Your First 90 Days in Canada

Your first three months in Canada are a paperwork sprint: one nine-digit number unlocks work, one card unlocks healthcare, and one bank account unlocks everything else. Tackle these in the right order and the rest of your settlement gets dramatically easier.

Disclaimer: This guide is general information only, not legal, financial, or immigration advice. Rules differ by province and immigration status, and they change. Always confirm details with the official government sources linked on this page, or speak with a licensed professional about your specific situation.

Get Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) First

Your SIN is the nine-digit number you need to work legally, open many financial products, and receive government benefits. It's free, and it should be your very first errand — ideally within your first week.

According to Service Canada, you can apply three ways:

• In person at a Service Canada Centre — this is the fastest option, since the number is normally issued during your visit
• Online through the eSIN portal, with digital copies of your documents
• By mail, using a paper application plus your original documents

What to bring: a primary document proving your status (Confirmation of Permanent Residence with your PR visa, PR card, or a work/study permit that authorizes employment) and, if asked, a supporting identity document such as your passport.

Protect it. Your SIN is a prime target for identity theft. Give it only to your employer (after you're hired), your bank for interest-earning or registered accounts, and government agencies. Never carry the confirmation letter in your wallet, and never share the number by email or over the phone with someone who called you.

Temporary residents: SINs that begin with "9" are tied to your permit and carry an expiry date. Renew your SIN whenever you extend your permit.

Apply for Your Provincial Health Card

Healthcare is run by the provinces, so your card and your start date depend on where you settle. Apply as early as possible — in every province the clock works in your favour the sooner you file.

Provinces with little or no wait:

• Ontario (OHIP): Ontario permanently eliminated its three-month waiting period, so eligible new residents are covered without the old delay. Apply in person at a ServiceOntario centre with proof of status, identity, and Ontario residence.
• Alberta (AHCIP): According to the Government of Alberta, people arriving from outside Canada can be covered from the date they establish residency — as long as they apply within three months of arriving. Register at any Alberta registry agent with your entry documents.

Provinces with a roughly three-month wait:

• British Columbia (MSP): The B.C. government applies a wait equal to the rest of your arrival month plus two full calendar months. Arrive April 5, and coverage starts July 1. Apply immediately anyway — the wait runs while your application processes.
• Quebec (RAMQ): Most newcomers face a waiting period of up to three months after registering with the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec.

During any waiting period, buy private insurance. A hospital stay without coverage can cost thousands of dollars per day. Newcomer and visitor plans typically run $50–$150 per month and bridge the gap. Some provinces (including B.C. and Quebec) recommend this explicitly.

Open a Bank Account

Here's something many newcomers don't realize: you have a legal right to a basic bank account. According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), federally regulated banks must open a retail deposit account for you if you present acceptable identification — even if you have no job, no money to deposit yet, and no Canadian credit history. Banks must also offer low-cost accounts (capped at $4/month) and no-cost accounts for eligible groups.

What to bring: typically your passport plus your PR card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence, or work/study permit. Requirements vary slightly by bank, so call ahead.

Newcomer packages are worth comparing. The big five banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) all run newcomer offers that commonly include:

• No monthly account fees for the first 12 months (some banks offer longer)
• A credit card without Canadian credit history
• Free international money transfers for a period
• Safety deposit box discounts and welcome bonuses

Some banks let you start the account-opening process before you even land. Don't just take the first offer — the differences over a year can add up to a few hundred dollars.

Set up direct deposit with the CRA and your employer as soon as your account is open. Government benefit payments arrive faster and can't be lost in the mail.

Start Building Credit Immediately

Your credit history does not follow you to Canada. Whatever score you built in your home country, Canada's credit bureaus — Equifax and TransUnion — start you at zero. That matters because landlords, phone carriers, utilities, and eventually mortgage lenders all check Canadian credit.

