You landed.Now what?Your first days in Canada, sorted.
The plane lands and the real list begins. Permit, SIN, bank, health, status. Here is the order to do it in.
Arriving is thestart, not the finish.
Getting off the plane feels like the end of a long journey. It is actually the start of a short, busy one. The first few weeks decide how smoothly your whole studies begin, from money to a phone to a doctor.
And one thing is yours alone to protect: your status. Stay enrolled, stay inside the rules, and the door to work and a future stays open. We make sure you know exactly what to do, and in what order.
Five moves, in order.
Do these first, and in this sequence. Tap each one.
Get your permit at the airport
Your study permit is printed at the port of entry, not before. Have your letter of introduction, letter of acceptance, travel document and proof of funds ready for the officer.
Read your printed permit on the spot, the dates and the work conditions must be correct.
Apply for your SIN
A Social Insurance Number is the nine-digit number you need to work in Canada. Apply through Service Canada once your permit shows work conditions.
No SIN means no legal pay, so this is an early-week priority.
Open a bank account
A Canadian account lets you receive pay, pay rent and avoid foreign fees. Most banks have student accounts built for newcomers.
Bring your permit, passport and proof of address to open one.
Lock in health cover
Health coverage is required, and the rules vary by province. Some provinces cover students, others expect a private or school plan, so confirm yours straight away.
Know what you are covered for before you need a doctor, not after.
Enrol and protect status
Register, attend, and stay enrolled full-time. Your status, your work rights and your future permit all rest on staying a genuine, active student.
Slipping out of full-time study can quietly break everything else.
Are you in good standing?
Flip all three switches on. Only then does your status read clear. Miss one, and you are at risk.
One or more boxes are off. Falling out of full-time study, going over your hours, or letting your permit lapse can break your status and your right to work.
All three are on. You are a genuine, active student inside the rules, which keeps your work rights and your future permit on track.
This is a simple reminder, not legal advice. Always follow the exact conditions printed on your own permit and your school guidance, since situations differ.
Six things to sort early.
The everyday essentials that make Canada feel like home, fast.
SIN
Your nine-digit Social Insurance Number. You need it to work and to be paid legally.
Bank account
A local account to receive pay, pay rent and skip foreign card fees.
Phone and SIM
A Canadian number for the bank, your school, jobs and apps.
Health cover
Mandatory, and the rules vary by province. Some cover you, some need a private or school plan.
Transit
Buses and trains get you to class and work. Student passes cut the cost.
Housing
Residence or a shared rental. Sort short-term first, then settle into something longer.
From day one onward.
Tap a stage to see exactly what to tick off. Nothing important slips through.
- Clear immigration and collect your printed study permit
- Check the dates and work conditions on the permit
- Reach your accommodation safely
- Rest, and save every document
- Apply for your SIN
- Open a bank account
- Get a phone and SIM
- Confirm your enrolment with the school
- Sort out your health cover
- Set up transit for class and work
- Find longer-term housing
- Go to orientation and meet people
- Stay enrolled full-time
- Keep within the work-hour limit
- Watch your permit expiry date
- Tell your school if your address changes
Work, the quick recap.
A short reminder of the rules once you have your SIN and your classes have begun.
Only after classes begin
You cannot work before your program has actually started.
SIN and conditions
You need a SIN, and your permit must state that you may work.
On-campus too
With a valid permit you can also work on campus at your school.
Want the full picture, plus the PGWP that comes after you graduate?
Work & PGWP →We see you through.
Getting the offer is one thing. Landing well is another. We stay with you for both.
Pre-departure briefing
Before you fly, we walk you through the airport, your documents and your first-week list, so nothing is a surprise.
First-days checklist
A clear, ordered list for permit, SIN, bank, health and enrolment, with the timing that keeps you on track.
Settling support
Questions once you land? We are a message away, from status rules to where to start with housing.
Tap to clear it up.
The first-days myths that trip new students. Six, flipped.
Arrival, asked.
Q1When do I actually get my study permit?
Q2What do I need ready at the airport?
Q3How do I get a SIN?
Q4Is health insurance required?
Q5When can I start working?
Q6How do I keep my status?
Q7Do you help after I arrive?
Land onyour feet.
Heading to Canada soon? We will brief you before you fly and hand you a clear first-days checklist.