Key takeaways
- Have your passport, your COPR or permit letter, and a list of goods you are bringing in your carry-on bag
- Use a kiosk or eGate first, then see a border officer; new PRs and permit holders then go to immigration
- Declare CAN$10,000 or more in cash and monetary instruments, and any food, plants or animal products
- UP Express to Union Station: $12.35, or $9.25 with a PRESTO card, about every 15 minutes
- The cheapest way downtown is TTC bus 900 to Kipling station for a regular $3.30 fare
- Book your first nights before you fly and have the address ready for the border officer
Before you board: what to keep in your carry-on
Keep these in your hand luggage, not in checked bags:
- Passport with your visa if you need one
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) for new permanent residents, or your port of entry letter of introduction for work and study permits
- Proof of funds, if your program asks for it (for example Express Entry). See Express Entry proof of funds.
- Two copies of your list of goods: what you bring now and what will follow later. This lets you bring personal and household items in duty-free as a new resident.
- Your Canadian address, even if it is a hotel or a friend’s home
- Some Canadian dollars or a card that works in Canada for your first days
Our before you land guide has the full list.
Step 1: The border (CBSA)
Toronto Pearson has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Both have Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Primary Inspection Kiosks. At the kiosk you scan your passport, have your photo taken, answer the customs questions and print a receipt. Some travellers are asked for fingerprints. You can save time by filling in the CBSA Advance Declaration before you land. Then you show your receipt to a border services officer.
You cannot use a kiosk if you are under 16 and travelling alone, a refugee claimant, or if your document is not machine-readable. Go straight to an officer.
What to declare:
- Cash and monetary instruments (such as bank drafts and cheques) worth CAN$10,000 or more in total. Carrying it is legal; not declaring it can mean seizure. See declaring money at the border.
- Food, plants, animals and related products, including spices and home-made food
- Medicines and health products, firearms and weapons
Goods that are not declared can be seized, and you may have to pay a penalty to get them back.
Step 2: Confirm your PR or get your permit
After the first officer, newcomers are sent to the immigration area. This can take from a few minutes to a few hours, so do not book a tight connection.
- New permanent residents: the officer checks your COPR and passport, asks a few questions, and confirms your permanent residence. Give a Canadian mailing address so your PR card can be mailed to you. If you do not have one yet, ask how to update it later.
- Work and study permit holders: the officer prints your permit from your letter of introduction. Check every detail before you leave the counter: your name, date of birth, employer or school, conditions and expiry date. Fixing an error later is much harder.
Present your list of goods to the CBSA officer if you are bringing settlers’ effects.
Step 3: Baggage and leaving the hall
Collect your bags in the baggage hall after the border. Luggage carts are available. If you were sent to a secondary inspection, an officer may check your bags. Keep your kiosk receipt until you exit. If a bag is missing, report it to your airline’s baggage desk before you leave the hall and get a reference number.
Step 4: Get online and get a phone number
Pearson offers free Wi-Fi in the terminals. The easiest plan is to buy an eSIM online before you fly, or keep your home SIM on roaming for a day. Phone shops at the airport and in the city sell prepaid SIM cards; prices at the airport can be higher. Prepaid plans need no credit check, so they are a good first step. Compare phone plans for newcomers before you sign a contract.
Step 5: From Pearson to the city
| Option | Where to | Cost (adult) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UP Express train | Union Station (downtown), with stops at Weston and Bloor | $12.35, or $9.25 with PRESTO | Fast and reliable, about every 15 minutes, about 25 to 30 minutes |
| TTC bus 900 Airport Express | Kipling subway station (Line 2) | $3.30 with PRESTO or a tapped credit or debit card | Cheapest; then take the subway anywhere in Toronto |
| Taxi or airport limousine | Your address | Set fare by destination; ask before you leave | Heavy bags, families, late at night |
| Ride-hailing app | Your address | Price shown in the app | Pickup at marked areas |
The UP Express station is at Terminal 1. From Terminal 3, take the free Terminal Link train to Terminal 1. On the TTC, you can tap a credit or debit card instead of buying a PRESTO card, and since September 1, 2026, your trips are free after 47 paid fares in a month. Read how the TTC fare cap works.
Going to Brampton or Mississauga? Ask your host or check the Brampton Transit, MiWay and GO Transit trip planners; Ontario’s One Fare program lets you transfer between many GTA systems on one fare.
Arriving with children or pets
Children travel on their own passports and need their own immigration documents. If a child travels with only one parent, or with someone who is not their parent, carry a signed consent letter from the other parent or parents; the CBSA may ask for it. Each family member who is landing as a permanent resident or getting a permit is processed by the immigration officer, so keep everyone together.
Pets must meet the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) import rules, such as proof of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats. Declare your pet at the kiosk and to the officer, and ask your airline where you collect it after landing.
Step 6: Your first night
Book your first 2 to 4 weeks of temporary housing before you fly, and have the address ready for the border officer. Airport hotels are useful after a late arrival. If friends or family are meeting you, agree on the terminal and the meeting point in the arrivals hall.
In your first days you can apply for your Social Insurance Number, your OHIP health card and a bank account. Follow the first 7 days planner, and look for a free settlement agency near you with the support finder.