Canada Ski Season Checklist: What to Sort Before You Go

Planning a ski season in Canada is exciting — you're about to pack your bags, head across the world and spend a winter living in the mountains.

But before making the big move, there are a few things worth getting sorted.

From work permits and insurance to accommodation, money and setting yourself up once you arrive, having the basics organised early means less time stressing about admin and more time getting out there and enjoying the season.

Make sure you can legally work in Canada

Before booking flights or accepting a job, make sure you have the right to work in Canada.

For many international seasonal workers, the International Experience Canada (IEC) Working Holiday program is one of the most common options.

Eligibility, age limits and how long you can stay depend on your citizenship, so check the requirements for your country before making plans.

Don't leave this until the last minute. Work permit processing can take time and some IEC pools may have limited places available.

Once you're approved, keep copies of your important documents somewhere easy to access while travelling. You'll be using them a fair bit when you first arrive.

Have some money behind you

Even if you've already landed a job, don't arrive completely broke.

Your first pay could still be a few weeks away, and those first couple of weeks can get expensive quickly.

Think about:

• Accommodation and security deposits
• Groceries
• Transport
• Phone plan
• Winter clothing
• Ski or snowboard gear
• A few nights out with your new crew
• Emergency money just in case

If you're entering Canada through the IEC Working Holiday program, there are minimum financial requirements you'll need to meet when you arrive.

But think of that as the minimum, not necessarily the amount you should arrive with.

Having a decent buffer means you can actually enjoy those first few weeks instead of checking your bank account every time someone suggests après.

Get the right insurance

Travel and health insurance is something you don't want to leave until the last minute.

If you're entering Canada through IEC, your insurance generally needs to cover you for the full period you plan to stay.

Make sure your policy includes the required medical coverage and check exactly what is and isn't included before you leave home.

If you're planning on skiing or snowboarding, also check whether your policy covers the activities you'll actually be doing.

Keep digital and physical copies of your insurance documents somewhere easy to access while travelling.

Find accommodation early

Accommodation can be one of the hardest parts of doing a Canadian ski season.

Popular mountain towns can become extremely competitive as winter gets closer, so the earlier you start looking, the better.

Ask your employer whether staff accommodation is available, how much it costs and exactly what's included.

If you're finding your own place, check:

• Local Facebook groups
• Seasonal worker groups
• Resort community pages
• Accommodation websites
• Local rental listings
• Staff noticeboards and community groups

It's also worth asking other seasonal workers where they're staying. Word of mouth can be one of the best ways to find a room in a ski town.

And remember — location matters.

A cheaper room isn't always cheaper if you're spending money every day getting to and from work.

Being able to walk, catch a staff bus or jump on local transit can make your season a whole lot easier.

Check what your job includes

If you've already been offered a job, make sure you understand exactly what comes with it.

Ask about your pay rate, expected hours, shift patterns, overtime and when you'll be paid.

It's also worth checking whether your employer provides staff perks such as:

• Season pass
• Staff accommodation
• Discounted food
• Equipment rentals
• Ski or snowboard lessons
• Retail discounts
• Staff transport
• Resort discounts

These extras can make a huge difference to the overall value of a job.

And let's be honest — a free or heavily discounted season pass is a pretty nice perk when you've moved to Canada to spend a winter in the mountains.

Before you lock in a job for the season, make sure you're asking the right questions. Check out our guide here: https://www.mountainconnects.com/blog/questions-to-ask-before-accepting-ski-season-job

Get your SIN when you arrive

Once you're in Canada, one of the first things you'll want to organise is your Social Insurance Number, commonly called a SIN.

You'll need a SIN to work and get paid in Canada.

It's worth getting this sorted as soon as possible after arriving so you're ready to start work.

Keep your SIN somewhere secure once you receive it. You'll need the number for employment and tax purposes, but it's not something you want to be carrying around or sharing unnecessarily.