The playbook:

1. Get a credit card in month one. Newcomer programs at major banks offer unsecured cards without credit history, often with modest limits ($1,000–$2,000). If you're declined, a secured card (backed by a refundable deposit) reports to the bureaus exactly the same way.
2. Use it lightly and pay it in full. Keep your balance below about 30% of your limit and never miss a payment — payment history and utilization are the two biggest factors in your score.
3. Put a small recurring bill on it (your phone plan is perfect) and automate the payment.
4. Be patient. Six to twelve months of clean history typically produces a workable score; two years of history opens most doors, including better mortgage rates.

Avoid signing up for several cards at once — each application triggers a hard inquiry that temporarily dents your new score.

Get a Canadian Phone Number

You'll need a local number for job applications, landlords, banks, and two-factor authentication — so this belongs in week one.

• Prepaid plans require no credit check and no contract. They're the simplest day-one option and you can port your number to a better plan later.
• Postpaid plans are cheaper per gigabyte but usually involve a credit check; without Canadian history you may be asked for a deposit.
• Compare the discount brands. The major carriers (Rogers, Bell, Telus) own lower-priced flanker brands — Fido, Koodo, Virgin Plus, Public Mobile — and regional players like Freedom Mobile compete aggressively. Bring-your-own-device plans are consistently the best value.
• Avoid financing a phone right away. Device financing ties you to a carrier for two years and requires a credit check. Use an unlocked phone from home if you have one — all phones sold in Canada are unlocked by law.

If a dispute with a carrier goes nowhere, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) handles complaints free of charge.

Register With the CRA and Claim Your Benefits

Canada delivers a surprising amount of support through the tax system — but only if the Canada Revenue Agency knows you exist. Don't wait for your first tax return.

Before your first tax filing:

• GST/HST credit — apply now with Form RC151. According to the CRA, new residents can apply for the GST/HST credit for their arrival year using Form RC151 instead of waiting to file a return. It's a tax-free quarterly payment for people with low and modest incomes, and skipping the form can mean waiting more than a year for money you're already entitled to.
• Canada Child Benefit (CCB) — apply with Forms RC66 and RC66SCH. The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. For the 2025–26 benefit year the maximum was $7,997 per child under six, so this is not a benefit to leave on the table. Permanent residents, protected persons, and their spouses can apply as soon as they arrive. According to the CRA, most temporary residents become eligible only after living in Canada for 18 consecutive months, with a valid permit in the 19th month. Payments are income-tested using your world income for the previous two years, which you declare on Form RC66SCH.

Your first tax return (due April 30 following your arrival year):

File even if you earned nothing in Canada. Your return is the key that keeps the GST/HST credit, CCB, provincial credits, and (eventually) programs like the Canadian Dental Care Plan flowing. On your first return you report your arrival date and income earned after becoming a resident; free tax clinics run by community organizations (the CRA's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program) will prepare simple returns at no charge.

Register for CRA My Account online once you have your SIN — it's where you track benefits, direct deposit, and notices.

Exchange Your Driver's Licence

Most provinces let you drive on a valid foreign licence for a grace period after you establish residency — 60 days in Ontario, 90 days in B.C. and Alberta — after which you need a local licence.

If your country has a reciprocal agreement, you can usually swap your full licence for a provincial one without tests. Ontario, for example, lists exchange agreements with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan, plus all U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Each province maintains its own list, and lists are updated periodically — check your province's current page before assuming either way.

If there's no agreement, you'll typically take a knowledge test and one or more road tests, but you can often skip graduated-licensing wait times by proving your foreign driving experience. According to Ontario's DriveTest, drivers from non-reciprocal jurisdictions can receive up to 12 months of credit for foreign experience as of July 1, 2026. Bring your licence, and if it isn't in English or French, a certified translation; a driving record ("abstract") from your home licensing authority helps you claim experience credit.

Do this early: a local licence doubles as everyday photo ID, and letting the grace period lapse means you can't legally drive to job interviews.

