The first documents you need to obtain after immigrating to Canada

After arriving in Canada, all foreigners go through landing — a procedure to verify immigration status at the airport or border crossing point. The immigration process doesn't end there — you'll need to obtain necessary documents for living in the country.

1. Permanent Resident Card

The Permanent Resident Card (PR card) is one of the most important identification documents for immigrants in Canada. Only after receiving it can you apply for other necessary documents.

In most cases, an immigration officer at the airport initiates the PR card issuance on the day of arrival. You need to provide an address where it will be mailed within 48 days (as of July 2025). If you don't know where you'll be living yet, you can use a friend's address or apply for the card later on your own.

Generally, new residents aren't required to apply for a PR card, but must inform Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) of their Canadian mailing address within 180 days of arrival. IRCC will send the resident card to this address at no cost. If IRCC doesn't receive the address in time, you'll need to apply for the card through the regular process and pay a 50 CAD fee.

$$

To inform the Department of your mailing address, use the online tool. You'll need your Confirmation of Permanent Residence number.

The PR card is issued for 5 years and can be renewed. This document confirms permanent resident status and gives immigrants access to almost all social services available to Canadian citizens, allows unlimited entry and exit from Canada, the right to work and study in the country, and the right to apply for Canadian citizenship in the future. The only difference between permanent resident status and citizenship is that residents can't vote in elections or participate in the country's political life.

2. Social Insurance Number (SIN)

The number of people wanting to join the Cana...

China offers Canada joint production of elect...

Trump stripped Canada of its seat on the pres...

Canadians rallied around Prime Minister Carne...

Arctic cold has covered Canada with temperatu...

Trump lashed out at Carney after his speech i...

Canadian companies plan to raise salaries by ...

Gold breaks records and continues to rise des...

Prime Minister Carney concludes a nine-day wo...

Cenovus Energy is preparing to sell assets in...

Carney in Davos declared the breakdown of the...

German submarine manufacturer prepares multi-...

To get a credit card, bank loan, driver's license, rent long-term housing, apply for child benefits, health insurance, and employment documents, you need to obtain a 9-digit Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Sometimes you can get a SIN right at the airport upon arrival, but this isn't always possible. As of 2025, you can apply for a SIN online through the official Service Canada portal — this is the fastest method. Online applications are processed within 5 business days, and you can view your SIN in your My Service Canada Account. You can also get a SIN at a Service Canada office, which are available in most Canadian towns. To find the nearest location, use the online tool. Enter your address or postal code, search radius (in km), and click Find.

To get a SIN, all family members who immigrated to Canada need to visit a Service Canada office. Children aged 12 and older can have their own Social Insurance Numbers.

To obtain a SIN, you'll need one of the following documents:

• Permanent Resident Card
• Original Confirmation of Permanent Residence and passport
• Record of Landing or Verification of Landing

You'll also need to provide a mailing address for the documents. If you don't have a permanent address, you can use a friend's address.

If you live more than 100 km from the nearest Service Canada office, you can apply by mail. To submit an application, send the original documents mentioned above and a completed NAS 2120 form to:

Service Canada

Social Insurance Registration Office

PO Box 7000

Bathurst, New Brunswick E2A 4T1

Canada

You can receive the SIN confirmation letter during your visit to a Service Canada office or — if you applied by mail — by post within 20 business days. There is no fee for processing.

Your Social Insurance Number should be kept confidential. Only provide it when applying for government benefits, scholarships, loans, and other important documents.

3. Mobile Phone Plan and SIM Card

It's recommended to get a Canadian SIM card, set up mobile internet, and download Google Maps as soon as possible. This will help you find necessary institutions faster and avoid getting lost.

Major Canadian mobile carriers include Telus, Bell, Rogers, and Freedom. Websites like planhub.ca and comparecellular.ca can help you choose a suitable carrier and plan.

Mobile service in Canada is expensive. Standard plans often charge for services that are usually free in other countries, such as incoming calls, calls between subscribers of the same network, caller ID, etc. Unlimited packages cost 75-100 CAD per month.

Be careful when choosing not only your plan but also the payment method. You can opt for prepaid: first, you add money to your account, then use the service. In this case, you can cancel at any time. Contracts are more complicated. On one hand, the terms may be more favorable. On the other hand, you can't cancel early: you'll have to comply with all payment terms until the contract expires.

