Newcomers to Canada Checklist: Your First Weeks Sorted

You've landed, and now a stack of paperwork is waiting. Luckily, most of it follows a logical order. This newcomers to Canada checklist takes you through your first weeks, from your Social Insurance Number to your first-month budget, without repeat trips or coverage gaps.

It's written for new permanent residents and people on work permits. Provinces and territories set their own rules on health care, driving and schools, so use this as a map and confirm the details on your provincial government's website. If you're still planning your move, start with our overview of ways to live and work in Canada.

Newcomers to Canada checklist: the order that works

Work through these roughly in order:

1. Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN).
2. Register for provincial or territorial health insurance, and buy private cover if there's a wait.
3. Open a bank account.
4. Get a Canadian phone number and a stable mailing address.
5. Contact a free settlement service.
6. Enroll your children in school and apply for the Canada Child Benefit if you're eligible.
7. Start your driver's license exchange before your grace period ends.
8. Set a realistic first-month budget.

How to get a SIN in Canada

You need a SIN to work in Canada and to access government programs and benefits. As of September 2026, Service Canada lets you apply online, by mail or in person at a Service Canada office, and there's no fee to apply.

You'll need an identity document and the documents that prove your status in Canada. The official page lists the exact documents for permanent residents, workers and students, so check it before you apply.

If you're a temporary resident, your SIN will expire with your work or study permit. When you get a new permit, update your SIN record, because Service Canada says the expiry dates on both must match.

Treat your SIN like a password. Share it only when legally required, such as with your employer, and never in response to an unexpected call or text.

Health coverage: which provinces have a waiting period?

Health care is run by each province and territory, so apply for your health card as soon as you have an address. IRCC's newcomer guidance says it may take up to 3 months for coverage to start, and suggests buying private insurance while you wait.

Here's how three large provinces handle it as of September 2026:

Other provinces and territories set their own rules, so look up yours instead of assuming you're covered from day one.

Read the policy wording before you pay. Plans differ on pre-existing conditions, maximum payouts and prescription drugs, and the cheapest quote isn't always the best value.

Banking, insurance and your first-month budget

Opening a bank account as a newcomer

According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), you have the right to open a bank account even if you don't have a job or can't put money in right away. The bank still has to confirm your identity, usually with two documents from reliable sources.

Many banks and credit unions market newcomer packages, which may include lower fees for a set period and a starter credit card. Compare what the account will cost once the promotion ends, not just the headline offer.

A Canadian credit card, used lightly and paid in full every month, starts your Canadian credit history. Landlords and phone companies may look at that history later, so it's worth starting early.

A first-month budget for newcomers to Canada

Costs vary widely between cities, so this table lists categories only. Fill in your own numbers from real quotes.

Here's a hypothetical example. Priya, a new permanent resident, arrives in Vancouver on March 10. Under BC's rule, her wait covers the rest of March plus April and May, so she buys private health insurance for that window. In her first week, she applies for her SIN online, opens a bank account, and books a settlement service appointment.

Free settlement services funded by IRCC

IRCC funds organizations across Canada that offer free help with job searching, credential recognition, language assessment and classes, and settling into your community. Use IRCC's "Find free newcomer services near you" tool to search by location. The tool doesn't include Quebec, which runs its own integration services.

Permanent residents, including resettled refugees, and protected persons are eligible. Most temporary residents aren't, apart from people in specific programs listed by IRCC.

Settlement workers can also help with your job search. If you're heading to Ontario's largest city, read our guide to working in Toronto. Before you pay anyone for a job or send documents, learn how to spot job scams targeting migrants.

Schools, child benefits and your driver's license

Enrolling kids in school and applying for the Canada Child Benefit

Canadian law requires children to get an education, and most children go to free public schools. Each province and territory runs its own school system, so contact your local school or school board to register. IRCC notes that registration can take several weeks, so start early.

If you have children, check whether you qualify for the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes. You or your spouse or partner must also be a citizen, a permanent resident or a protected person, or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and holds a valid permit in the 19th month.

Newcomers can apply through their CRA account or by mailing Form RC66 and Schedule RC66SCH to their tax center.

Exchanging your driver's license: the Ontario example

Every province sets its own licensing rules. In Ontario, as of September 2026, you can drive on a valid foreign license for 60 days after you move there. After that, you need an Ontario license.

If your license comes from a place Ontario has an exchange agreement with, such as US states, the UK, Australia, Germany, France, Japan or South Korea, you can usually exchange it. Otherwise, you'll take vision, knowledge and road tests. Ontario says that from July 1, 2026, you can get credit for up to one year of driving experience if you show a valid foreign license and an official authentication letter from the government that issued it.

Before you buy a car, ask insurers how they treat foreign driving experience, since it can affect your quote.

Common mistakes in your first weeks

• Assuming health coverage starts the day you land. Check your province's rules and buy private cover for any gap.
• Waiting too long to buy private insurance. In Quebec, the government says to do it within five days of arrival.
• Missing your license grace period. In Ontario, that's 60 days.
• Choosing a bank package on the promotion alone. Check the fees after the offer ends.
• Paying a deposit for a rental you haven't seen or verified. Rental scams often target newcomers.
• Putting off settlement services. Economic class permanent residents now have a time limit.

Your next steps this week

Start with the two tasks that protect you most: apply for your SIN and register for health coverage, buying private insurance if you face a wait.

Next, open a bank account, find your nearest settlement service and set your first-month budget. Then add your license deadline and school registration to your calendar.