Your first 90 days in Canada: the settling-in checklist
1 min read
The first three months are administrative. Do them in the right order and everything is easy; do them in the wrong order and you will find yourself unable to open a bank account because you have no address and no address because you have no bank account.
Week one
- Apply for your Social Insurance Number — everything else depends on it
- Open a newcomer bank account; most banks have a dedicated package
- Get a local phone number
- Register for provincial health coverage — there may be a waiting period
Weeks two to six
- Enrol children in school with your immigration documents
- Exchange or begin the process for your driving licence
- Arrange home and, if applicable, car insurance
- Build a credit history — a secured card is the usual starting point
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