Going Home?!

Hi. I've been here in the uk since i was 13. I am a canadian citizen (as well as a BritCit)and now at 28 I'd very much like to go home. I have no Idea where to start as far as paperwork goes so any advice would be wonderful!!!!

renew your canadian passport, get on an airplane and go.

Is that seriously it? ....You may be interested in the fact that a happpy dance is now taking place here....What about health insurance, social insurance etc...(if there is etc...) Is that easier to sort out there or before i go?

if you are a canadian citizen you never lose it unless you fill out a form to renounce your citizenship. Citizenship is for life, a passport is just a document to travel with.

Contact CDN high commision and get applications for a new passport.

Then hop on a plane and go.

Health ins depends where you go, some provinces make you wait awhile before you can OHIP for example. Alberta health is valid from the day you arrive as long as you fill the forms out.

Good innit?

Is that seriously it? ....You may be interested in the fact that a happpy dance is now taking place here....What about health insurance, social insurance etc...(if there is etc...) Is that easier to sort out there or before i go?

Yes, that's seriously it. As a Canadian citizen you are allowed to return to Canada whenever you want. It's your right.

As for health insurance, you can only apply for that within Canada -- you cannot do that from overseas. As the OP said, your coverage depends on the province. Ontario (OHIP) makes you wait 6 months from the date you arrive before your coverage kicks in, which means you'll have to pay for private health insurance until your 6 months are up. In Quebec the waiting period is 3 months for RAMQ. I don't know how it works with other provinces.

Same goes for your social insurance number. If you do not already have one you must wait until you arrive in Canada to apply for one. You will not get the number right away but you will get a slip saying that you applied for a number, in case your employer asks for it.

You'll probably also want to apply for a driver's license. Depending on the province you may not have to take a road test to transfer your UK license (assuming you have one). Some provinces, like Ontario, have a graduated licensing system where it takes several years to get a full driver's license.

Good luck with the move!