SETTLING IN
Canada offers newcomers a lot of free help, if you know where to look. Here are the first steps, the official place for each one, and what changes by province.
You need a SIN to work in Canada and to get government benefits. Apply with Service Canada; it's free.
Official source · Service Canada: SIN(canada.ca)Health care is run by each province, and some provinces have a waiting period before coverage starts. Apply as soon as you arrive, and buy private insurance for any waiting period. See your province below.
The Government of Canada funds free services for newcomers: help finding a job, language classes, and help with everyday life. Find the organizations near you with the official tool.
Official source · IRCC: Find free newcomer services(ircc.canada.ca)Public schools are free. Contact your local school board to register your children.
Government agencies don't threaten arrest by phone or ask for payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency. If a call feels urgent and frightening, hang up and call the agency's official number yourself.
Last checked November 11, 2026.
The guides are in English for now. Translations are on the way.
General information to help you get started, not legal advice. Rules change, so always confirm on the official page. For questions about immigration status, talk to a lawyer or a free, accredited legal-aid organization.