Shopping Checklist - What to bring before coming to Canada?

When you are going to a new country for the first time, you will have lots of questions like what to bring and what not? When it comes to Canada, we can assure you that you will find everything here may it be food, groceries or anything else. You might miss your home-food and the spices but keeping that aside, you won't have anything else to worry about. 

Most of the students bring a lot of stuff with them when they initially come here. I personally bought three bags one with clothing, one with food items and one with utensils. This article will help you not to waste your extra luggage space with unnecessary items. 

Our list is divided into three categories: 

1. Food

2. Clothing

3. Groceries/Documents

No doubt, your airline will allow you three different luggage and one cabin bag to take with you if you are coming on a study permit.

Food

You can save a lot of space in your luggage by bringing as less food as possible. I advice to just bring just some snacks to eat in flight or during your layover, some small packets of rice, spices, pulses & grains and you should be fine. Do not bring too much as you can buy everything from here. Just keep in mind this should be enough for you for the first 3-4 weeks. Most of the time, the people with whom you are going to stay will have all these food items. So, you are probably not even going to use yours. You can bring more spices as the spices here lacks the spicy taste. 

You will Haldiram snacks here. But, bring as much snack as possible as you probably won't go back for the next 1.5-2 years. Snacks will help you when you will struggle to adjust to the new food items and dishes of Canada. Please do not bring sugar or salt as white powder can be seen as you smuggling something and they might ask you to throw it out. Either way, sugar and salt here are really cheap and you get a packet for around $3. 

Utensils and Spices: Bring spices in small packets of 250-500g. That should be enough. Please keep in mind you will find everything from here. Just bring it so that if you ever miss Indian spices. :)

1. Chilli powder - 1 packet

2. Turmeric powder - 1 packet

3. Coriander-Cummin powder - 1 packet

4. Garam Masala - 1 packet

5. Bay leaves - 1 packet

6. Cinnamon stick - 1 packet

7. Cummin seeds - 1 packet

8. Mustard seeds - 1 packet

9. Other spices depending on your region

10. A small cooker - 1

11. A small kadhai - 1

12. Plates - 3 (either plastic or stainless steel)

13. Bowls - 3 

14. Glass - 2

Note: Knives, Peelers, etc are not really needed. There place where you are staying will have all these things. 

15. Waterbottle - 1

Clothing

In most of the developed countries like USA, Canada, etc, people never wash clothes daily instead weekly or bi-weekly. So, try to bring some extra clothes to use while you are at home. Here's a list of most basic clothing you will need: 

1. Formal Pants and Shirts - 2

2. Tracks - 2

3. T-shirts to wear inside the house - around 6

4. Jeans - at least 3

5. Formal shoes - 1 pair

6. Slippers - 1 pair

7. Casual/Sport/Outdoor Shoes - 1 pair (you can do your journey wearing that so it won't take extra space in your luggage)

8. Socks - at least 10 pairs (you won't wash them daily. So, bring a lot of extra pairs)

9. Underwears - at least 7 pairs (bring extra so that you don't have to buy it from here later)

10. Towels - one pair is enough. You can get another from here at very cheap rate. 

11. Napkins - 2 pairs. 

12. Comforter - bring one. Especially if you are coming in winter. Of course, you can get one from here. But initially, when you don't have time and your friends are also busy for a couple of days, this will help you. 

13. Sweater/Sweatshirt/Hoodie - 1-2 pair. 

14. Casual shirts/T-shirts/Outdoor clothing - 4-5

15. Tie - 1-2

16. Belt - one is enough. But bring one extra. Who knows, it breaks on the very first day you come here. 

17. Handkerchief - 3-4 pairs. People don't use handkerchief here that often and you will also get used to it. But bring some for initial days. 

18. Glasses / Lens / Sunglasses - 2 pairs 

Toiletries: 

1. Shampoo - 1

2. Soap / Liquid Soap (Recommended) - 2 soaps or 1 bottle

3. Razor/Trimmer - 1

4. Tampons / Sanitary Pads - 1 packet is enough

5. Combs - 2

6. Deodorant - 1

7. Lip balm - 1

8. Toothbrush & Toothpaste - one each is enough. 

9. Nail-cutter - 1

Documents: 

1. Passport (Most important)

2. Driving license

3. Driving license certificate

4. IELTS Test results 

5. College/University Offer letter

6. GIC Certificate

7. Fees receipts - fees you have paid in college or university

8. Undergrad transcripts - 2-3. You might need it when you are applying for certain things like WES. Better to keep some with yourself. 

9. Medicate Certificate

10. Birth certificate (you might need this while applying for PR)

Note: It is highly recommended to convert all your documents into English if they are not before coming here. You will need English documents for almost all the processes here. 

11. Plane tickets / Boarding pass

12. Your college marksheets - optional. You can keep it at home or bring it with yourself just in case. 

13. Travel card with CAD loaded. Around $200 - $300 is enough. 

14. Cash - around $200 - $300 is enough. 

It is advisable to keep the documents in your cabin bag. I put xerox copies of each document in each of my bags just to be safe from any unwanted situation.

Hope you find this article helpful. Make sure to check out my YouTube channel to get more information on life in Canada. Feel free to ping me on instragram, facebook and I will try my best to reply you. Good luck with everything. :)