Health Guidelines For Canada

expat network

Health Guidelines For Canada

Medical and dental care facilities in Canada are of the highest standards, and hospitals and laboratories are well equipped. Fees are comparable to those in countries like the US and will be charged at time of service, if no health insurance has been provided.

There are no specific vaccines required for entry into Canada, but all your routine vaccinations should be up to date. These include varicella, polio, MMR (measles/mumps/rubella), DPT (diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus), and influenza vaccine.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for those who will have contact with the local population, and a rabies vaccination is recommended for people who may come into contact with animals.

There is a national health plan, administered by the provinces, but non-residents are not covered. Those who plan to establish residency should register with the health plan of their province to receive a personal health card, which is presented for emergency treatment and to register with a doctor throughout Canada.

Hospitals and clinics provide excellent care and are available throughout Canada. They are well established and their credentials are widely available. Information about these facilities is available from doctors and hospitals in the UK, the US, and other countries. The largest and best-known hospitals are in the major cities.

Emergency medical personnel are well trained. Dial 911 to call the police or to summon an ambulance. In more rural areas, it may be necessary to instead dial ‘0’ for the operator, who will then connect you with the proper authorities.

Information courtesy of Living Abroad, www.livingabroad.com

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.