Your to-do list before going to Canada

Get a medical checkup

Checkup and prescriptions

If you have a prescription for an ongoing condition and will travel with medications, ask your doctor to give you the name of equivalent drugs to have your prescription filled in Canada. Note that IEC travel health insurance plans don’t usually cover pre-existing conditions. Remember to follow the Government of Canada’s rules, however, and do not bring more than a 90-day supply of medication with you.

You also need a current, valid prescription to buy contact lenses. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to take a vision test (and fees apply!). Note that visits to the optometrist or other eye care providers aren’t covered by your travel insurance in this case because vision care is a “pre-existing condition.”

It’s also a good idea to have a dental checkup before leaving. Dental care is expensive and generally not fully covered by travel insurance policies.

Basically, make an appointment with every health provider you see regularly at home to cover your bases before your trip abroad.

Recommended vaccines

No specific vaccine is required or recommended for Canada. However, you may want to make sure you’ve had your tetanus and diphtheria booster shots (usually every ten years for adults). If you plan to travel outside Canada, check if you need specific vaccines.

Find out your responsibilities as a citizen abroad

For long absences, you may have to notify the following agencies, if applicable:

• Social security (or equivalent)
• Employment services (especially if you get benefits)
• Tax services

You have rights and duties as a citizen and you may have to notify several agencies that you will be abroad for an extended period of time.

Consider getting an International Driving Permit

If you’re going to stay in Canada for a long period of time (i.e. several months or more), it’s best to get an International Driving Permit if your driver’s licence isn’t in English or French. Don’t forget your original licence, as you still have to carry it with your International Driving Permit.

You will also need to check the laws for the province or territory you choose to settle in, as each one has its own laws about when you need to switch your home driving licence for a Canadian licence. For more information, read our guide here.