Find Housing — and Dodge the Scams

Most newcomers land in short-term housing (a rental suite, sublet, or family) and search for a long-term lease during their first 90 days. Landlords typically ask for photo ID, proof of income or a job letter, references, and sometimes a credit report — which is why the banking and credit steps above come first. A larger deposit of prepaid rent (where legal) or a co-signer can substitute for missing Canadian history.

Rental scams specifically target newcomers. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre logged over $700 million in reported fraud losses in 2025, and fake rental listings are a staple in high-demand cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Watch for these red flags:

• Rent far below market for the neighbourhood
• A "landlord" who is conveniently overseas and can't show the unit
• Pressure to send a deposit by wire transfer, gift card, or crypto before you've seen the unit in person
• Photos lifted from real estate or Airbnb listings (do a reverse image search)
• Refusal to provide a written lease or government-issued ID

Never send money for a unit you haven't viewed (or had someone you trust view). Verify the landlord actually owns or manages the building, and report attempted scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online.

Know your provincial tenant rules, too: Ontario requires a government standard lease form, B.C. disputes go through the Residential Tenancy Branch, and Quebec leases fall under the Tribunal administratif du logement. Settlement agencies (below) can review a lease with you for free.

Enrol Your Children in School

Public school from kindergarten through Grade 12 is free, and children must attend school (compulsory ages vary slightly by province, roughly 6 to 16 or 18). Enrolment happens through your local school board, generally determined by your home address.

Typical documents: your child's birth certificate or passport, immigration documents (PR card, CoPR, or permits), proof of address (lease or utility bill), and immunization records. Many boards run newcomer welcome centres that assess English or French levels and place children with appropriate language support (ESL/FSL) — the assessment helps your child, so don't fear it.

Children of work and study permit holders can attend public school; in most provinces no separate study permit is needed for minor children accompanying a parent with status. In Quebec, most newcomers are required to enrol children in French-language school under the Charter of the French Language. You can enrol mid-year — schools absorb newcomers year-round.

Use Free Settlement Services (Seriously — They're Free)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada funds a national network of settlement agencies that help permanent residents and protected persons at no cost. According to IRCC, services include:

• Needs assessments and personalized settlement plans
• Free language classes (LINC in English, CLIC in French) after a formal language assessment
• Job search help, resumé workshops, mentoring, and guidance on getting foreign credentials recognized
• Help completing government forms and applications
• Community connections, including programs for youth, seniors, and women

Find providers near you with IRCC's "Find free newcomer services" postal-code tool. Quebec runs its own parallel network (Accompagnement Québec). Many agencies also serve temporary residents with provincially funded programs — ask rather than assume you're ineligible. Newcomers who connect with an agency in month one consistently settle faster than those who try to figure everything out alone.

Your 90-Day Week-by-Week Checklist

Week 1 — The big three:

• Apply for your SIN (in person for same-visit issuance)
• Apply for your provincial health card (start the clock, even in wait-period provinces)
• Buy private health insurance if your province has a waiting period
• Open a bank account and ask about the newcomer package
• Get a Canadian phone number (prepaid is fine for now)

Weeks 2–4 — Money and paperwork:

• Apply for a credit card (newcomer or secured) and put one small bill on it
• Submit Form RC151 (GST/HST credit) to the CRA
• Apply for the Canada Child Benefit (RC66 + RC66SCH) if you have kids and are eligible
• Set up CRA direct deposit
• Contact an IRCC-funded settlement agency and book a language assessment
• Register children with the local school board

Weeks 5–8 — Getting established:

• Exchange your driver's licence or book knowledge/road tests (mind your grace period)
• Start the long-term housing search; view units in person and screen for scam red flags
• Begin free language classes if recommended
• Start credential recognition for regulated professions (this takes months — start early)
• Register with a family doctor waitlist or find a walk-in clinic

Weeks 9–13 — Locking it in:

• Sign a lease; get every promise in writing and a receipt for your deposit
• Set up utilities and tenant insurance
• Update your address with IRCC, the CRA, your bank, and your province
• Confirm your health coverage has started (wait-period provinces)
• Mark your calendar: first tax return due April 30 following your arrival year
• Check your credit report for free with Equifax or TransUnion to confirm your file exists

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Frequently Asked Questions

What documents should I carry during my first week?

