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Canada · Official Resources

Government portals

Banks

  • Royal Bank of Canada — Canada's largest bank, top-20 globally by assets; newcomer and international student banking services available
  • TD Bank — One of Canada's Big Five — extensive US branch network; convenient Canada-US account linking; known for extended hours

Embassies in Canada

Official forms

  • Canada eTA Application — Electronic authorization for visa-exempt travelers
    Checked against the official page on 2026-08-09
    How to file
    1. Check that you need one — visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or through Canada; lawful permanent residents of the United States have been exempt since 26 April 2022
    2. Have ready a valid passport from a visa-exempt country, a valid email address and a card to pay with (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, a prepaid card of those brands, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay or JCB)
    3. Read the help document first — the online form cannot be saved, so have your information to hand
    4. Apply on the Government of Canada site; this is the only official one and it costs CAN$7
    5. Pay the CAN$7 fee, which is non-refundable, immediately after completing the form
    6. Watch your email — most applications are approved within minutes
    7. If documents are needed before approval, instructions are emailed to you within 72 hours
  • Canada T1 Income Tax Return — Annual income tax return for Canadian residents
    Checked against the official page on 2026-08-09
    How to file
    1. Work out whether you have to file — filing every year is also what keeps benefit and credit payments coming
    2. Note the dates for the 2025 return: online filing opens 23 February 2026, the filing deadline is 30 April 2026, and 15 June 2026 if you or your spouse or common-law partner were self-employed in 2025
    3. Payment is due 30 April 2026 whichever filing deadline applies to you
    4. Gather your slips — T4, T4A and the rest — and your receipts for deductions and credits
    5. Tell the CRA about any change of address, phone number, name or marital status, and check your direct-deposit details
    6. Choose how to file: tax software, SimpleFile, or a paper return; or have a professional preparer or a free tax-clinic volunteer file for you
    7. Filing electronically may ask for your NETFILE access code — the 8-character code on your most recent Notice of Assessment, which you can find by signing in to your CRA account under Tax returns
    8. The access code is optional; without it the CRA cannot use last year's return to confirm your identity and will authenticate you another way. First-time filers do not have one