North America · Arrival Guide
Just Landed in Canada? Your First 7 Days
Canada is vast, cold for much of the year and heavily concentrated in a handful of cities, with most newcomers landing in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary. Tap-to-pay is universal, tipping is expected and significant, and winters are genuinely severe, so in your first week sort out a SIM, a bank account and a Social Insurance Number, apply for provincial health coverage, and buy a proper winter coat before it turns cold.
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Getting your bearings in Canada
Arriving in Canada rarely feels dramatic. The border officer stamps you through, the airport is calm and orderly, and the first thing that hits many newcomers is simply the scale of the place and, depending on the season, the temperature outside the terminal doors. Canada is the second-largest country on earth but its population of roughly 41 million clusters within a couple of hundred kilometres of the United States border. In practice this means life happens in a short list of metropolitan areas: Toronto and its sprawling Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver on the Pacific coast, bilingual Montreal, oil-and-tech Calgary, government-town Ottawa, and smaller centres such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax and Quebec City.
The language reality depends heavily on where you land. Most of the country operates in English, but Quebec functions in French by law and by daily habit, and federal services everywhere are offered in both. In Montreal you can get by in English, though effort in French is genuinely appreciated and increasingly expected. Elsewhere, English dominates and the accent is easy on newcomers used to North American media.
The pace is unhurried and rules-driven. Canadians queue, apologise reflexively, respect personal space and expect a certain politeness in return. Bureaucracy is generally clean and digital, though slow: booking a family doctor, getting provincial health coverage activated, or building a credit history all take patience and paperwork. What surprises people most is the cost. Housing in Toronto and Vancouver is punishing, groceries have climbed sharply, and mobile phone plans are among the most expensive in the developed world. Set against that are high wages, clean cities, functioning public services and a multicultural texture where being foreign-born is entirely normal rather than remarkable.
Seasons shape everything. Summers are warm, long-lit and social; winters, especially inland, are long, dark and cold enough to be genuinely hazardous. Newcomers who arrive in autumn are often caught out by how fast and how hard the first freeze arrives.
Your first 48 hours
The essentials to sort out the moment you land in Canada.
- 1
Buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM
Kiosks in the arrivals halls at Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International sell prepaid SIMs, and you can also walk into any mall for one. The discount brands are cheapest: Public Mobile, Fido, Koodo and Freedom Mobile typically run CAD 30-45 for a decent data plan. Bring your passport, as some plans require ID, and note that an eSIM from these brands can be bought and activated before you even land.
- 2
Withdraw a small amount of cash
Use an ATM from one of the Big Five banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) inside the terminal rather than standalone currency-exchange machines, which give poor rates and heavy fees. CAD 100-200 covers incidentals until your account and card are set up. Most places take contactless, so you will not need much physical cash beyond tips and the odd small vendor or market.
- 3
Get from the airport into the city
In Toronto, the UP Express train runs from Pearson to Union Station downtown in about 25 minutes for around CAD 12.35, far cheaper than a CAD 60-plus taxi. In Vancouver, the Canada Line SkyTrain links YVR to downtown in roughly 25 minutes for about CAD 9. Uber and Lyft operate from marked pickup zones at all major airports, and licensed airport taxis have fixed or metered fares posted at the rank.
- 4
Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
You cannot work or be paid legally without a nine-digit SIN, and employers, banks and the tax authority all ask for it. Apply online through Service Canada or in person at a Service Canada Centre with your passport and immigration document (permanent resident card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or work permit). It is free, and in person it is usually issued the same day; online applications take a little longer by post.
- 5
Register for provincial health coverage
Health care is run by each province, so apply for your provincial health card (OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, RAMQ in Quebec, AHCIP in Alberta) as soon as you arrive. Ontario and some provinces impose a waiting period of up to three months before coverage begins. Arrange private cover to bridge that gap, because a single visit to hospital as an uninsured patient can cost thousands of dollars.
- 6
Open a bank account with a newcomer package
The Big Five and the online banks all court new arrivals aggressively, waiving the monthly fee for the first year and often throwing in a cash bonus or a fee-free credit card. Book an appointment or use a branch near the airport or your hotel with your passport and immigration document. Getting a Canadian debit card and a credit card early is the first step to building the credit history you will need to rent and borrow.
