After all the research, packing and travelling, I finally landed in Canada.
Toronto Pearson International Airport.
I remember being excited when I got off the plane.
I had spent so much time preparing for Canada that actually being there felt different.
The flight was over.
And now I had to figure out what happened next.
If you are preparing to travel from Nigeria to Canada for the first time and wondering what happens after you land at Toronto Pearson Airport, my own experience was much more straightforward than I had imagined.
My First Feeling Was Excitement
I was excited.
That is the simplest way to describe it.
You can watch Canada videos for months. You can research the weather, flights and what to pack. But there is still something different about stepping off the plane and knowing:
I am actually here.
At that point, I was not thinking about writing a blog post or remembering every airport sign.
I was simply going through the process in front of me.
The Arrival Process at Pearson Was Straightforward for Me
I do not remember every airport stage well enough to give you an exact step by step account, and I do not want to invent details just to make the story sound fuller.
What I remember clearly is moving through different stages after I arrived.
An officer checked my documents.
I answered the questions I was asked.
I spoke with an officer during the process.
The officer then directed me to the next stage
The queue was not long during my own arrival, and everything moved quite quickly.
I did not find the immigration or border process confusing.
That surprised me a little because when you are travelling internationally for the first time, you can imagine the arrival process being much more complicated than it actually feels once you are there.
For me, it was simply a case of following directions and moving from one point to the next.
What Happens at Toronto Pearson for International Arrivals Today?
My experience describes what happened to me when I arrived, but it does not provide an exact guide to what every traveller will experience.
As of October 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency screens international passengers arriving at Toronto Pearson. Arriving passengers generally confirm their identity and complete their declaration using a primary inspection kiosk or eGate where applicable, then continue to a border services officer as directed.
Your own process may depend on your travel documents and circumstances.
That is why I would follow the airport signs and instructions you receive when you arrive rather than trying to memorize somebody else’s exact airport experience.
Then I Went to Collect My Luggage
Once I got to the baggage area, I collected my luggage.
And my luggage was heavy.
Very heavy.
At that point, I needed help.
I saw an airport staff member and asked if he could assist me.
He helped me put my bags onto one of those airport baggage trolleys, the rolling carts you push through the terminal.
That simple help made a difference because moving several heavy bags around an airport after a long journey is not easy.
It also reminded me of something I had already learned during departure:
The weight of your luggage does not stop mattering just because the airline has accepted it.
You still have to move those bags when you arrive.
I Asked for Help When I Needed It
This may sound like a very small part of the story, but I think it is worth mentioning.
When you arrive at a big airport, ask for help if you need it.
Speak to an airport staff member if something is unclear.
You can also ask for assistance with your luggage or directions rather than walking around confused.
I did not know Pearson Airport.
It was my first arrival.
So I followed directions and asked when I needed help.
You do not get extra points for pretending you know an airport you have never been to before.
I Picked Up My SIM Card After Passing Through the Arrival Process
Once I had completed the required arrival stages, one of the practical things I needed was a Canadian SIM card.
I saw a SIM card stand at the airport, completed the registration there, and got my SIM card.
That meant I could get connected instead of starting from zero and trying to work everything out after leaving the airport.
For a newcomer, having your phone working can be very useful.
You may need to contact your ride.
Check an address.
Send a message.
Use your maps.
Or simply let people know you have arrived safely.
Looking back, arranging that part beforehand made sense for me.
My Ride Was Already Arranged
I had also arranged my pickup.
After leaving the airport, I was picked up and taken to the Airbnb I had booked online.
Again, this is something I was glad I had planned before travelling.
I was coming to a country I had never lived in before.
After a long flight, the last thing I wanted was to stand outside the airport trying to decide where I was going to sleep.
I already knew where I was going.
I had my accommodation booked.
I had transportation arranged.
That made leaving the airport much easier.
Then I Met the Canadian Cold
This is probably the strongest thing I remember noticing once I was properly outside.
The cold.
I had researched Canadian winter.
