Opening your first Canadian bank account is one of the most important steps in your settlement journey. With the right information, you can set up safe, low‑fee banking, start building credit, and manage your money confidently from your first weeks in Canada.

You did it. The approval is real. The letter, the portal, the confirmation — all real. Now comes the part nobody really prepares you for: the in‑between. You're approved, but you haven't left yet. And what you do in this window — the weeks or months before you board that plane — can make the difference between a smooth landing and a stressful scramble.