- 7
Set up Interac e-Transfer straight away
Once your account is live, enable Interac e-Transfer in your banking app and register your email and phone. This is the near-universal way Canadians send money to each other, and landlords, roommates and casual sellers will expect to be paid this way. It is instant, free at most banks, and avoids the need for cheques or cash for rent and deposits.
- 8
Buy appropriate clothing for the season
If you land between October and April, prioritise a proper insulated coat rated for cold, waterproof winter boots with grip, gloves and a hat before anything else. Outdoor and value retailers such as Mark's, Canadian Tire, Winners and Costco carry affordable winter gear. A single unprepared week in a genuine cold snap, with wind chills below minus 20, is miserable and can be dangerous.
Your first week checklist
- Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) online through Service Canada or in person at a Service Canada Centre, as you cannot legally be paid without it.
- Open a chequing account with one of the Big Five banks using a newcomer package, and order a debit card and set up online banking.
- Register for your provincial health card (OHIP, MSP, RAMQ or the equivalent) in the province where you will live, and note any waiting period.
- Buy a local prepaid SIM or activate an eSIM from a discount brand so you have a Canadian number for banking, rentals and job applications.
- Set up Interac e-Transfer in your banking app, as it is the standard way rent, deposits and person-to-person payments move in Canada.
- Start your housing search on Rentals.ca, Realtor.ca and Facebook Marketplace, and line up references and proof of funds since you will lack Canadian credit.
- If you are arriving into autumn or winter, buy an insulated winter coat, waterproof boots and gloves before the first cold snap rather than after.
- Get a transit card for your city (Presto, Compass or OPUS) or confirm your contactless bank card works to tap on directly.
- Register your children for school through the local school board and gather immunisation records, or look into childcare waitlists, which are long.
Getting connected
Mobile coverage is strong in cities and along the populated southern corridor but thins out fast in rural and northern areas. Canadian plans are among the most expensive in the world, so it pays to shop the discount brands rather than the flagship networks. Home internet is fast and widely available, with Rogers, Bell and Telus dominating and cheaper resellers like TekSavvy and oxio undercutting them.
Typical cost: CAD 35-60 per month for a prepaid plan with 20-50GB of data on a discount brand; flagship carriers charge CAD 70-90 for similar
Money & banking
Canada is largely cashless: contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere, including transit and small shops. Crucially, prices are shown before tax, so the total at the till is always higher than the sticker once federal GST and provincial sales tax are added, ranging from 5 percent in Alberta to around 15 percent in the Atlantic provinces.
Opening an account: The Big Five are RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC, and all offer newcomer packages with the monthly fee waived for the first year, plus a starter credit card and sometimes a cash bonus. Bring your passport and immigration document; you can often start the process online before arrival. Tangerine and EQ Bank are popular low-fee online options with no branch network but strong apps and higher savings rates.
Cash: Cash is optional and declining, though still useful for small vendors, tips and some markets. The one-cent penny was withdrawn from circulation in 2013, so cash totals are rounded to the nearest five cents while card payments are charged to the exact cent. Carrying CAD 40-60 for the odd situation is plenty.
Tipping: Tipping is expected and substantial: 15-20 percent at restaurants and bars, and similar for taxis, hairdressers and food delivery. Card terminals routinely prompt you to add a tip, sometimes with default buttons starting at 18 or 20 percent and occasionally calculated on the post-tax total, so check the figure and feel free to enter a custom amount before tapping.
Registration & residency
Canada has no residents' registration or compulsory address-registration system, unlike much of continental Europe, so there is no town hall to report to when you move in. Instead your genuinely essential first steps are applying for a Social Insurance Number so you can work and be taxed correctly, and registering for your provincial health card so you are covered for medical care. You should also keep your address current with immigration authorities if you hold or are awaiting a permanent resident card, and update it with the tax authority when you file.
Where: Social Insurance Number via Service Canada (canada.ca) online or at a Service Canada Centre; health card via your provincial health ministry (ServiceOntario, Health Insurance BC, RAMQ, Alberta Health)
Documents to keep handy:
- Passport and your immigration document (Confirmation of Permanent Residence, permanent resident card, work permit or study permit).
