Your first 30 days in Canada
Your first month in Canada is a chain of tasks where each one unlocks the next. A Canadian phone number, your SIN and a bank account come first, because almost everything else asks for them. Some clocks, like your driving licence exchange, start the day you arrive.
In 30 seconds
- At the border: declare your goods to follow on Form B4, and any cash or drafts of C$10,000 or more
- Week one: a Canadian SIM, your SIN, a bank account and your provincial health card application
- Then: a longer-term home, schools, child benefits and your driving licence, which Ontario says you must switch within 60 days
The order of things
| When | Task | Why now |
|---|---|---|
| At the border | Declare goods to follow on Form B4, and C$10,000 or more in cash or drafts (shipping, moving money) | Goods not listed when you first arrive lose their duty-free status |
| Days 1–3 | Get a Canadian SIM (phones and internet) | Banks and government services send security codes to a local number |
| Week 1 | Apply for your SIN online (SIN and tax) | Your employer needs it, and it takes about 5 business days |
| Week 1 | Open or activate your bank account (bank accounts) | To get paid, pay rent and move money from the UK |
| Week 1 | Apply for your provincial health card (healthcare) | Some provinces make you wait for cover, and the wait starts from when you arrive |
| Weeks 1–4 | Find a longer-term home (finding a home, rental scams) | Most other tasks need a permanent address |
| First day at work | Fill in your TD1 tax forms (SIN and tax) | So the right tax is taken from your first pay |
| Within 60 or 90 days | Switch your UK driving licence (driving) | Ontario allows 60 days; BC and Alberta 90 |
| Once you have an address | Enrol children at school (schools) | Public school places often depend on where you live |
| Once you are resident | Apply for the Canada Child Benefit or the groceries benefit (SIN and tax) | You don’t need to wait for your first tax return |
Why the order matters
Many tasks depend on others. A bank wants your immigration document and ideally a Canadian phone number. Your employer needs your SIN and bank details to pay you. A landlord wants ID and proof you can pay the rent, and a provincial health card, a driving licence and a school place all need an address. Doing them in order saves repeat visits.
Health cover from day one
Each province runs its own health plan, and the rules differ.
| Province | When cover starts for newcomers |
|---|---|
| Ontario (OHIP) | No waiting period if you are eligible |
| British Columbia (MSP) | After the rest of the month you arrive, plus 2 months. Apply as soon as you arrive |
| Alberta (AHCIP) | There may be a waiting period: check when you register |
BC tells new arrivals to buy private health insurance for the gap. Check your own province before you travel and book cover from the day you land: see How does healthcare work in Canada? Check your province’s health plan rules
Your driving licence
You can drive on your UK licence for a short time only. Ontario lets new residents use it for 60 days. BC gives you 90 days to switch to a BC licence, and Alberta says you must exchange within 90 days of becoming resident, even if you travel during that time. Other provinces, including Quebec and Nova Scotia, set their own periods. Book the appointment early. Alberta keeps your old licence when you exchange it, so ask about proof of your UK record before you hand it over. See Can I drive on my UK licence?
Money in your first month
Plan for a gap before your first payday, and for set-up costs such as a rent deposit, furniture and winter clothes. Work out your cash buffer with the moving fund calculator and compare cities with How much does it cost to live in Canada? Start building a Canadian credit history early: see credit history.
Benefits and tax
Once you are resident, apply for the Canada Child Benefit on forms RC66 and RC66SCH if you have children, or for the groceries benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit) on form RC151 if you don’t. Temporary residents wait until their 19th month for the Child Benefit. Register for CRA My Account so you can follow your payments. See How much tax will I pay?
What to do next
- Put your SIN, bank, health card and licence deadlines in your calendar
- Apply for your SIN and health card in your first week
- Book a licence exchange appointment before your deadline
- CBSA: Memorandum D2-2-1: Settlers’ effects, tariff item 9807.00.00
- Service Canada: Social Insurance Number: Apply
- Wealthsimple: How to open a bank account in Canada as a newcomer (Sep 2026)
- Government of Ontario: Apply for OHIP and get a health card
- Government of British Columbia: How to enrol in MSP
- Government of Alberta: AHCIP eligibility
- Government of Ontario: Exchange an out-of-province driver’s licence
- ICBC: Moving to B.C. from outside Canada
- Government of Alberta: Exchange non-Alberta licences
- CRA: Newcomers to Canada and the CRA