Opening a bank account in Canada

[arron]

My wife had no problems opening a CIBC chequing account with her british passport and copy of our rental agreement, we ended up closing it though and I added her to my PC Financial account making it a joint account.

 

[Irish Colleen]

This is all good news

Thanks very much

 

[QCSunshine]

I had an easy time opening a checking account with RBC. Have not attempted to get a credit card yet, but I need to try to figure that one out...

 

[HoneyBird]

What about experiences with TD Bank?

 

[eyeoftheocean]

I am in TD and they asked for passport & work permit my Husband and I share the same account .

BMO wanted a letter from CIC stating my AIP before they would give me one, although TD are open later than BMO and TD offer a new plan on savings ;D so I chose to switch banks.

 

[Jurjen]

At Desjardin I showed my dutch passport and driver's license. No problems, no SIN card needed. The SIN card is not even an official ID.

The only thing is that they refuse to give me a Visa credit card, until I have my Québec Selection Certificate or Permanent Residency. No problem: still got my european MasterCard and I can (limitedly) use my Desjardin debit card.

The only thing is that banking in Canada is pretty expensive and their online banking site is anything but easy to find your way in. On the other hand: my bank is a co-op, so my money doesn't go to my director's seventh Bentley/Porsche/Lexus/other overpriced car.

 

[Jen85]

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to open a Canadian bank account from the UK? Do you have to be there in person to open the account? We can scan and send whatever documents they need. We just need a way to send money to Canada to buy a house etc. It would be nice if I didn't have to make a special trip to Canada just to open a bank account.

 

[arron]

I don't really think it is possible to open a normal chequing account, although it might be possible with some international banks (HSBC, can't think of any others atm). Your bank in the UK will have better advice on the best way to transfer money between countries, and what procedures you need to follow. I'm pretty sure that any large money transfers have to be reported to tax authorities.

 

[pegasusyt]

I opened a joint account with my fiance with RBC while on a visitor visa. So it's possible!

 

[angelbrat]

I applied to open a joint account with my partner on a tourist visa. They asked for 2 pieces of photo ID, I only had one my passport so they excepted my birth certificate. The account was opened immediately, with a debit card and cheques arrived in both names in 2 weeks.
This was with BMO.

Perhaps it was because it was a joint account, the bank did not hesitate.

 

[steaky]

You can open a Canadian HSBC account even in the local HSBC branch in UK. The money transfer between your HSBC accounts in UK and Canada is reported by the bank and you don't have to report again to the canada revenue agency. If you have Premier account, you can transfer the money instantly and free.

 

[spacey]

For my husband I had to be really aggressive with RBC. In the end I had to use my id and sponsor him with the bank. They are afraid of money laundering is what they told me.

 

[ditta]

I could not open an account until I got my work permit, all the banks I was in- BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank required two pieces of photo ID- one Canadian and I could not present it. I would sum up reading everyone`s experiences that it really depends on the branch whether they accept a foreign driver`s licence ect. or not. For example BMO did not except mine from home...By now I have an account with BMO and CIBC both are joint with my husband and I`m pleased with their services.

 

[shiftpro]

Last week I opened a new bank account with visitor visa. For chequing account you only need 2 IDs. No Social Insurance Number.

You can open a non-interest bearing account without the SIN number. This is preferred as they don't pay any worthwhile interest
anyway and without the SIN number the government will not be able to pry into your account. It's the best IMO and the only
type of accounts I use.

 

[Latvian]

Hi Jen 85!

My friends moved to Toronto few months ago from Latvia and they opened Canadian bank acct with BMO being in Latvia. They have some info available on their website, and HSBC does it, too.

Good luck!