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🍁 Newcomer Resources

Everything an immigrant needs, in one place.

Hand-picked Canadian services for finding work, opening a bank account, getting your SIN, registering for healthcare, and more. All free to browse. Most are free to use.

💼Find a job

Where Canadians actually find work

Job Bank (Government of Canada)

🇨🇦 Official

Official federal job board. Filter by city, industry, and even employers approved to hire foreign workers.

Indeed Canada

Largest private job board in Canada. Set up alerts by city and job title.

LinkedIn Canada

Build your Canadian network. Most hiring managers check LinkedIn first.

Workopolis

Canadian-focused job board with strong listings in trades, retail, and admin.

Canadian Newcomer Magazine — Resume Tips

Free

Free articles on writing a Canadian-style resume and acing interviews.

🏦Open a bank account

Banks that welcome newcomers

RBC Newcomer Advantage

No credit history needed

No-fee chequing for first year, credit card with no Canadian credit history required.

Scotiabank StartRight

No credit history needed

Newcomer banking package — free chequing, credit card, and savings account.

TD New to Canada

No credit history needed

Bank account with no monthly fee for 12 months and credit card approval without Canadian credit history.

BMO NewStart

No credit history needed

Newcomer banking program with free chequing and credit-building options.

CIBC Smart for Newcomers

No credit history needed

Free chequing for first year + chance to get a credit card without Canadian credit history.

🆔SIN, ID & documents

Your first government IDs

Apply for your SIN (Social Insurance Number)

🇨🇦 Official

Free, official. You need a SIN to work in Canada and to file taxes. Most newcomers can apply online.

Apply for a Permanent Resident Card

🇨🇦 Official

Official IRCC page for PR card application, renewal, or replacement.

Apply for Canadian Citizenship

🇨🇦 Official

Official step-by-step guide once you meet residency requirements.

🏥Healthcare

Health cards by province

BC — Apply for MSP (BC Services Card)

🇨🇦 Official

Mandatory provincial health insurance. 3-month wait period after arrival in BC.

Ontario — Apply for OHIP

🇨🇦 Official

Ontario Health Insurance Plan. 3-month wait period for most newcomers.

Alberta — Apply for AHCIP

🇨🇦 Official

Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. No wait period for most newcomers.

Quebec — Apply for RAMQ

🇨🇦 Official

Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec. 3-month wait for most newcomers.

🤝Settlement help

Free in-person help, language classes

Find IRCC-Funded Settlement Services Near You

🇨🇦 Official

Free in-person help: job search, English/French classes, document translation, and more. Funded by IRCC, run by local non-profits.

YMCA Newcomer Services

Free

Free programs: language classes, employment counselling, community connections.

COSTI Immigrant Services

Free

Toronto-area newcomer services: language, employment, mental health support.

MOSAIC (BC)

Free

BC's largest settlement agency. Free language, employment, and family programs.

🎓Recognize your credentials

Use your degree in Canada

World Education Services (WES) — Credential Assessment

Most-used credential assessment for Express Entry, employment, and licensing.

International Credential Recognition (Canada.ca)

🇨🇦 Official

Official guide on getting your foreign credentials recognized for work in Canada.

Find your regulator (by profession)

🇨🇦 Official

Doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers — find your provincial regulator and the licensing path.

🏠Find housing

Renting and buying in Canada

Rentals.ca

Canada-wide rental listings. Filter by furnished, pet-friendly, utilities-included.

Padmapper

Map-based rental search across Canada. Good for comparing neighborhoods.

CMHC — Newcomer Housing Guide

🇨🇦 Official

Official Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation guide on renting, including your rights as a tenant.

📊File your taxes

Free tax help for newcomers

CRA — Newcomers to Canada Tax Guide

🇨🇦 Official

Official Canada Revenue Agency guide for your first tax return as a newcomer.

Free Tax Clinics (CVITP)

Free

Free volunteer-run tax filing if you make under ~$35K/year. Trained volunteers, walk-in or virtual.

📱Phone & internet

Affordable plans for newcomers

Public Mobile

Newcomer-friendly

Telus-owned discount carrier. Plans from ~$15/mo, no credit check, brings-your-own-device-friendly.

Lucky Mobile

Newcomer-friendly

Bell-owned prepaid carrier. No credit check, no contract, plans from ~$15/mo.

Freedom Mobile

Newcomer-friendly

Independent carrier with newcomer-friendly plans and roaming to the US.

🎒Schools & childcare

Register kids for school

Find a school for your child (BC)

🇨🇦 Official

Official BC K-12 school search and registration info for newcomers.

Find a school for your child (Ontario)

🇨🇦 Official

Ontario's official school finder by address. Register your kids for grades K-12.

Canada Learning Bond

🇨🇦 Official

Free $500 from the government for your child's education savings, plus $100/year. No contribution required.

🚗Driving

Convert your licence, get insurance

ICBC (BC) — Exchange Your Out-of-Country Licence

🇨🇦 Official

BC procedure to convert your foreign driver's licence. Some countries qualify for direct exchange.

ServiceOntario — New Resident Licence

🇨🇦 Official

Ontario procedure to exchange your foreign licence. Most countries require road test.

Alberta Registries — Out-of-Country Licence

🇨🇦 Official

Alberta procedure for converting your foreign licence.

🇨🇦Learn French

French opens Quebec, Express Entry bonus points, and federal jobs

Franco — Learn French for Canada

Newcomer-friendly

Built specifically for newcomers to Canada. CLB-aligned lessons cover the French needed for Express Entry bonus points (up to +50 CRS), TEF Canada, Quebec immigration, and federal jobs. Free A1/A2 levels, premium B1/B2.

Free TEF/TCF practice tests (CLB self-check)

Free

Practice the French test most Canadian immigration streams accept. Useful to know your CLB level before paying for the real exam.

IRCC — French points for Express Entry

🇨🇦 Official

Official IRCC guide: French as a first or second language adds up to 50 CRS points. Worth checking if you have any French at all.