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Application for a Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) url: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/prcard.asp

Applying for a permanent resident card (PR Card) — Initial application, replacement or renewal (IMM 5445) / Photo Specifications Permanent Resident Card photos are not the same as passport photos.

Photo Specifications url: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5445EB.asp

url: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sin/apply/how.shtml

The Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18.

url : http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/cctb/menu-eng.html

url : http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/subjects/cards/drivers_licence.shtml

A valid driver’s license is required to drive in every province and territory.Visit your provincial or territorial Web site (see link below) for more information:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfound Land And Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

OHIP - Ontario Health Insurance Plan will only cover new immigrants once they prove that you have been a resident on a continuous basis in Ontario for 3 months.You have to go in person to get your picture taken & file your application for your health card after completing 3 months of stay - in order to get free health coverage.These rules are different in other Provinces.While the Canadian government provides medical care for its citizens, coverage for all health care needs is not available.Each provincial government offers individuals various coverage basics. Medical expenses that are not covered by the provincial plan must either be paid in full by the individual or can be partially paid by a supplemental health insurance plan.All provinces in Canada offer limited coverage to its citizens. This is the main reason why supplemental health insurance is necessary to coverall the health care needs that provincial plans do not.The extent of these services varies from province to province.To discover the details of a provincial government’s coverage plan, click on the name of your province:

• Alberta’s Health and Wellness: http://www.health.alberta.ca/
• BC Health Care: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/bchealthcare/
• Manitoba Health Services Plan: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/
• New Brunswick Health: http://www.gnb.ca/0051/index-e.asp
• Newfoundland Medical Care Plan: http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/mcp/index.html
• Northwest Territories Health Care Plan: http://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/health/nwt-health-care-plan
• Nova Scotia Department of Health: http://www.gov.ns.ca/DHW/
• Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services: http://www.hss.gov.nu.ca/en/ Home.aspx
• Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
• PEI Health and Social Services: http://www.gov.pe.ca/health/index.php3
• Quebec Health Insurance Plan: http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/index_en.shtml
• Saskatchewan health and wellness: http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/health-care-action-plan
• Yukon Department of Health and Social Services: http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/

India & Canada have AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION Agreement(AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL). You can read the bilateral agreement at url : http://tinyurl.com/2cfmn8a There are several questions / situations here, and each one of them is considered differently and tax implications is different in each situation. If you have an Indian Passport or Canadian Passport - If you still have the Indian Passport - therefore there you have no restrictions on buying or selling property in India.

Many NRIs now foreign citizens owned property before they became NRIs. Some of these NRIs wish to dispose off their property and bring the money with them abroad. NRIs in this situation sometimes sell off their properties at throwaway prices just so that they can get paid abroad thinking that they cannot legally transfer money outside India. This is not true.

If you are an NRI who is selling property you own in India then do things legally and accept money through valid banking channels. The sale proceeds should be deposited in an NRO account that you can open at most banks in India. This is the first step to taking your money out of India, legally!

• NRIs can transfer sale proceeds from property abroad from their NRO accounts provided they held the property for at least ten years.
• If the property was held for less than ten years then NRIs can deposit the sale proceeds of the property into an NRO account for the balance of the ten year period. For example you sold a property you held for seven years, then you would have to deposit the sale proceeds to an NRO account for at least three years to complete the ten year requirement and then transfer the money abroad.
• NRIs can repatriate up to one million US$ per financial year (April to March in India) from NRO accounts provided they meet the ten year rule in case of funds acquired from property sale.
• Sale proceeds of up to two residential properties can be repatriated.
• If the property sold was bought with funds from abroad is sold then the original amount sent from abroad can be repatriated and the ten year ownership rule does not apply.

NRIs or PIOs who inherit property from a person resident in India and sell it, can transfer the sale proceeds abroad. Up to one million US Dollars per calendar year subject to production of documentary evidence to support their inheritance of the property and the necessary tax clearance certificates from the appropriate income tax authority.

• Foreigners cannot buy agricultural land in India. This is applicable to all of India. No state in India allows foreigners to buy agricultural land.
• NRI’s cannot buy agricultural land in India. Yes! all over India as above. Approval is required from the Reserve bank of India which one can assume is not easily available and this would depend on individual circumstances.Furthermore, some State governments in India have rules that allow only farmers to buy agricultural land in their State and this restricts even Indian citizens from buying agricultural land.
• OCI holders residing in India by virtue of their OCI status are still foreign citizens and should realize that OCI grants them visa for life to stay in India but does not give them Indian citizenship. They still hold foreign passports.
• NRIs and Foreign citizens of Indian origin cannot acquire agricultural land byway of gift. They can only acquire agricultural land by inheritance.

NRIs with foreign passports can now acquire housing properties with their earnings abroad. NRIs today can acquire, hold, sell or gift properties. Renting of their properties is also permitted.

Gifting of properties is freely permitted and NRIs may sell up to two residential properties and remit the proceeds of the sale abroad (subject to certain conditions) provided the purchase of these properties were made from foreign exchange.

• NRIs can acquire any immovable property in India except agricultural land,plantations or farm houses.
• Payment must be made from funds remitted from abroad by proper banking channels or from legally held NRI accounts in India to which money has been deposit from foreign earnings.
• NRIs may sell any immovable property they own in India.
• NRIs may sell any immovable property they own in India.
• NRIs who already own agricultural land, plantation or farm house may dispose these by way of gift or sale to a resident person who is a citizen of India.
• Rental income can be remitted outside India after any applicable taxes have been paid.

Repatriation of the sale proceeds is allowed if:

• The property is sold at least three years after acquisition.
• The property was acquired in accordance with the provisions of foreign exchange laws in force when the property was purchased.
• The amount that can be repatriated will be up to the amount submitted in foreign exchange through normal banking channels when the property was purchased.
• In case the properties that are sold are residential properties. Then repatriation is allowed only twice.
• In case a property was received by way of inheritance then permission of the reserve bank may be required.
• In case a property was paid for in Rupees then ownership must have been for at least ten years.

NRIs who have acquired foreign citizenship's are sometimes mislead into believing that they cannot continue to hold agricultural land because foreigners cannot own agricultural land in India. This is not true.

While foreigners cannot purchase agricultural land, they can continue to hold agricultural land or any other property they own in India provided they had acquired them legally before accepting foreign citizenship.

Check with the authorities before being conned out of your land. Money that is legally yours can now be transferred legally abroad. Don't fall victim to illegal money transfer schemes.