Passport & Working Visa
To visit Canada, you must:
- Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
- be in good health
- satisfy an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin
- satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit and
- have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. For more information, ask the Canadian visa office in your country or region.
You may also need:
- a Temporary Resident Visa, depending on your citizenship (see Visas and Exemptions below)
- a medical examination and
- a letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
For more information please visit or contact the Canadian Embassy in Chile at www.cic.gc.ca
Money (Financial Information)
Currency: The official currency is the Canadian Dollar ($ or CAD), which exists in banknotes of $100; $50; $20, $10, $5 and coins of $2; $1; $0.25; $0.10; $0.05; and $0.01. For an accurate exchange rate please visit www.xe.com
Foreign Cash: Foreign cash is not generally in use, except for hotels. Most common currencies use: US Dollar, Pound.
Credit Cards: Credit cards are widely used and accepted. Most commonly accepted cards are Visa, Master Card and Diners Club. In medium to large businesses American Express is also honoured. Exchange rates for credit cards are pretty good.
Teller Machines: In commercial and banking areas, it is easy to find Automatic Teller Machines honouring cards from all local banks, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Exchange rates are very good.
Money Exchange: The government does not regulate the market of foreign currency in Canada. You can exchange money at any established Money Exchange stores.
Tipping
Standard is 10% in hotels, restaurants, bars, taxi service and hairdressers.
Local Time
- Canadian standard time corresponds to the time zone which extends from GMT-08:00 (British Columbia) to GTM -3:30 (New Foundland) (Greenwich Mean Time).
- The daylight saving time (DST) runs one hour forward on the first Sunday in April and turend back on the last Sunday of October.
Clothing
Always be prepared for every type of weather.
Local Holidays
- New Year (Jan 01)
- Chinese New Year (Feb 07)
- Valentine's Day (Feb 14)
- Family Day (Feb 18)
- Good Friday (Mar 21)
- Easter Monday (Mar 24)
- Mother's Day (May 11)
- Victoria Day (May 19)
- Father's Day (Jun 15)
- Canada Day (Jul 01)
- Civic (Aug 04)
- Labour Day (Sep 01)
- Grandparent's Day (Sep 07)
- Yom Kippur (Oct 09)
- Thanksgiving Day (Oct 13)
- Halloween (Oct 31)
- Remembrance Day (Nov 11)
- Christmas (Dec 25)
- Boxing Day (Dec 26)
Working Hours
Offices: Mon thru Fri 9:00 to 17:00
Banks: Mon thru Fri 9:00 to 17:00
Shopping Malls: Mon thru Sun 9:00 to 18:00
Stores & shops: Mon thru Sat 9:00 to 6:00
Breaks: Lunch time: 12:00 to 15:00
Official Denomination: Federal Government of Canada (Population: 33,443,781 (Stats Canada 2008)
- Capital: Ottawa (Population 774,072)
- Superficies: 9,9846,790 km2
- Administrative Structure:10 Provinces, 3 Territories: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, New Brinswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Foundland; Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut.
- Languages: English (Official) and French (Official).
- Monetary Unit: Canadian Dollar
- Electric Current: 110 Volts
Transportation
There are several different ways to travel around Canada. As for ground transportation you can choose from taking a taxi, the skytrain, Interurban, National and International buses, as well as railways. Or if you prefer to drive, you can also rent a car.
As for air transportation the National Airlines are West Jet & Air Canada. If you would like to travel to different international locations you have other airlines to choose from. Other means of air transportation are helicopters, hot air balloons, biplanes, gliders, etc. As for water transportation you can choose from ferries, cruise boats, or fishing boats.
