Checklist of important Things to do after Migrating to Canada

Landing in Canada as a new permanent resident is the start of a long list of practical jobs, and the order you do them in matters. Some steps depend on others: you cannot do much without a SIN, and a bank account is easier with a local address. This is the checklist we give Cosmos clients who have just arrived, roughly in the order that works best. It applies whether you settle in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, or a smaller city.

1. Get your Social Insurance Number first

The SIN is a nine-digit number you need to work and to access government services. Apply through Service Canada; in most places you can do it online or at a Service Canada Centre with your passport and PR document. Nearly everything else, from a job to a tax account, needs it, so make this your first errand.

2. Open a bank account

The big Canadian banks have newcomer packages that often waive fees for the first year and do not require a Canadian credit history to open. Bring your passport, PR document, and SIN. Getting a Canadian account early also lets you start building a local credit record, which you will need later for a phone plan, a rental, or a car.

3. Apply for your health card

Healthcare is run by each province, not the federal government, so where you land decides your coverage and your waiting period. Some provinces cover you from arrival; others have a wait of up to three months, during which private insurance is worth having. Apply for your provincial health card as soon as you have an address, and check your specific province’s rule on the waiting period.

4. Find somewhere to live

Most newcomers rent first. Budget realistically for the city you are actually in: rent in Toronto and Vancouver is far higher than in most of the country, and landlords often ask for first and last month upfront plus proof of income. A short-term rental for the first few weeks, while you learn the neighbourhoods, usually beats signing a year lease sight unseen.

5. Sort out a phone and get connected

A local number makes job applications and rentals much easier. Prepaid plans need no credit history and are the simplest way to start; you can switch to a contract once you have a bank account and a small credit record.

6. Get your credentials assessed if you plan to work in your field

If your profession is regulated in Canada, such as nursing, engineering, teaching, or the trades, you will usually need your qualifications assessed and may need to license with a provincial body before you can work. Start this early, because it can take months. For unregulated jobs an Educational Credential Assessment still helps employers understand your qualifications.

7. Learn how tax and benefits work

Register for a My Account with the Canada Revenue Agency and file a tax return for your first year even if you earned little, because several benefits, including the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST credit, are paid based on your filed return. Missing that first filing is a common and costly mistake.

8. Settle in

Government-funded settlement agencies offer free help to new permanent residents with job searching, language classes, and understanding local services. They are already funded, so use them. Beyond the paperwork, the ordinary things, a library card, a transit pass, meeting neighbours, are what turn arrival into actually living somewhere.

How Cosmos Immigration helps

Our work usually finishes when your PR is approved, but we are happy to point clients toward the right first steps and the settlement services in their province so the landing goes smoothly. If you are planning your move from the UAE and want a realistic picture of the first few months, get in touch and we will walk you through it.

Reviewed by the Cosmos Immigration counselling team, August 2026. Provincial rules, especially health-coverage waiting periods, vary and change; confirm the details for your province on its official government site after you arrive.