Status: For Tourists & Parents (No Work Rights)
The Golden Rule: You are a guest. You cannot work, but you must live like a local to save money.
💵 A. Money & Paying for Things
Canada is a "Tap" society. Cash is becoming rare.
- Tap & Pay:
- Almost every shop (even small coffee stalls) accepts cards.
- TVT Advice: Use your Forex Card for big purchases (shopping/hotels) to save on conversion fees. Use Cash for very small items ($2-$5) or tips.
- The "Tax Surprise":
- The price on the tag is NOT the final price.
- When you buy a shirt for $20, the cashier will ask for ~$22.60. (Sales tax is added at the counter, usually 13-15%). Do not argue with the cashier!
- No Tax Refunds:
- Unlike Dubai or Europe, Canada does NOT refund VAT/GST to tourists at the airport. What you pay is gone.\
🚌 B. Getting Around (Public Transport)
Taxis are extremely expensive ($60+ for a medium ride). Use the bus/train.
- No Cash on Buses:
- You generally cannot pay cash on the bus.
- The "Card" You Need:
- Toronto (GTA): Buy a PRESTO Card ($6) at Shoppers Drug Mart or Subway stations. Load $20-$50 on it.
- Vancouver: Buy a Compass Card.
- Montreal: Buy an OPUS Card.
- Tip: You can use one card for multiple people only if you pay cash fares (complicated). Better: Buy one card per person.
- The "2-Hour" Rule:
- One tap gives you unlimited travel for 2 hours. You can switch from Bus ➝ Train ➝ Bus without paying extra.
🚗 C. Driving on an Indian License
Can you drive your son's car?
- The Rule: Yes. As a visitor, you can drive legally on a valid Indian Driver's License.
- Duration:
- Ontario: Up to 60 days from arrival.
- BC: Up to 90 days.
- Condition: The license must be in English. If it is in Gujarati/Hindi, you need an IDP (International Driving Permit) before you leave India.
- Insurance Warning: Before you drive your relative's car, they MUST call their insurance company to add you as a "Occasional Driver." If you crash without this, they will be bankrupt.
🏥 D. Health & Doctors (The "Cash Patient")
You do not have free healthcare.
- If you get sick: Do NOT go to the "Emergency Room" (ER) for a fever or flu. You will wait 8 hours and pay $1,000 just to register.
- Where to go: Go to a "Walk-In Clinic."
- The Cost: You will have to pay cash upfront (usually $60 - $100 for a consultation).
- The Insurance Claim: Keep the receipt and the doctor's report. You will claim this back from your Travel Insurance provider later.
🛍️ E. Daily Life & Culture Shocks
- Milk in Bags: In Ontario/Quebec, milk comes in plastic bags (3 bags in a larger sack). You need a plastic jug/pitcher to hold them. Don't be confused!
- Shopping Bags: Stores do not give free plastic bags. Carry your own cloth bag, or pay $0.10 - $0.25 per bag.
- Tipping (Mandatory):
- If you eat at a restaurant with table service, you MUST tip 15% to 18%.
- If you don't tip, the waiter will likely stop you and ask if the service was bad.
- Exemption: You do not need to tip at McDonald's, Tim Hortons, or takeout counters.