Your First Weeks
5guides
Set yourself up in the right order.
Your first-week checklist in CanadaThe right order to get set up: SIN, a bank account, a phone plan, your provincial health card, and finding somewhere to live.
The documents you'll need again and againWhich documents to keep handy (and safe) — PR card/permit, passport, SIN, and the papers landlords and employers ask for.
Getting your Social Insurance NumberThe SIN is free and you can often get it the same day at a Service Canada Centre — you need it to work, get paid, and file taxes.
Proof of address: why you need it fastHealth cards, licences and many services ask for proof of a local address — here's how to get one before your first bill arrives.
Budgeting your first month in CanadaPlan a buffer for the big one-time costs — rent deposits, a phone, transit and winter clothing — which vary a lot by city.