In Canada, phone numbers are tied to the subscriber, not the mobile carrier. This means you can keep your number if you switch carriers.

4. Credit Card

It's important to get a credit card in the first few days after arriving in Canada, as it will help you build a credit history — which is necessary for long-term housing rentals and obtaining bank loans.

Your credit history in Canada starts when you open a bank account and get a credit card. It takes about 3 months of active credit card use to establish.

A credit card allows you to borrow a limited amount of money to pay for goods and services. Some banks charge an annual fee for certain cards. Interest rates on purchases can start from 9% and exceed 20%. To choose a credit card, you can use the credit card comparison tool.

To get a credit card, you often need to have a credit history already. However, major Canadian banks are often willing to make exceptions for new immigrants.

Without a credit history, you can get a card with a limit of 1,500 to 2,000 Canadian dollars. This means that even if you have no money in your bank account, you can buy goods up to the limit. You need to replenish the account within a month. If you don't, your credit history will start to deteriorate and your credit score will drop. Additionally, you'll be charged a penalty of about 20% per year on the amount owed.

If you can't convince the bank of your creditworthiness when applying for a credit card, you can open a secured credit card. To do this, you need to deposit money into the credit card issuer's account. The credit limit is usually set as a percentage of your deposit. If you make payments on time, you can start building a credit history. Once the bank considers your credit history satisfactory, you can open a regular credit card.

5. Health Insurance

In Canada, healthcare is conditionally free, as the costs are included in taxes. However, new immigrants in most provinces can't use the public insurance system immediately after arrival. If you need to see a doctor, you'll have to pay for any examination at foreign visitor rates (which can amount to thousands of dollars).

In some Canadian provinces and territories, newcomers get access to provincial health insurance on the day of arrival or without a waiting period. For example, in Ontario, the three-month waiting period for new residents has been eliminated since 2025 — now OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) coverage starts immediately if requirements are met. However, in other regions, there's still a waiting period of up to 3 months after obtaining permanent residency. This rule applies in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.

For instance, if you moved to New Brunswick on August 20, August would be counted as the first month, with September and October as the following two. In this case, public insurance would start on November 1.

If you don't want to pay thousands of dollars for medical services in Canada, get temporary health insurance (Visitors to Canada Travel Medical Insurance or Insurance for Visitors to Canada).

The recommended coverage is 50,000 Canadian dollars, with a recommended insurance period of 3 months (or the remainder of the current month plus 2 months). You can use an insurance calculator to plan your insurance expenses, compare different companies, and buy insurance. Private health insurance costs from 125 to 500 Canadian dollars depending on your age, insurance coverage, existing illnesses, and insurance company.

Popular insurance companies in Canada are 21st Century Enhanced, Destination Canada, Travelance, and Manulife. The latter is more expensive and recommended for those with heart problems.

6. Driver's License

If you have a driver's license from your home country, you can likely use it in Canada for a short time after arrival: in Quebec — 6 months after arrival, in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan — 90 days, in Ontario — 60 days.

After arriving in Canada, you need to get a Driver's License in the province or territory where you plan to live to legally drive a car in this country. A Canadian license is a plastic card with your photo, name, address, and signature.

The process of getting a driver's license in Canada depends on the province or territory where you live. It may include:

• a written test on traffic rules (you can download or buy a study guide, or take online tests on a website developed by driving instructors);
• one or two practical exams (driving).

Here are some tips to help you pass the driving test:

• Before coming to Canada, get a certificate of driving experience from the police or other authority that issued your driver's license in your country. It should be in English or French. The certificate is hard to get, but if you manage to, it will greatly simplify the process of exchanging your license for a Canadian one.
• Once in Canada, study traffic rules in English and take the theory test in English. This will help in the future and during the practical exam where the instructor might give you hints. It will be easier to understand them.
• Also in Canada, take a few driving lessons. You can even find Russian-speaking instructors, as there are many such driving schools in Canada.
• Traffic rules in Canada may differ from those in your country. During the practical exam, look over your shoulder more often (shoulder check) and check your blind spot. If you don't do this, you might fail the exam. You'll also automatically fail if you don't yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk or run a red light.