🍁 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 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 articles on writing a Canadian-style resume and acing interviews.
🏦Open a bank account
Banks that welcome newcomers
RBC Newcomer Advantage
↗No-fee chequing for first year, credit card with no Canadian credit history required.
Scotiabank StartRight
↗Newcomer banking package — free chequing, credit card, and savings account.
TD New to Canada
↗Bank account with no monthly fee for 12 months and credit card approval without Canadian credit history.
BMO NewStart
↗Newcomer banking program with free chequing and credit-building options.
CIBC Smart for Newcomers
↗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)
↗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 IRCC page for PR card application, renewal, or replacement.
Apply for Canadian Citizenship
↗Official step-by-step guide once you meet residency requirements.
🏥Healthcare
Health cards by province
BC — Apply for MSP (BC Services Card)
↗Mandatory provincial health insurance. 3-month wait period after arrival in BC.
Ontario — Apply for OHIP
↗Ontario Health Insurance Plan. 3-month wait period for most newcomers.
Alberta — Apply for AHCIP
↗Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. No wait period for most newcomers.
Quebec — Apply for RAMQ
↗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
↗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 programs: language classes, employment counselling, community connections.
COSTI Immigrant Services
↗Toronto-area newcomer services: language, employment, mental health support.
MOSAIC (BC)
↗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 guide on getting your foreign credentials recognized for work in Canada.
Find your regulator (by profession)
↗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 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation guide on renting, including your rights as a tenant.
📊File your taxes
Free tax help for newcomers
📱Phone & internet
Affordable plans for newcomers
Public Mobile
↗Telus-owned discount carrier. Plans from ~$15/mo, no credit check, brings-your-own-device-friendly.
Lucky Mobile
↗Bell-owned prepaid carrier. No credit check, no contract, plans from ~$15/mo.
Freedom Mobile
↗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 BC K-12 school search and registration info for newcomers.
Find a school for your child (Ontario)
↗Ontario's official school finder by address. Register your kids for grades K-12.
Canada Learning Bond
↗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
↗BC procedure to convert your foreign driver's licence. Some countries qualify for direct exchange.
ServiceOntario — New Resident Licence
↗Ontario procedure to exchange your foreign licence. Most countries require road test.
Alberta Registries — Out-of-Country Licence
↗Alberta procedure for converting your foreign licence.
🇨🇦Learn French
French opens Quebec, Express Entry bonus points, and federal jobs
Franco — Learn French for Canada
↗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)
↗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 IRCC guide: French as a first or second language adds up to 50 CRS points. Worth checking if you have any French at all.