A new PR who landed in Montreal (first port of entry) en route to Toronto shared the full landing experience, plus follow-up steps from members.
Historical note: the ArriveCAN receipt requirement described here was a COVID-era measure and no longer applies.- Immigration happens at your first port of entry. Even with an onward connection, PR landing formalities were completed in Montreal. Airport staff direct new arrivals; at the time, an ArriveCAN receipt had to be shown before the kiosks (historical).
- Use the declaration kiosks carefully. If you have goods to follow, make sure to select that option at the kiosk so your list is on record for duty-free import later.
- Luggage is usually checked through. On a single ticket the bags were collected at the final destination (Toronto), not the landing airport — confirm with the airline at check-in.
- Money: the member carried 3,000 CAD in cash and transferred the rest later via online banking after opening a Canadian account — check with your home bank about foreign remittance first.
- After landing, update your address online or by phone so the PR card is mailed correctly.
- When linking your PR card application to your IRCC online account, type your place of birth exactly as printed in your passport — members flagged this as the detail that breaks the linking process.