The First 90 Days in Canada: A Practical Checklist for Newcomers

Arriving in Canada is exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. There is a lot to do, and the order in which you do things matters more than most people realize. Some things need to happen in the first week. Others open doors that you will need for everything that comes after.

This checklist is organized by timeframe. It is not exhaustive, and some items will vary depending on your province and your immigration status. But it covers the most important steps for most newcomers, in roughly the right order.

Before You Arrive

If you have not landed yet, there are things you can do now that will make your first weeks much easier.

Organize your documents. You will need your passport, your permanent resident card or confirmation of permanent residence, your work or study permit if applicable, your birth certificate and marriage certificate if you have them, your educational transcripts and credential documents, and any medical records for family members. Keep physical and digital copies of everything.

Research your destination city. Cost of living, neighborhoods, transit options, settlement organizations, and the location of the nearest Service Canada office are all worth knowing before you land.

If you are coming to BC, start reading the BC Newcomers Guide on WelcomeBC. It is the most comprehensive plain-language overview of provincial services available.

Arrange temporary housing. Even a few weeks in a short-term rental or with family gives you time to find something permanent without the pressure of being homeless.

Week One: The Essentials

Your first week is about establishing your legal and financial foundation. Everything else depends on this.

Get a Social Insurance Number. Your SIN is required for employment, banking, and accessing most government benefits. Apply at a Service Canada office in person. Bring your permanent resident card or work permit and your passport. You will usually receive your SIN the same day.

Open a bank account. All major Canadian banks have newcomer banking programs with reduced fees and no credit history requirements. RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, and CIBC all offer these. Bring your SIN, your passport, and your proof of address. If you do not have a permanent address yet, some banks will accept a letter from a settlement organization or a temporary address.

Get a local SIM card. Budget carriers like Public Mobile, Koodo, and Fido offer affordable plans without contracts. A Canadian phone number and data plan will be useful immediately.

Register your children for school if applicable. In most provinces, you can register at your local school district office. Bring proof of address, immunization records, and any previous school records you have.

Weeks Two to Four: Health and Identity

Health coverage is provincial, not federal. This means the process and the waiting period vary depending on where you live.

In British Columbia, apply for the Medical Services Plan as soon as possible. There is a three-month waiting period before coverage begins, which means the sooner you apply, the sooner you are covered. Apply online through the Health Insurance BC website. While you wait for MSP coverage, consider short-term private health insurance.

In Ontario, apply for OHIP at a ServiceOntario location. Ontario also has a three-month waiting period.

In Alberta, there is no waiting period. Apply for AHCIP online or at an Alberta Registries office.

Apply for a provincial photo ID or driver's licence. Even if you do not plan to drive, a provincial ID card is useful for everyday identification. If you have a foreign driver's licence, check whether your country has a reciprocal exchange agreement with your province, as this can simplify the process of getting a Canadian licence.

If you have children under 18, apply for the Canada Child Benefit through the CRA. This is a significant monthly payment for eligible families and is not automatic. You need to apply.

Month Two: Employment and Benefits

If you are looking for work, month two is when your job search should become your primary focus.

Update your resume to Canadian format. Canadian resumes do not include photos, date of birth, or marital status. They are typically two pages maximum and focused on achievements rather than duties.

Get your credentials assessed if you work in a regulated profession. Engineers, nurses, doctors, teachers, and many other professionals need to have their credentials recognized by a provincial regulatory body before they can practice. This process takes time. Start it as early as possible. World Education Services and the National Nursing Assessment Service are the main assessment bodies for non-regulated and regulated professions respectively.

Connect with a settlement organization. Organizations like MOSAIC, SUCCESS, and ISSBC in BC offer free employment services, resume help, interview coaching, and professional networking specifically for newcomers. These services are significantly more effective than applying cold.

Apply for the GST/HST credit through the CRA. This quarterly payment is available to low and moderate income Canadians and does not require a separate application, just filing your taxes. But you need to be in the system.

Month Three: Getting Rooted

By month three, you should have your core documents, health coverage application in, bank account established, and employment situation moving. Month three is about building the longer-term foundation.

File your taxes, even if you arrived partway through the year. Filing establishes your eligibility for benefits like the CCB, GST credit, and provincial benefits. The Canada Revenue Agency's CVITP program offers free tax filing help through community organizations across Canada.

If you are renting, understand your rights as a tenant. Provincial tenancy legislation protects renters in important ways. In BC, the Residential Tenancy Branch and Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre are the key resources. In Ontario, it is the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Start building your credit history. Without a Canadian credit history, you will find it harder to rent apartments, get a phone contract, or eventually get a mortgage. A secured credit card is the easiest way to start. Use it for small purchases and pay the balance in full each month.

Connect with your community. Settlement organizations, cultural associations, local libraries, community centers, and faith communities are all ways to build the social connections that make Canada feel like home rather than just a place you are staying.

A Note on MyCanada

Navigating all of this is easier with the right information at hand. MyCanada is a province-aware service navigation tool built specifically for newcomers. If you are in BC, you can use it to find and understand the specific programs and services available to you, in plain language, without needing to know in advance what you are looking for.

You can try it at mycanada.vercel.app.