Hello Canada Account

The Hello Canada Account is Chequing account offered by ICICI Bank Canada for Indian citizens who are planning to move to Canada to live, work or study. Its key feature is the ability for customer to open an account before leaving for Canada. Customer can remit money into their Hello Canada account before leaving for Canada in order to meet the proof of funds requirement.

Customers hold either of two statuses during the application process:

1. Non-Resident status: The account is opened but the customer is still in India.
2. Resident status: The customer has arrived in Canada and completed the KYC* process as per Canadian Regulations.

*Customers are classified as “non-resident” until they complete the KYC process, even after arrival in Canada.

Any Indian citizen, NRI or PIO/OCI with a valid Canadian visa in any of the following categories:

1. Permanent Residency (immigration) permit
2. Work permit (valid for more than 6 months)
3. Study permit

You must submit your application online through our Hello Canada secure email account, an online platform created exclusively for opening a Hello Canada Account.

Step 1: Sign up for a Hello Canada secure email account, an online platform which contains the application form and includes a secure email portal exclusively for opening of Hello Canada Account:

• Click on the ‘Register / Sign In’
• Enter your personal email address in the designated field and click ‘Register’
• You will receive an email with a temporary password
• Login to your secure email account using your personal email address and temporary password

Step 2: Complete the application form:

• Click on ‘Forms’ on the menu to download a fillable PDF form
• Complete the simple form, print, sign and scan
• Click on ‘My Application’ to upload your form and supporting documents


Your Hello Canada Account Number will be sent to your Hello Canada secure email account.

1. Valid Indian Passport (containing your full name, address and photograph)
2. Valid Canadian visa (immigration, work or study)
3. Acceptance letter from your employer or academic institution (for work or study visas respectively)
4. Proof of address in India (any two from the list below that include your address)
   • Valid driving licence issued by a government authority
   • Voter’s identity card issued by Election Commission of India
   • Landline phone bill (MTNL/BSNL)
   • Indian passport issued by a government authority
   • Ration card issued by a government authority
   • Aadhar card issued by a government authority

For customers with NON-RESIDENT status

• No minimum balance required
• No monthly charges
• No interest is paid and withdrawals are not allowed.

For customers with Canadian RESIDENT status:

• Choice of HiVALUE^®, HiVALUE PLUS or Basic Chequing Account
• Interest generated, subject to account balance requirements
• Unlimited access to in-branch and online banking
• 24-hour telephone banking, free of charge
• Debit card, which allows access to over 3,500 ABMs in Canada
• Personalized cheque book
• Bill payment and TEXT ALERTS service
• And much more...

Once you arrive in Canada, you are required to activate your Hello Canada Account by visiting an ICICI Bank Canada branch in person with the required documents.

The following documents are required to activate the account:

1. Permanent Resident card or one of the following forms issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada: IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5292 or IMM 5688
2. Valid Passport

You may also be required to provide proof of address proof (e.g.: telephone, internet bill)

Canada is a vast country and we understand that some Hello Canada Account holders might settle in a location that does not have an ICICI Bank Canada branch nearby. These customers can activate their account by following the steps listed below:

1. Download the Account Activation Form available on ICICI Bank Canada website (in the Forms section at icicibank.ca).
2. Complete the form, ensuring all required information is filled in correctly
3. Submit the completed form through the Hello Canada secure email account along with the supporting documents listed below:
   • Permanent Resident card or one of the following forms issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada: IMM 1000, IMM 1442, IMM 5292 or IMM 5688
   • Indian Passport

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada. You cannot borrow this money from another person. These funds must be available to pay the costs of living for your family (even if they are not accompanying you). The Government of Canada determines the amount of money required according to the number of people your family.

You are required to show proof to the Canadian visa office in your home country that you have sufficient funds when you submit your visa application, unless you have a valid offer of employment in Canada and you are currently working or authorized to work in Canada.

The Certificate of Balance will be sent to you via the Hello Canada secure email after we receive the funds you have deposited into your Hello Canada Account. You can also request a Certificate of Balance using one of these options:

• Call our India toll-free number at 1-800-200-3340
• Email hellocanada@icicibank.com from your personal email address registered with us

The following information must be provided:

• Account number
• Name of the account holder
• Address in India
• Indicate “Request for Certificate of Balance” on the subject line if the request is sent by email

Your account will only become fully operational once you have completed your account activation in Canada. While in any other country, you will only be allowed to remit funds to your Hello Canada Account.

We require a copy of your Canadian visa in order to process your application for a Hello Canada Account. A tourist visa or Temporary Resident Permit will not be accepted. You must provide an Immigrant Visa, Work Permit or Study Permit that is valid for more than 6 months.

Currently, we are only offering the Hello Canada Account to people who intend to either permanently immigrate to Canada or temporarily work or study in Canada.

ICICI Bank Canada is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). CDIC is a federal Crown corporation that protects your Canadian deposits for up to $100,000 per insured category at financial institutions that are CDIC members.

There is no minimum amount required to open a Hello Canada Account.

There is no minimum balance requirement for a Hello Canada Account.

The Hello Canada Account must be opened as a single-holder account; however, you can add your spouse or partner as a joint account holder once you have activated your account in Canada.

Currently the Hello Canada Account is only being offered to individuals moving to Canada from India.

Yes, you must be an Indian citizen, NRI or PIO holding a valid Indian passport with a valid Canadian visa to be eligible to open a Hello Canada Account.

Local country regulations may place a limit for transfer of funds into your Canadian account under the immigration category. As with any other international remittance, you are required to disclose the source of funds, along with the purpose of remittance when performing a wire transfer (SWIFT).

The funds will be credited into the account within 2-3 business days.

Interest starts accruing from the day you activate your Hello Canada Account, subject to account balance requirements. No interest is paid until the account is activated in Canada with the submission of required documents as per Canadian regulations.

You can send money to your Hello Canada Account any time after you are notified with the account number. International wire transfers may take more than five business days to reach ICICI Bank Canada. We recommend that you send money to your account at least a month before you travel to Canada.

The exchange rate on the day you transfer funds to your Hello Canada Account will apply. As exchange rates are volatile and remittances will be performed by ICICI Bank Limited, India at their prevailing rates, ICICI Bank Canada cannot provide exchange rates in advance.

The account opening process will take approximately 2 business days, assuming all documents are in order and no further clarification is required. You will receive a confirmation letter with your account number via the Hello Canada secure email.

You will need to submit a signed Letter of Direction (written instruction) stating a brief reason.

The Letter of Direction and supporting documents must be submitted via the Hello Canada secure email. ICICI will reimburse the funds to account that they originated from. The prevailing exchange rate on the day of transfer will apply.

You will be able to perform all regular banking transactions after the account is activated in Canada.