Set up a Canadian bank account

Next up — getting somewhere for those Canadian dollars to land.

Opening a Canadian bank account makes it much easier for your employer to pay you by direct deposit and gives you a local debit card for everyday spending.

Some of the major banks you'll see around Canada include:

• RBC
• TD
• Scotiabank
• CIBC
• BMO

Many of the big banks offer newcomer banking packages, so it's worth comparing what's available when you arrive.

If you're living in a smaller ski town, check which banks actually have branches or ATMs nearby before choosing one.

When you go to open an account, bring your:

• Passport
• Canadian work permit
• SIN if you've already received it
• Canadian address or accommodation details
• Second form of ID if you have one

Requirements can vary slightly between banks, so check beforehand if you're unsure.

Once your account is open, ask for your direct deposit details — chances are your employer will want them pretty quickly.

Get a Canadian phone number

Getting a Canadian phone number will make life much easier once you arrive.

You'll use it for employers, accommodation, banking, deliveries, meeting new people and figuring out who's heading up the mountain tomorrow morning.

Some of Canada's main phone providers include:

• Rogers
• Bell
• TELUS
• Freedom Mobile

There are also lower-cost providers such as:

• Fido
• Koodo
• Public Mobile
• Virgin Plus

Compare prices, data allowances and — most importantly for ski towns — coverage.

A cheap phone plan isn't much use if you've got no reception where you live or work.

Ask locals or coworkers which provider works best in your town before committing.

Pack for a Canadian winter

Canadian winters can be seriously cold, and what you'll need depends on where you're heading.

A season in coastal British Columbia can feel very different from one in Alberta, Quebec or Ontario.

Focus on the essentials first:

• Warm waterproof jacket
• Winter boots
• Gloves or mittens
• Beanie or toque
• Thermals
• Warm socks
• Everyday winter layers

And don't feel like you need to arrive with an entire snowboard shop in your suitcase.

Ski towns normally have plenty of second-hand gear floating around through Facebook Marketplace, local groups, staff sales and other seasonal workers.

Someone finishing their season is often looking to sell exactly what someone arriving needs.

Save the luggage space — you can always pick things up once you're there.

Work out how you'll get around

Transport is another thing worth checking before choosing where to live.

Some resorts offer staff buses, free local transit or shuttle services, while others are much easier if you have access to a car.

Before locking in accommodation, check:

• How far it is from work
• Whether there's staff transport
• Local bus routes
• How late buses run
• How you'll get groceries
• How you'll get home after a late shift
• Whether you'll realistically need a car

If you're working early mornings or late nights, this becomes especially important.

Nobody wants to finish a late shift and realise the last bus left an hour ago.

Arrive before your job starts

If possible, give yourself a few days between landing in Canada and starting your first shift.

You'll have enough to organise without trying to squeeze everything into your lunch break.

Use those first few days to:

• Settle into your accommodation
• Get your SIN
• Open a bank account
• Get a Canadian phone number
• Buy groceries
• Pick up anything you're missing
• Figure out transport
• Explore your new town

And importantly — give yourself some time to actually enjoy arriving.

Grab a coffee, walk around town, check out the mountain and realise that this is home for the next few months.

Final checklist before you go

Before heading to Canada, try to have the main things sorted:

• Work permit or visa
• Passport and important documents
• Travel and health insurance
• Enough savings for your first few weeks
• Accommodation or a clear accommodation plan
• Job offer or job search plan
• Flights and transport
• Warm winter clothing
• Copies of important documents
• A plan for getting your SIN
• A Canadian bank account once you arrive
• A Canadian phone number
• A rough idea of how you'll get around your ski town

You don't need to have every little detail figured out before you leave.

That's part of the adventure.

Get the important stuff organised, leave yourself a bit of breathing room when you arrive and be ready to adapt.

You're moving to Canada for a ski season — meet people, explore somewhere new, get as many days on the mountain as you can and make the most of it.

The season will go quicker than you think.