- Proof of funds or recent bank statements, useful for opening accounts and satisfying landlords who cannot check Canadian credit.
- Your Social Insurance Number, once issued, kept secure and never carried loosely, as it is a key identity number for tax and employment.
- Vaccination and immunisation records, particularly for enrolling children in school and registering with a doctor.
- Educational and professional credentials, ideally with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you plan to work in a regulated field.
- A driving licence and, if possible, a letter from your previous insurer confirming your claims-free history to reduce car insurance costs.
Getting around
Big cities have reliable public transit run on tap-and-go fare cards: Presto in the Greater Toronto and Ottawa areas, Compass in Metro Vancouver, and OPUS in Montreal. On several networks, including the TTC and Vancouver's TransLink, you can now tap on directly with a contactless bank card or phone and be charged the same fare. Outside dense city cores transit thins out quickly, and in most of the country a car is close to essential.
From the airport: Toronto: UP Express train from Pearson to Union Station in about 25 minutes (around CAD 12.35), or the TTC bus network for less. Vancouver: Canada Line SkyTrain from YVR to downtown in around 25 minutes (about CAD 9 including the airport surcharge). Montreal: the 747 express bus links Trudeau airport to downtown around the clock. Uber and Lyft operate from signed pickup zones at all major airports.
Finding a home
Renting is competitive and expensive, brutally so in Toronto and Vancouver, and more manageable in Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and smaller cities. Listings sit on Rentals.ca, Realtor.ca, Kijiji, PadMapper and Facebook Marketplace, and desirable units move within days. Landlords typically ask for references, proof of income, a credit check and sometimes pay stubs, which is hard to satisfy on arrival, so offering a co-signer, several months' rent upfront, or a larger deposit often helps you compete.
Typical rent: CAD 2,000-2,800 per month for a one-bedroom flat in Toronto or Vancouver; CAD 1,300-1,700 in Calgary, Ottawa or Montreal; a room in a shared home runs CAD 800-1,400
Deposit norm: Usually first and last month's rent upfront; in Ontario and BC a landlord cannot legally charge a separate damage deposit beyond that, though many still ask for a modest key deposit, and rent-controlled buildings limit how much rent can rise each year
Healthcare
Health care is publicly funded and delivered province by province, so coverage rules and waiting periods differ by where you live. Care is free at the point of use for insured residents, funded through taxes, but new arrivals in provinces like Ontario and BC can face a waiting period of up to three months before their card is active, during which you are responsible for your own medical costs.
How to access it: Apply for your provincial health card (OHIP, MSP, RAMQ, AHCIP) as soon as you arrive, then try to register with a family doctor, though waiting lists can run to years in some areas, so many people rely on walk-in clinics and telehealth services in the meantime. For non-urgent medical advice call the provincial health line (811 in most provinces); for emergencies call 911 or go to a hospital emergency department, where you will be triaged by severity and may wait hours for non-critical issues.
Insurance: Buy private insurance to cover any initial waiting period, since an uninsured hospital stay can cost thousands. Note that public plans generally do not cover prescription drugs, dental or routine eye care, which employers commonly top up through group benefits. Sun Life, Manulife and the provincial Blue Cross plans are common providers of supplementary and newcomer cover.
Culture & etiquette
- Politeness is the default: say please, thank you and sorry freely, hold doors for the person behind you, and queue patiently without pushing in.
- Punctuality matters for work, appointments and even social invitations; arriving late without a message is read as disrespectful.
- Tipping is a social obligation rather than a bonus, so under-tipping in a restaurant, bar or taxi will be quietly noticed and resented.
- Respect bilingualism and multiculturalism; in Quebec, opening a conversation with a few words of French is genuinely appreciated and goes a long way.
- Personal space and privacy are valued, so avoid standing too close, asking probing personal questions early, or raising your voice in public.
- Small talk is friendly but often surface-level; a warm 'how's it going' is a greeting, not always an invitation to share your life story.
- Acknowledge Indigenous peoples respectfully; land acknowledgements at events are common and reflect an ongoing national conversation about reconciliation.
Things to watch out for
- Winter is dangerous, not merely uncomfortable. Temperatures with wind chill can fall below minus 20, so buy an insulated coat, grippy boots and gloves before the cold sets in, and take frostbite warnings seriously.
