Moving to Canada is one of the most exciting chapters of your student life, read this list below to make sure you come prepared!
Here's what to pack, what to skip, and what to buy only after you arrive.
Documents Come First
Your documents are the most important items in your luggage. Keep them all in a carry-on folder — never in checked baggage.
Please read this article explaining what you need to bring to the border.
Clothing: Pack for Your First Month
Canadian weather is dramatic - make sure to bring some warm clothes! If you don't have a warm coat, you will need to get one in the winter.
Bring 5–7 T-shirts, 3–4 pairs of jeans or durable pants, two pairs of formal trousers and a formal shirt or two, two sweaters or hoodies, a lightweight rain jacket, undergarments and socks for about ten days, comfortable walking shoes, and one pair of formal shoes.
Slides or flip-flops are useful for shared dorm bathrooms.
Winter Gear: Buy Most of It in Canada
Here's advice that saves students hundreds of dollars: do not buy heavy winter clothing before you travel. Coats sold in warmer climates are rarely built for true Canadian winters. Winners and other cheaper stores in Canada are the best bet for this.
From home, bring only thermal innerwear.
Once you arrive, plan to buy a proper parka rated for -25°C or colder, insulated waterproof boots, waterproof mittens, a thick scarf, and wool socks.
Electronics and Adapters
Canada uses Type A and Type B plugs at 120V, 60Hz. Most chargers from home will not plug in directly, and some appliances will not run on Canadian voltage at all.
Leave behind hair dryers, irons, electric kettles, and rice cookers. They're inexpensive here, and voltage mismatches can damage them.
Medicine and Health Essentials
Canadian pharmacies are excellent, but many medications available over the counter at home require a prescription here, and seeing a doctor before your provincial health card is active can take time.
Pack a 30- to 90-day supply of any prescription medication with the original prescription and a doctor's letter on letterhead.
What NOT to Pack
Canadian Border Services is strict. Leave behind fresh food, meat, dairy, homemade meals, plants, seeds, soil, wooden items with bark, and bulk quantities of spices (small sealed packets for personal use are generally fine, but declare everything edible).
Pepper spray and self-defence weapons are prohibited. Skip heavy bedding, pillows, towels, and textbooks - all cheaper or free on campus.
Don't carry more than CAD $10,000 in cash without declaring it; CAD $200–$500 is enough to get you through your first few days until you open a local bank account.