New to Ontario? Start Here
Whether you arrived from another province, another country, or you are planning your move, this is your starting point. Here are the first things to do, in the order that makes the most sense.
The First 30 Days
These are the essentials. Get them done in your first month and the rest of your settlement gets much easier. None of these tasks cost money.
1. Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
You cannot legally work in Canada or open most bank accounts without a SIN. Apply at any Service Canada Centre with your immigration document and one piece of secondary ID. You receive your SIN on the spot.
Read the SIN guide →2. Apply for OHIP
Apply at any ServiceOntario centre with three identity documents. Most newcomers face a 3-month waiting period before coverage starts, so apply as soon as possible to start the clock. Buy private insurance for the waiting period.
Read the OHIP guide →3. Open a Bank Account
The big five banks (RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC) all offer special newcomer accounts with no monthly fees for the first year. Bring your immigration document, passport, and proof of address. Some accounts can be opened before you arrive.
4. Set Up Utilities
If you are renting, your lease may include some utilities. For everything not included, set up hydro, gas, internet, and water before move-in day. Newcomers without Canadian credit history may need a security deposit.
Read the utilities guide →Within the First 60 Days
You can drive with your existing valid licence from another province, state, or country for 60 days. After that, you need an Ontario licence. Visit any DriveTest centre with your current licence, ID, and proof of Ontario residency.
If your country has an exchange agreement with Ontario (all U.S. states, all Canadian provinces, plus 16 countries including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most of Western Europe), you may only need to pass a vision test. If your country does not have an agreement, your driving experience can still count toward skipping parts of the graduated licensing system.
Read the licence exchange guide →Once you have a valid health card, register with Health Care Connect to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Wait times can be long, so apply as early as possible. While you wait, you can use walk-in clinics, Urgent Care Ontario for free virtual nurse practitioner visits, or call 811 for health advice.
Read the family doctor guide →Public school in Ontario is free for children of permanent residents, refugees, and most temporary residents from kindergarten through grade 12. Contact your local school board to register. You will need your child's birth certificate, proof of immigration status, proof of address, and immunization records. School boards offer English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at no cost for children who need them.
Find your school board on your municipality's website, or call 211 for help finding the right school for your child's age and address.
If you have a foreign degree, diploma, or trade certificate, get it assessed so Canadian employers and educational institutions understand its equivalent. The two main credential assessment services are World Education Services (WES) and International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS). Each costs $200 to $300 and takes 4 to 8 weeks.
If you worked in a regulated profession (medicine, nursing, engineering, accounting, teaching, etc.), you also need to contact the relevant Ontario regulatory body to apply for a licence to practice. The Office of the Fairness Commissioner (fairnesscommissioner.ca) lists every regulated profession and the path to licensing.
Free Help From Settlement Agencies
Ontario funds settlement agencies across the province that help newcomers with everything from finding housing to filling out government forms. The services are free, multilingual, and open to permanent residents, refugees, citizens, and most temporary residents.
How to find help:
Within the First Year
If you are a permanent resident, your PR card is your official proof of status. New PRs receive their first card automatically about 4 to 6 weeks after landing, sent to the address you provided to IRCC. If you change addresses within 180 days of landing, you must update IRCC within 180 days of arrival or your card will not be mailed and you will have to apply for it (which costs $50 and takes months).
Update your address with IRCC at ircc.canada.ca by signing in to your account.
Even if you earned no income in Canada in your first year, file a Canadian tax return. Filing makes you eligible for benefits like the GST/HST credit, the Canada Child Benefit, and the Climate Action Incentive. The deadline is April 30 of each year for the previous year's income.
Many community settlement agencies and charity tax clinics file simple newcomer returns for free through the CRA's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). Search "CVITP" plus your city to find a free clinic near you.
Canadian credit history is essential for renting apartments, getting better insurance rates, buying a car, and eventually getting a mortgage. Your credit history from your home country does not transfer. Start building Canadian credit by:
After 6 to 12 months of activity, you can request your credit report for free at Equifax.ca or TransUnion.ca to see your score.
After 3 to 5 Years
After you have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) within a 5-year period, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship. You also need to have filed taxes for at least 3 of those years and demonstrate basic English or French.
The application is processed by IRCC, not Ontario. Cost is $630 for adults. Processing typically takes 12 to 18 months. After approval, you take the citizenship oath at a ceremony and receive a citizenship certificate. With this, you can apply for a Canadian passport.
Read the citizenship guide →Once you become a Canadian citizen, you can apply for a Canadian passport. It is one of the most powerful travel documents in the world (visa-free access to over 180 countries). The application is processed by Service Canada (federal), not ServiceOntario. A 10-year adult passport costs $163.50.
Read the passport guide →