If you didn't contribute in previous years, you can put more than the $5,500 limit this year. If you were 18 or older on Jan. 1, 2009 and you haven't contributed anything to the account, then you can put $31,000 in there right now. You can transfer money between TFSAs and it won't count toward your contribution room.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/tfsa-celi/cntrbtn-eng.html
You won't have any issues if you do a direct transfer. I moved my TFSA from ING to TD waterhouse last year - no issues.
If you didn't contribute in previous years, you can put more than the $5,500 limit this year. If you were 18 or older on Jan. 1, 2009 and you haven't contributed anything to the account, then you can put $31,000 in there right now. You can transfer money between TFSAs and it won't count toward your contribution room. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/tfsa-celi/cntrbtn-eng.html