Quick Facts

Citizens of all countries except the following require a visa to visit Canada: 

• Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas
• Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, British citizens (at home and abroad), Brunei
• Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia
• Finland, France
• Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR
• Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy
• Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg
• Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway
• Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea
• St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland
• United States, Western Samoa

View visa requirements from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website

Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.

CAD 1.00 equals:

Exchange Rates	Currency
5.97	Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
5.24	Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
1.05	Singapore Dollar (SGD)
0.76	US Dollar (USD)

 A 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is applicable on goods and services. This is a combination of the 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the 5% federal Goods and Services Tax (GST).

HST exemptions:
 

• Prepared food and beverages less than CAD 4
• Newspapers
• Basic groceries
• Municipal transit
• Prescription drugs
• Books
• Diapers
• Children's clothing and footwear, children's car seats and booster seats
• Feminine hygiene products
• Most health, medical and dental services
• Legal aid services
• Resale housing
• Most financial services

 

Tipping is common practice in North America.

The tip should be proportionate with the quality of service received at any restaurant or hotel. Visitors are advised that the standard tip in most restaurants is 15%.

Some properties and resort hotels include tips or gratuities with tour groups to simplify bookkeeping (check with your tour guide). This will usually include gratuities for housekeeping, bell service and food service. If meals are included in the price, the customary gratuity will be calculated at 15%.

Bank Hours
8am - 6pm

Office Hours
9am - 5pm

Shop Hours
9am - 7pm

Toronto provides clean and safe drinking water. Standards for drinking water quality are set and legally enforced by the Ontario Drinking Water Standards.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect on May 31, 2006. The act prohibits smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places in Ontario. This is to protect workers and the public from the hazards of second-hand smoke.

Smoking is prohibited everywhere in hotels, except in guest rooms designated as smoking rooms.

Pack light clothing for summer months. You may also want a sweater or light jacket for evenings.

Weather during spring and fall months can be unpredictable. Pack a warm jacket and clothing that can be layered.

For winters, a warm coat, boots, gloves, scarf and hat are essential.

Summer months of June, July and August bring high temperatures of 24°C to 27°C. Winter in the city is cold and often snowy. Daytime temperatures in December, January and February are normally at or below 0°C.

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