I had heard people talk about Canadian winter.
I had bought winter clothes.
I knew Canada was cold.
But knowing Canada is cold while sitting in Nigeria and actually feeling Canadian cold are two different things.
I came during a very cold period.
When I felt it, my reaction was basically:
Wow.
It was much colder than what I had been used to.
I was freezing.
At the same time, I was still excited.
That combination describes the moment quite well.
Freezing but excited.
You Can Research the Cold, But Feeling It Is Different
Before travelling, I had watched people talk about winter.
You see snow in videos.
You see people wearing jackets.
You hear temperatures like minus this and minus that.
But numbers do not completely explain the feeling when your body has been used to Nigerian weather.
The cold was one of those things I could only properly understand after arriving.
That does not mean you should not research the weather.
You absolutely should.
It simply means some parts of relocation cannot be fully experienced through a screen.
My First Arrival Was Not Dramatic
One thing I like about telling my story exactly as it happened is that not every stage needs a dramatic event.
I did not arrive and immediately have some huge airport problem.
My luggage did not disappear.
I did not spend hours confused at immigration.
There was no long queue in my own experience.
I landed.
I was excited.
I went through the different airport stages.
An officer checked my documents.
I collected my very heavy luggage.
Someone helped me with the baggage trolley.
I saw a SIM card stand at the airport, completed the registration there, and got my SIM card.
I met my arranged ride.
Then I went to my Airbnb.
Sometimes that is what a first arrival looks like.
What I Would Suggest Having Arranged Before You Land
Based on my own experience, there are a few practical things I would want sorted before landing in Canada for the first time.
Have your first accommodation arranged
At the very least, have your first accommodation arranged.
Know how you are leaving the airport
Whether someone is collecting you or you are using another transportation option, think about it before travelling.
Keep important travel documents accessible
Do not bury something you may need during the arrival process deep inside a checked suitcase.
Have a communication plan
I registered for my SIM card at a stand at the airport and received it after completing the registration process, which worked well for me. Whatever option you choose, think about how you will communicate after landing.
Know the address you are going to
Save it somewhere you can access easily.
These are small things, but after a long journey they can make the arrival feel much calmer.
What I Would Not Do
I would not try to memorize another person’s entire Pearson Airport experience.
Airports change.
Processes can change.
Your documents may be different from mine.
The queue on the day you arrive may be completely different.
Your questions may be different.
Even Pearson’s current arrival process uses kiosks or eGates for many international travellers before they proceed as directed to a border services officer.
So use people’s stories to understand what arrival can feel like.
For the actual process, follow the current instructions when you get there.
Questions People Ask About arriving at Toronto Pearson for the First Time
Which airport did I land at in Canada?
I landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
Was immigration at Pearson difficult for me?
No. My own experience was straightforward. The queue was not long, my documents were checked and I moved through the different stages as directed.
Was I questioned for a long time?
No. I do not remember a long or difficult questioning process during my arrival.
Did I have problems collecting my luggage?
No, but my luggage was very heavy. I asked an airport staff member for help, and he assisted me with getting the bags onto a baggage trolley.
How did I get a Canadian SIM card?
I registered for my SIM card at the airport and got it there.
How did I leave Pearson Airport?
My pickup had already been arranged. I was collected and taken to the Airbnb I had booked online.
What surprised me most when I arrived in Canada?
The cold.
I knew Canada was cold before travelling, but actually feeling it was completely different.
What My First Arrival in Canada Felt Like
My first day in Canada did not begin with some huge dramatic moment.
It began with excitement.
Then documents.
Directions.
Heavy luggage.
A helpful airport worker.
A SIM card.
A ride.
An Airbnb.
And cold.
A lot of cold.
When I think about it now, that ordinary sequence is what made the moment real.
For months, Canada had been something I researched from Nigeria.
That day, I was no longer researching what it might be like to arrive.
I had arrived.
And once I stepped outside Pearson and felt that cold, I definitely knew it.
Current Pearson arrival information last checked: October 2026.
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