- Prices are quoted before tax and tip, so a menu figure can end up 25-30 percent higher at the till than it looked on the page.
- Distances are enormous; a 'nearby' city can be a full day's drive, and rural areas have little or no public transit, so plan travel carefully.
- Cannabis is legal federally but regulated by each province, with different rules on where you can buy it and where you may consume it, so check local rules.
- Building credit takes time and effort; without a Canadian credit history you may struggle to rent, get a phone contract or borrow, so start with a secured or newcomer credit card early.
Apps to download before you land
Uber / Lyft
Rideshare and food delivery across all major cities, often cheaper than taxis
Transit
Real-time public transport arrivals, route planning and service alerts nationwide
Presto / Compass / OPUS
Manage and top up your city transit fare card and check your balance
Interac / your bank app
Send money instantly by e-Transfer, the standard way to pay rent and people
Kijiji / Facebook Marketplace
Rentals, second-hand furniture, cars and local classifieds
Flipp
Compare weekly grocery flyers and deals to cut your food bill across the big chains
Weather Network / WeatherCAN
Reliable forecasts and severe-weather and wind-chill warnings, essential in winter
Where newcomers live
Where newcomers settle depends on the city, but a pattern repeats: central neighbourhoods are expensive and walkable, while transit-connected suburbs offer space and established immigrant communities for less money. Toronto and Vancouver dominate arrivals; Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa are more affordable alternatives with strong job markets. Many first-year arrivals rent a room or share before committing to a lease of their own.
Scarborough and Mississauga (Greater Toronto)
Diverse, suburban and comparatively affordable, with huge South Asian, East Asian and Caribbean communities, familiar food and groceries, and good transit and GO train links into central Toronto.
Downtown Toronto and Midtown
Walkable, dense and expensive, with condo towers, TTC access and a job-rich core. Popular with young professionals willing to pay a premium for a short commute and city life.
Surrey and Burnaby (Metro Vancouver)
More affordable than central Vancouver, well connected by SkyTrain, and home to large Punjabi, Chinese and Filipino communities, with newer housing and easier space than the city proper.
Plateau-Mont-Royal and Villeray (Montreal)
Characterful French-speaking neighbourhoods with lower rents than Toronto or Vancouver, cafe culture, walkability and metro access, popular with students, creatives and newcomers open to living in French.
Northeast Calgary
Affordable, family-oriented and multicultural, close to the airport with growing transit, favoured by newcomers drawn to Alberta's higher wages, lower taxes and cheaper housing.
Ottawa: Barrhaven and Kanata
Safe, green suburban communities popular with families and public-service and tech workers, offering good schools, newer homes and a calmer pace than the big two cities.
What things cost
Canada is an expensive country and housing is the driver, especially in Toronto and Vancouver where rent can swallow half a salary. Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and smaller centres are markedly cheaper. Groceries and mobile plans surprise newcomers with how high they run, while public transit is reasonably priced. Remember every figure below is before sales tax, and restaurants add a 15 to 20 percent tip on top.
Staying safe & avoiding scams
Canada is a safe country by global standards, with low rates of violent crime and reliable emergency services reachable on 911. The realistic dangers for newcomers are environmental and financial rather than criminal: winter cold that can cause frostbite within minutes, icy pavements, and the occasional wildlife encounter outside cities. In larger downtown cores you may notice visible homelessness, open drug use and property crime such as car and bike theft, so keep valuables out of sight and be sensible late at night in specific areas. Financial scams targeting newcomers, particularly fake tax and immigration calls and fraudulent rental listings, are far more likely to harm you than any physical threat.
Newcomers are common targets. Know these before you arrive — and read our guide to avoiding immigration scams.
CRA and immigration impersonation calls
Callers, texts or emails claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency or immigration authorities say you owe a debt or that your status is at risk, and threaten arrest, a large fine or deportation unless you pay immediately, often in gift cards, cryptocurrency or bank transfer. The CRA never demands payment that way, never threatens arrest by phone, and never asks for payment in gift cards. Hang up, do not click links, and verify any real concern through official channels on canada.ca.
