Welcome to Canada: What you should know

Living in Canada: Your checklist

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• In your first few weeks
• In your first few months
• In your first year

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With so much to remember, we decided to create a checklist to help you to get the important things done first. We hope you find it useful.

In your first few weeks

You will need to

• Exchange your money for Canadian currency
• Find temporary accommodation
• Have some identification (ID) with you
• Apply for private Health Insurance
• Get a map of the area and find out about transportation in your area
• Get your own telephone book
• Contact an immigrant-serving organization in your community
• Fill out the forms for a Social Insurance Number card and a Health Insurance card

In your first few months

You will likely need to

• Find permanent housing
• Get a telephone installed
• Register your children in school
• Get a family doctor
• Have your children immunized
• Open a bank account
• Look for a job
• Carry your address and telephone number with you
• Try to make friends — join the Host Program
• Know where the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) assessment centre is in your community and register for language classes
• Apply for the Canada Child Tax Benefit; call 1-800-387-1193
• Apply for the GST/HST Credit; use Form RC151, Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit Application found in the back pocket of this guide, or call 1-800-959-1953 for more information.

In your first year

You may wish to

• Get a valid driver’s licence
• Practise and improve your language skills
• Register for adult continuing education classes
• Take time to relax and participate in community activities
• Understand your rights and responsibilities under Canadian law
• Know that you can apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada for three years

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