7 apps to prepare for your move to Canada

Planning your move to a new country is no small task.

But digital tools can help.

The CIC news team has compiled a list of 7 mobile apps that newcomers can download to help prepare for their move to Canada.

Accommodation and housing
Padmapper, Rentals.ca, Rentseeker.ca, or Zumper:  Newcomers can use these digital tools to search for rental housing. These platforms allow users to filter searches based on parameters such as location, cost, number of bedrooms, and other amenities. If newcomers want to tour apartments in person, they might consider initially booking a short-term rental on platforms such as AirBnB or VRBO, and then searching for a long-term rental after arriving.

Realtor.ca, Zillow, or HouseSigma: These platforms are predominantly focused on buying and selling real estate, but offer a good deal of rental housing as well. Newcomers can use these to search for listings if they are looking to purchase a home, or can use them as additional platforms in their search for property to rent. If you are coming to Canada as a temporary resident, you must meet certain conditions to purchase residential property.

Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace: Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are among the most popular online classifieds in Canada. Users can search these platforms both for accommodations and for household furnishings. Newcomers can use classifieds to obtain items at a fraction of the cost of new merchandise—or even for free. Users can filter searches by parameters such as price and distance. Purchasing items from classifieds is one of only a few situations in which it is generally considered socially acceptable to haggle in Canada.