a response. I also tried the chat on this page but had no news via email. I just had a few questions before my departure (which is in a week) regarding the pre-opening of a Desjardins account. Could someone from Desjardins please contact me? Thank you in advance and good day 🙂

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Aurélie
8 0
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello Anais,
Do not hesitate to write to me by email at [email protected] to ask me your questions, I will be happy to answer you 🙂

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Maud
5 19
This review was posted in French. Show original

Very well, the opening is done quickly and the various advisers are always quick to help you when you have a doubt or a question about a procedure.
So far I’m very happy with it (account opening + fast receipt of debit and credit cards).

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saliou93
0 4
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello I have just received my letter of correspondence I intend to leave in June 2023 to validate my pvt
When would you advise me to open my account to avoid it being too late?

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Laura
1 2
This review was posted in French. Show original

Hello
I received an email from Desjardins mentioning certain modifications to be made before my opening, such as the address. Only I don’t know how to access my account to finalize my request to open an account……
I would like to know how do you connect to desjardins knowing that I only have a confirmation code?????

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