Your first week in Canada
A calm, ordered checklist for documents, communication, health coverage, money and local help.
Practical guides
Know what to do next.
Start with the task in front of you. Every guide includes a short plan, what to prepare and direct links to official information.
Starting in Canada
Find free settlement services
Connect with a local person who can help with forms, language, work, school and daily life.
Documents and your Social Insurance Number
Know which records to protect, when you need a SIN and how to apply without paying a middleman.
Work and credentials
Find work in Canada
Build a focused search using Job Bank, local employment services and people who understand your field.
Get foreign credentials recognized
Find out whether your occupation is regulated, who makes the decision and what to check before paying for training.
Know your workplace rights
Understand who sets the rules for pay, hours, leave and safety—and where to ask for help.
Learning and school
Find English or French language classes
Choose an assessment and class that fits your status, schedule and goals.
Help your child start school
Find the school board, prepare records and ask for language, learning and settlement support.
Money and housing
Open a bank account and build credit
Compare accounts, understand your basic banking rights and begin a Canadian credit history carefully.
Taxes and benefits for newcomers
Understand why filing a return matters and which family or income benefits may use it.
Rent a home carefully
Prepare your application, check the landlord and understand the rules before sending money.
Health and family
Apply for health coverage
Find the public plan where you live, learn when it starts and prepare for costs it may not cover.
Family benefits and child care
Find official child-benefit, parental-leave and child-care information without paying an application service.
Find mental health support
Know where to begin for stress, trauma, counselling or crisis help—and what to do if safety is immediate.
Family law and separation in Canada
Identify the province, the immediate issue and the right source of help before relying on general advice.
Rights and safety
Spot and report a scam
Use a simple pause-and-verify routine before paying, sharing a security code or sending identity documents.
Get help with family violence
Private ways to make a safety plan, find a shelter and understand that help is available regardless of immigration status.
Choose immigration help safely
Know who may charge for immigration advice, check authorization and keep control of your application.