About CanadaStarter

CanadaStarter is an independent Canadian comparison and practical-guides site built around a simple problem: moving to Canada or setting up a new financial life here creates a concentrated series of expensive decisions. Bank accounts, credit cards, mobile service, insurance, rent, international transfers, tax filing and travel products all have fees, eligibility rules and promotional terms that can be difficult to compare quickly.

Who the site is for

Our primary audience is newcomers to Canada, recent arrivals, international residents and Canadians who want a clearer way to compare everyday financial and setup choices. Many guides are useful beyond the newcomer period because the same recurring costs—banking fees, mobile plans, insurance premiums and transfer spreads—continue after the first year.

What we cover

CanadaStarter publishes research on banking and credit, international money transfers, tenant and visitor insurance, phones and internet, travel and eSIMs, Canadian taxes, housing setup, employment and small-business basics. We focus on questions where a reader can take a concrete next step after understanding the tradeoffs.

How we research

For fees, product terms, coverage, eligibility and government rules, we prefer primary sources such as provider disclosures, federal and provincial government pages, regulators and official help centres. Researched comparison pages show when the information was checked and link readers to the underlying sources so important details can be verified before applying or purchasing.

How we make money

Some providers may compensate CanadaStarter when a reader uses an affiliate link and completes a qualifying action. Affiliate relationships can affect which products we are able to monetize, but they do not determine our comparison criteria or justify a factual claim. See our affiliate disclosure and editorial policy for more detail.

What we do not do

CanadaStarter is not a bank, insurer, investment dealer, immigration consultant, law firm, accounting firm or tax practice. The site provides general information and comparison research, not individualized financial, tax, legal, immigration, employment or insurance advice.

Corrections and updates

Products and rules change. We prioritize updates to high-intent pages where stale information could materially change a decision. If you find a factual error or a provider has changed a fee, eligibility rule or policy term, use our contact page and include the affected URL and a current primary source when possible.