Fake rental listings and deposit theft
Scammers copy photos and details from real listings on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, advertise a suspiciously cheap flat in a desirable area, then demand a deposit or first-and-last month's rent before you can view it, usually claiming to be overseas and unable to show it in person. Never send money before inspecting a property, meeting the landlord and signing a proper provincial lease agreement, and be wary of any deal that feels too good.
Job and immigration consultant fraud
Fake recruiters and unlicensed 'consultants' promise guaranteed jobs, LMIAs or fast-tracked permanent residency for a fee, or recruit you to move money through your bank account, which can make you an unwitting money mule. Only use immigration consultants registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) or a licensed lawyer, and treat any employer that asks you to pay upfront as fraudulent.
Bank and e-Transfer phishing
Fraudsters send texts or emails posing as your bank or Interac, warning of a locked account or a pending e-Transfer and linking to a fake login page that harvests your credentials. Banks will never ask for your full password or PIN, and legitimate e-Transfers do not require you to log in through a texted link. Access your bank only through its official app or by typing the address yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my address when I arrive?
No. Canada has no address-registration system or residents' registry, so there is nowhere to report your move. Your genuine first priorities are applying for a Social Insurance Number so you can work and be taxed correctly, and registering for your provincial health card. Keep your address updated with immigration if you hold a permanent resident card.
How do I get healthcare as a newcomer?
Apply for your provincial health card (OHIP in Ontario, MSP in BC, RAMQ in Quebec, AHCIP in Alberta) as soon as you land. Some provinces impose a waiting period of up to three months, so buy private cover to bridge the gap. Until you find a family doctor, and waiting lists for one are long, use walk-in clinics and the 811 health line for non-urgent care.
Why is my bill higher than the price on the label?
Prices in Canada are displayed before tax. Federal GST and provincial sales taxes, together ranging from about 5 percent in Alberta to 15 percent in the Atlantic provinces, are added at the till. On top of that, restaurants, bars and taxis expect a 15 to 20 percent tip, so a meal can end up nearly a third more than the menu price.
Can I open a bank account before I arrive?
Often yes. RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC all run newcomer programmes and let you begin an account online from overseas, then verify your ID and collect your card after landing with your passport and immigration document. Getting an account and a starter credit card early is important for building the Canadian credit history you will need to rent and borrow.
How hard is it to find a place to rent?
In Toronto and Vancouver it is competitive and expensive, and landlords usually want references, proof of income and a Canadian credit check that you will not yet have. Offering several months upfront, a co-signer or extra documentation helps you compete. Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and smaller cities are considerably easier and cheaper, and many newcomers start by renting a room before signing their own lease.
Do I really need a car?
It depends entirely on where you live. In central Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal you can live well on transit, cycling and the occasional rideshare. In the suburbs, smaller cities and rural areas, a car is close to essential because transit is sparse. Bear in mind that car insurance for a newcomer with no Canadian driving record can be expensive, so bring proof of your claims history.
How cold does winter actually get?
Very cold in most of the country. Inland cities like Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal routinely see temperatures well below freezing, with wind chills below minus 20 or worse. Vancouver is the mild exception, wet rather than frozen. Buy a proper insulated coat, grippy waterproof boots and gloves before winter arrives, and learn to check wind-chill and snow warnings.
Why are phone plans so expensive and how do I save?
Canada's mobile market is dominated by three carriers (Rogers, Bell, Telus) and prices are among the highest globally. The saving is to use their discount brands: Public Mobile, Fido, Koodo and Freedom Mobile offer 20 to 50GB plans for CAD 35 to 45, far less than the flagship networks. Watch for promotional deals, which are common around Black Friday and back-to-school.
How do I build a credit history from scratch?
A Canadian credit score is needed to rent, get a phone contract and borrow, and you start with none. Open a bank account, get a newcomer or secured credit card, use it for small purchases and pay the balance in full each month. Never miss a payment, keep your balance well below the limit, and over six months to a year you will build a usable score.
Can I get by with only English?
Almost everywhere outside Quebec, yes; English is the working language and services are easy to access. In Quebec, French is the official language of work, government and daily life, and while you can manage in English in Montreal, effort in French is expected and increasingly required for jobs. Federal services are available in both languages across the country.
Planning the move, not just the landing?
This guide covers your first days on the ground. If you’re still weighing visas and pathways to Canada, start with a free eligibility assessment.
