New to Canada

Moving to Canada is exciting and overwhelming. As a newcomer, you probably have a lot of questions about transferring your work skills, setting up your finances, and what your new community will look like.

We’re here to help you to be financially ready for the future.

Book an appointment with an advisor and get your money questions answered.

Welcome to Canada. Get your financial future off to a great start.

Check out our Canada Startright page for helpful resources.

Learn more

Top money tips

Cross banking off your to-do list. We have helpful resources for newcomers to Canada on banking, credit, and more.

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Advice from a financial advisor and new Canadian citizen
Learn first-hand advice from a new Canadian and Scotiabank advisor on how to start on the best financial path in your new country.

Did you know…

Over 48% of Canadians have never checked their credit score. Checking it is easier than you think.*

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New to Canada? Here’s how to file your first tax return

Handle taxes like a pro with this step-by-step guide to where you should file, what you can claim and how to make the most of your money.
Quiz
What are the benefits of opening a Canadian bank account before moving to Canada?
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Tax survival 101: your guide to filing in 2025

From deadlines to deductions, use these tips to breeze through tax season, avoid mistakes and save money.
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How to build your credit history and increase your credit limit in Canada

Moving to a new country shouldn’t mean starting everything from scratch. Put your foreign credit history to work with Scotiabank and Nova Credit.
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The newcomer’s guide to credit card rewards

Build your credit history and earn perks with strategic credit card spending.
Quiz
What’s considered an excellent credit score in Canada?
Please select one of the following answers:
Read Article

How to send an international money transfer

Find out everything you need to know about remittances, fees and how long it takes for the money to arrive abroad.

Did you know…

More than 80% of surveyed Canadians aged 18 to 28 said they're worried they won't be able to purchase a home.**

Learn the steps to owning a home as a newcomer to Canada opens in a new tab Created with Sketch.
See all New to Canada articlesSee all new to Canada articles

Frequently asked questions

Visit startright.scotiabank.com to check if you’re eligible to open an account online before you arrive.

A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is an investment product that keeps your principal investment safe and has a guaranteed rate of return.

Visit the GICs page on our website to learn more.

Visit startright.scotiabank.com to check if you’re eligible to open an account online before you arrive.

In most cases, bill payments are processed within 3 business days. Bill payments are processed Monday to Friday before 8:30 pm ET (excluding holidays).

Your credit utilization (the amount of credit you use compared to your available credit limit) has a significant effect on your credit score. High levels of debt may signal to potential lenders that you are spending more than you can afford.

In general, it’s a good idea to keep your credit card balance at no more than 35% of your credit limit. For example, if you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit, try to keep the outstanding balance below $350.

To keep your credit utilization low, you have several options:

  • Apply for a credit limit increase
  • Set up automatic payments to your Scotiabank credit card with AutoPay
  • Set up recurring bill payments to your credit card
  • Set up recurring transfers to your credit card

Scotia advisors are available in every branch to help you understand, plan, and execute the right financial plan. If you’d like to speak to a Scotia advisor about managing debt, give us a call at 1-866-698-5927.

Start banking in Canada

Scotiabank is Canada’s international bank with close to 24 million customers and over 2,700 branches around the world. Learn the basics of banking so you can call Canada “home” sooner.

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