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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)

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Indeed Canada

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

LinkedIn Canada

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

Workopolis

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

Canadian Newcomer Magazine — Resume Tips

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Free

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

🏦Open a bank account

Banks that welcome newcomers

RBC Newcomer Advantage

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No credit history needed

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

Scotiabank StartRight

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No credit history needed

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

TD New to Canada

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No credit history needed

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

BMO NewStart

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No credit history needed

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

CIBC Smart for Newcomers

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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)

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🇨🇦 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

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Apply for Canadian Citizenship

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🇨🇦 Official

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

🏥Healthcare

Health cards by province

BC — Apply for MSP (BC Services Card)

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Ontario — Apply for OHIP

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Alberta — Apply for AHCIP

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Quebec — Apply for RAMQ

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🇨🇦 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

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🇨🇦 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

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Free

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

COSTI Immigrant Services

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Free

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

MOSAIC (BC)

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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

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

International Credential Recognition (Canada.ca)

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Find your regulator (by profession)

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🇨🇦 Official

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

🏠Find housing

Renting and buying in Canada

Rentals.ca

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

Padmapper

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

CMHC — Newcomer Housing Guide

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🇨🇦 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

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Free Tax Clinics (CVITP)

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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

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Newcomer-friendly

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

Lucky Mobile

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Newcomer-friendly

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

Freedom Mobile

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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)

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Find a school for your child (Ontario)

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Canada Learning Bond

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🇨🇦 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

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🇨🇦 Official

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

ServiceOntario — New Resident Licence

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🇨🇦 Official

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

Alberta Registries — Out-of-Country Licence

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🇨🇦 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

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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)

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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

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🇨🇦 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.