Your first ninety days in Canada: SIN, health coverage, banking, and credit

The paperwork that gets you to Canada is only the beginning. The first few months are about putting the everyday foundations in place. None of this is immigration advice — it is the practical groundwork most newcomers handle soon after landing.

1. Social Insurance Number (SIN)

You need a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada and to access certain government programs. It is free to apply, and you can often do so online or in person shortly after you arrive. Keep the number private — it is sensitive.

2. Health coverage

Health care is administered by the provinces and territories, and coverage does not always begin the day you arrive — some provinces apply a waiting period. Apply for your provincial health card promptly, and consider interim private coverage for any gap.

3. A bank account

Most major Canadian banks offer newcomer accounts designed for people who have recently arrived, often with reduced fees for an introductory period. Opening an account early makes receiving pay and paying rent far simpler.

4. Building credit

Canada runs on a credit history, and yours starts near-empty when you arrive. A secured or newcomer credit card, used modestly and paid in full each month, is the usual way to begin building a record that will matter later for renting, financing, or a mortgage.

A short checklist

• Apply for your SIN
• Apply for your provincial or territorial health card
• Open a bank account
• Start building credit responsibly
• Find settlement services in your area — many are free and funded to help newcomers

Requirements and timelines differ by province and change over time. Use the official Canada.ca newcomer pages as your starting point, and your local settlement agency for hands-on help.