Your passport, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or permits, and any IRCC letters — these unlock the SIN, health card, and bank account. Keep originals safe at home once your applications are in, and carry copies. Never carry your SIN confirmation around routinely.

Can I open a bank account before I arrive in Canada?

Often, yes. Several major banks let newcomers start the process from abroad and complete identity verification after landing. According to FCAC rules, once you're in Canada with acceptable ID, a bank must open a basic account for you regardless of employment or credit history.

I'm on a work permit. Do I get the same things as a permanent resident?

Mostly, with caveats. You can get a SIN (starting with 9, tied to your permit), provincial health coverage in most provinces if your permit meets duration rules, bank accounts, and credit cards. The big differences: the Canada Child Benefit generally requires 18 consecutive months of residence for temporary residents, and some IRCC-funded settlement services are reserved for permanent residents and protected persons — though many agencies serve temporary residents through other funding.

How do I get healthcare during the waiting period in B.C. or Quebec?

Buy private newcomer/visitor insurance for the gap — typically $50–$150 per month. Walk-in clinics will see uninsured patients at out-of-pocket rates for minor issues, but an uninsured hospital admission can cost thousands per day. Both provinces let you apply for coverage immediately so the waiting period runs while you're already in the queue.

Do I really need to file a tax return if I earned nothing?

Yes. Benefit payments — GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, provincial credits — are calculated from your tax return. No return, no payments. Free community tax clinics can file a simple return for you at no cost.

What's the single most common mistake newcomers make?

Waiting. Waiting to apply for the health card "until we're settled," waiting on the credit card "until we need it," waiting to contact a settlement agency "until things calm down." Nearly every system in this guide rewards early applications with earlier start dates — and the services that help you are free.

How much money should I have set aside for the first 90 days?

It varies enormously by city, but plan for first and last month's rent (or a deposit), roughly three months of living costs, private health insurance if applicable, and one-time setup costs (phone, transit, licence fees, winter clothing). IRCC's proof-of-funds figures for economic immigrants are a floor, not a comfortable budget — major cities like Toronto and Vancouver will stretch any number.

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When to Get Professional Help

Most first-90-days tasks are designed to be done yourself, but consider professionals for:

• Immigration consultant or lawyer (RCIC/lawyer only): status problems, permit renewals, sponsorships — verify registration with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants; free settlement agencies handle routine questions
• Tax professional: foreign income, property abroad, departure from a country with tax treaties, or self-employment in year one
• Regulated profession bodies: credential recognition for medicine, engineering, teaching, trades — start with your province's regulator
• Tenant advocacy services: lease disputes, illegal deposits, or suspected discrimination

Costs: settlement agencies and tenant help lines are free; immigration consultants typically charge $150–$400/hour; tax preparation for a simple newcomer return is often free through community clinics.

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Related Topics

• Understanding Health Insurance in Canada - What provincial plans cover and how to bridge waiting periods
• File Your Personal Taxes in Canada - Your first return, benefits, and free tax clinics
• Renting Your First Home in Canada - Leases, deposits, and tenant rights by province
• Building Credit in Canada - From zero history to mortgage-ready

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Corrections Policy

Refdesk.ca is committed to accuracy. Newcomer settlement information on this page is verified against official Government of Canada sources, including IRCC, Service Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, and provincial health and licensing authorities. Content is updated quarterly to reflect policy changes and program updates. If you find an error, outdated information, or broken links, please report it to [email protected] with the subject line "Newcomers Topic - Correction Request." We review all submissions within 48 hours and update content as needed, posting a dated correction notice for significant errors. This guide was last reviewed on July 9, 2026.