Newcomer Money Checklist: Your First 90 Days in Canada

Before and when you arrive

Keep your immigration documents together

What to carry: Keep your physical passport, COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence), work/study permit approval letters, and port-of-entry (POE) introduction letters in your carry-on luggage.
Why it matters: You must present original physical documents to the border officer upon landing to get your official status paper issued. Digital copies or packed luggage copies will not be accepted.
Pro-tip: Bring physical copies of your marriage certificate and your children’s vaccination and school records, as these are required later for school registration and family benefits.

Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)

How to apply: If you land at a major international airport (like Toronto Pearson or Vancouver International) during business hours, look for the Service Canada desk inside the customs area to get your SIN before leaving the airport. Otherwise, visit a Service Canada office in person on your first weekday.
SIN@Landing counters are in the arrivals area at six international airports.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Terminal 1: Located directly inside the Arrivals baggage claim hall, near baggage carousel 7.
- Terminal 3: Located inside the Arrivals baggage claim hall, near the designated domestic/international exit gate area.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Located on Level 3 (International Arrivals area), near the main immigration exit gates before you pass into the public welcome terminal space.
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Located inside the customs and immigration secondary processing section, next to the main desks where work and study permits are printed.
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Located inside the International Arrivals baggage hall, near the exits leading from the CBSA customs clearance floor.
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- Located immediately past the secure border clearance area, inside the baggage claim zone before the public greeting doors.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
- Located inside the primary international arrivals clearance and immigration intake pavilion.
If you miss the counter or find it closed, use the Service Canada Finder to find a walk-in office near where you will live.
Counter positions and opening hours can change. Follow the airport signs and check the hours before you land.
Why it matters: Your SIN is a 9-digit number required to legally work, get paid, and open bank accounts. You cannot be added to a Canadian employer's payroll system without it.
Security note: Treat your SIN like cash. Never text it, email it, or carry the physical document in your wallet once issued; write it down somewhere secure.

Get your provincial health coverage

How to register: Research your specific destination province's healthcare plan before boarding (e.g., OHIP in Ontario, MSP in BC, AHCIP in Alberta). Prepare the exact proof of residency documents they require.
Why it matters: Waiting periods vary wildly across Canada. Some provinces cover you on day one, while others require a strict 3-month waiting period before your public insurance kicks in.
Action item: If your destination province has a waiting period, you must purchase private travel/emergency medical insurance to cover your family for those exact first 90 days before you board your flight.

Secure initial funds and currency conversion

How to prepare: Set up a multi-currency digital wallet (like Wise) or open a Canadian bank account from abroad (many major Canadian banks allow you to apply online up to 30 days before arrival).
Why it matters: Converting large cash amounts at airport kiosks offers the worst possible exchange rates. Having digital access to Canadian Dollars (CAD) on day one ensures you can pay for airport transit, food, and emergency accommodation without paying massive foreign transaction fees on your home-country bank cards.
Declaration rule: If you are carrying physical cash, traveler's cheques, or bank drafts worth $10,000 CAD or more (or equivalent in foreign currency) across the border, you must legally declare it to border services on your arrival form to avoid severe fines and seizure.

First two weeks

Open a chequing account

Shop around for “Newcomer Packages”: Major banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC) compete for your business by offering 12 to 24 months of zero monthly fees, free international money transfers, and cash sign-up bonuses.
Get a bundled credit card: Look for packages that approve you for your first credit card without requiring a Canadian credit history.
Ask about the “after” plan: Find out exactly what the account will cost once the free newcomer period ends, and what minimum daily balance you'll need to keep to waive that monthly fee (about $4,000 at most big banks).
Read: what banks charge after the free period

Set up a phone plan and a mailing address

Establish an address: Use a lease, a temporary rental or a friend's or family member's address you can rely on. Banks and other services often ask for a document showing your name and address, such as a lease or a utility bill.
Bring your own phone (BYOD): Bring an unlocked phone from home and sign up for a monthly plan without a new phone (often called SIM-only). That way you avoid paying off an expensive phone over two years. Check that your phone works on Canadian networks before you sign.
Why it matters: You'll need a Canadian phone number (+1) and a mailing address to verify online banking, set up utilities and apply for jobs.

Set up online and mobile bankingTurn on alerts for low balances and large payments.

First 90 days

Get your first credit cardChoose a newcomer card, a secured card or a no-fee card with low income requirements.

Set up automatic paymentsPay the full balance on time every month to build your credit history.

Learn what your bank chargesCheck the fee schedule for transfers, wires and foreign currency.

Compare ways to send money abroadCompare the fee and the exchange rate together, not the fee alone.

Request your free credit reportEquifax Canada and TransUnion Canada each keep a file on you. Check it for errors.

Open a TFSA or RRSP when you are readyBoth are registered savings accounts with different tax rules. Learn the difference first.

File your income tax returnFiling each year helps you access benefits and credits, even with little or no income.

Newcomer Checklist

Before and when you arrive

First two weeks

First 90 days