Renting in Canada as a Newcomer from Colombia
Canada admitted 4,460 people from Colombia in 2024, including through a dedicated humanitarian pathway. Here's what to know before you rent.
Admitted in 2024
4,460
IRCC
Pathway
Humanitarian + economic
shared 11,000-spot program with Haiti/Venezuela
COP / CAD
~2,273.71
September 2026
Section 1
Colombia has a dedicated humanitarian pathway alongside standard immigration streams
IRCC admitted 4,460 people from Colombia in 2024, arriving through a mix of economic immigration streams and a dedicated humanitarian pathway that shares an 11,000-spot allocation with Haiti and Venezuela. If you arrived through the humanitarian stream, a settlement worker can help you navigate your first rental application.
Colombian-Canadians are part of a broader Latin American community concentrated in several major cities, sharing commercial corridors with other Spanish-speaking communities.
Section 2
No Canadian credit history? Here's how to still qualify
Building a rental application without Canadian credit history comes down to documentation:
- 1Bring a translated employment letter stating your role, tenure, and salary, or your IRCC status and settlement support documents if you arrived through the humanitarian pathway.
- 2Bring bank statements showing consistent income or savings, if available.
- 3Offer a guarantor or co-signer if you have a Canadian contact who can vouch financially.
- 4Offer a larger security deposit where the province allows it.
Section 3
Documents to bring
Passport & immigration documents
Passport, COPR, work permit, or humanitarian-pathway status documents, plus Canadian ID once issued.
Employment letter or settlement letters
A translated employment letter, or settlement support documentation if you arrived through the humanitarian pathway.
Bank statements
Statements showing income or savings history, where available.
Landlord reference
A reference letter from a previous landlord, translated if needed.
Section 4
Where Colombian newcomers tend to settle
Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Mi Tierra Latina & Latin American corridor
Vancouver's Commercial Drive area is home to Latin American grocers like Mi Tierra Latina, which specifically stocks Colombian products alongside other Latin American goods.
Forest Lawn / International Avenue, Calgary
Shared multicultural corridor
A multicultural area with a Colombian-Canadian presence, shared with several other immigrant communities rather than Colombia-exclusive.
Edmonton has no verified neighbourhood-level concentration. Toronto's Colombian community shares the same Latin American corridors (Kensington Market, St. Clair West) as the city's Mexican and broader Latin American communities, without a Colombia-exclusive district.
Section 5
Converting your budget to Canadian dollars
As of September 2026, 1 Canadian dollar is worth approximately 2,273.71 Colombian pesos (mid-market spot rate, XE.com). Rates move daily; check a live converter before budgeting.
Section 6
Setting up Canadian banking
Canada's major banks all run newcomer programs that waive fees and don't require Canadian credit history to open an account:
Scotia StartRight
Newcomer chequing account with no monthly fee for the first year, plus a credit card option with no credit history required.
RBC Newcomer
Banking package for newcomers to Canada, including a no-history credit card for eligible permanent residents and work/study permit holders.
BMO NewStart
Newcomer banking program with fee waivers and credit-building tools for the first year in Canada.
Section 7
Tenant rights where you're likely to land
Tenancy law in Canada is set provincially, not federally. Here's what applies in the provinces Colombian newcomers most often move to:
Calgary, AB
Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
No rent control: landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice, but only once every 365 days. Security deposits are capped at one month's rent. Disputes go to the RTDRS.
Edmonton, AB
Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
Same Alberta-wide rules as Calgary: no rent control, one rent increase per 365 days, deposit capped at one month's rent, disputes go to the RTDRS.
Toronto, ON
Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Rent control applies to units built before November 2018 (annual guideline increase). No damage deposit is allowed, only last month's rent, which the landlord must pay annual interest on. Disputes go to the LTB.
Vancouver, BC
Residential Tenancy Act
Rent increases are capped by an annual government-set percentage. Security deposit capped at half a month's rent, plus a separate pet deposit of up to half a month's rent. Disputes go to the RTB.
Section 8
Apply faster with SQRFT Passport
Build your verified rental identity once (employment, income, references), then share it with any landlord in Canada. No Canadian credit history required to get started.
FAQ
Common questions from Colombian newcomers
Sources