Travel Guide: Philippines to Canada for First-time Immigrants 2022 

The date of your flight to Canada is one of the most important days in your life. On this day, you must get everything right. You must overprepare, if necessary, to ensure that you get to your destination.

This day can be extremely stressful if you do not know what to expect. In this article, we will talk about how you can make sure that you don’t miss anything on this important day.

It all starts with the flight that you pick.

Tips for Booking a Cheap and Comfortable Flight to Canada

The entire trip to Canada will be much easier if you pick the right flight for your needs. To ensure that you pick the best flight for this life-changing move, make sure to follow the tips below when booking your flight:

If you have already picked a flight, you can skip to the next section. Click here.

1. Make a List of What you will Bring to Canada

When booking a flight, you will need to consider the amount of luggage you will be carrying with you on the plane. Plan what you will bring in your carry-on luggage ahead of time. If you have a child, you will need a stroller. To ensure that you get enough rest time, you may want to put a lot of time between flights during layovers.

On the other hand, if you are carrying a lot of luggage, you may want to avoid booking connecting flights manually because this means that you will be the one transferring your bags between flights. You may also want to avoid connecting flights altogether if you are flying with children to lessen the stress.

2. Fly with the Best Airline Company You Can Afford

The trip to Canada from the Philippines usually takes between 17-24 hours. Pick an airline company with a reputation for giving excellent service.

Before booking, check reviews and complaints about the airline. Personally, I like Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines. Pick the most comfortable airline you can afford with your budget. If you have to take a connecting flight, pick a transit airport that’s fun to stay at.

3. Book well ahead of your travel date

Generally, you will be able to get better deals if you book your flight well ahead of the travel date. You will have more time to pick cheaper flights from the airline companies that usually charge so much more. 
 
Booking far in advance will also give you time to alter your flight details in case of changes in the COVID-19 policies in the airports you will visit. It will also give you time to add more weight allowance to your flight if you plan to bring more of your belongings to Canada.

 

4. Don’t bring unnecessary things, you can buy most things in Canada

It’s a common mistake among first-time travelers to spend a lot of money on additional weight allowance for their luggage. Many Filipinos bring a lot of unnecessary things with them. Your clothes, for example, will only be good during the spring and summer in Canada. You will have to buy a new set for the colder seasons. 
 
If you have a baby or a toddler, you are also aren’t allowed to bring dairy products. I’ve personally seen air travelers who had kilos of powdered baby formula confiscated by the customs officers.  

 

5. Compare prices between third-party travel websites and airline company websites

Lastly, you want to search far and wide for the best trips available on your travel dates. Go to third-party websites first, like Expedia. From there, you will be able to find the available airline companies offering flights from the Philippines to Canada. 
 
Next, go to the websites of the airline companies and compare the prices. Sometimes, third-party websites offer better deals. If you book ahead, you can get flights below CAD$700 (P30,000). Any amount below P40,000, however, is great. 

Before the Flight

  • Organize your Documents
Before the flight, you want to make sure that everything is ready. You will need to take your documents out multiple times during your journey. It may be best to keep them organized in one expandable folder. Make sure that they are easy to find. Labeling their containers will make it easier for you to find specific documents. 
 
It also helps if you have a checklist of all the requirements ahead of time. Check that you have all the documents before putting the organizer into your bag. Put the organizer in your carry-on. 
 
  • Create your ArriveCan Profile
As of August 4, 2022, you will still need an ArriveCan profile to enter Canada. Download the latest version of ArriveCan, and answer the questions about your vaccination status. Finish the profile creation until you get to the end. Save an image of the ArriveCan QR Code on your phone. 
 
If you are traveling with your family, you can add your family members to the same profile as additional travelers. 
 
You can also add your Advance CBSA declaration into ArriveCan. This will make your customs processing faster in your port of entry. For now, this option is only available if your first point of arrival in Canada is in Vancouver, Toronto Pearson, and Montreal Trudeau International Airports.  
 
In ArriveCan, you will be asked about the amount of cash you will bring to Canada. Declare cash and cash instruments equivalent to CAD$ 10,000 or more in ArriveCan, in customs form given in the airline, and to any CBSA Border Security agent who asks you about it. Undeclared cash more than $10,000 will be confiscated. You may also need to pay a fine. 
 

During the Day of the Flight

 

  • Go to the Airport at least 3 hours before the flight

The traffic around the NAIA is horrible on certain days. Make sure you consider this when planning your trip to the airport. 
 
While you may not need four hours to prepare for the flight, sometimes the lines in the terminal are long. You will need to go through the luggage Check-in Counter and the immigration booth. 
 

  • Find your Airline’s Check-in Counter

The Airport Personnel will only let you into the terminal two to three hours before your flight. In the terminal, find the counters for your airline company. The counter will be open around 2 hours before your flight. 
 
At the check-in counter, the airline personnel will give you a declaration card that you need to fill out. They will ask for your passport, and Certificate of Permanent Residence. They may also ask you if you have created your ArriveCan profile. Next, you will need to weigh your luggage. 
 
If everything is in order, the airline personnel will check your luggage in and give you your boarding pass. If you have connecting flights, they should also give you all your boarding passes at this point.