Your First 90 Days in Canada: The 47-Item Newcomer Checklist

You've received your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, booked your flight, and landed in Canada. Congratulations — the immigration process is done. Now comes the settlement process, which has its own learning curve.

This checklist covers the essential tasks for your first 90 days, roughly in the order you'll need to do them.

Week 1: The essentials

Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) — This is your top priority. You need a SIN to work, file taxes, and access government programs. Apply in person at a Service Canada office with your passport and PR card (or COPR if your PR card hasn't arrived yet). It's free and usually issued on the spot.

Open a Canadian bank account — You'll need this for everything: receiving your salary, paying rent, building credit history. Most major banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) offer newcomer banking packages with waived fees for the first year. Bring your passport, PR card or COPR, and SIN.

Check out our guide to the best banks for newcomers for a detailed comparison.

Get a Canadian phone number — You'll need this for job applications, bank accounts, and two-factor authentication on everything. Prepaid plans from providers like Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile, or Fido are affordable starting points.

Apply for provincial health insurance — Each province runs its own health insurance plan (OHIP in Ontario, MSP in BC, AHCIP in Alberta, etc.). Apply as soon as possible, because most provinces have a waiting period of up to three months before coverage kicks in. Consider interim private health insurance to cover the gap.

Weeks 2–4: Building your foundation

Get your PR card — If you landed at a port of entry and received your COPR but not your PR card, it will be mailed to your Canadian address. Make sure your address is correct in your IRCC online account. The PR card typically arrives within 4–8 weeks of landing — check processing times for current estimates.

Apply for a driver's license — If you plan to drive, exchange your foreign license for a Canadian one. Rules vary by province — some allow direct exchange, others require testing. Do this early, as wait times for road tests can be long.

Start building Canadian credit history — Your credit history from your home country doesn't transfer. Apply for a secured credit card (your bank will likely offer one with your newcomer package), use it for small purchases, and pay it off in full each month. Good credit is essential for renting apartments, getting a phone contract, and eventually qualifying for a mortgage.

Register for settlement services — Free settlement services funded by the federal government are available through organizations across Canada. They offer help with job searching, language classes, mentorship, and community connections. Find your nearest provider at the IRCC services page.

Months 2–3: Getting established

File your taxes — Even if you arrived partway through the year and earned little income, filing a tax return is important. It establishes you in the tax system, may qualify you for benefits (GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit), and starts your record of Canadian residency.

Explore credential recognition — If your profession is regulated in Canada (engineering, medicine, nursing, accounting, law, etc.), research what's required to practice here. If you haven't already, get your education assessed through a WES ECA. Regulatory bodies set their own requirements, and the process can take months to years. Start early.

Network in your industry — Join professional associations, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn who work in your field in Canada. The Canadian job market relies heavily on networking. Many positions are filled through referrals before they're ever posted publicly.

Set up RRSP and TFSA accounts — Once you're earning income, open a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). These are powerful tax-advantaged accounts that help you save for retirement and other goals. Your bank can set these up when you're ready.

Things people often forget

Update your address with IRCC — If you move within your first year, update your address in your IRCC online account. This ensures your PR card renewal and any correspondence reaches you.

Keep your COPR and landing documents safe — Store your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, Record of Landing, and other immigration documents in a secure location. You may need them for citizenship applications later.

Understand your residency obligations — To maintain your PR status, you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every 5-year period. Plan your travel accordingly, especially if you need to return to your home country to wrap up affairs.

The first few months in a new country are busy, but each task you check off makes the next one easier. Take it one week at a time. If you have family or friends considering Express Entry, point them to our CRS Calculator, IELTS vs CELPIP guide, and immigration news to help them get started.