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NewcomersFIRST 30 DAYS

Your first 30 days in Toronto

Just landed in Toronto? This checklist puts the essential first-month tasks in order, week by week: from your SIN and health card to renting, school registration and your driver's licence. Every item links to the official government page and shows when we last checked it. Your ticks are saved on this device.

Printable version (PDF)Last checked: October 19, 2026

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Week 1

Week 1: documents and basics

The things everything else depends on.

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  1. Social Insurance Number (SIN)You need a SIN to work and to receive government benefits. Applying is free, and if you go in person with complete documents you get the number the same day.
    • Apply online, by mail or in person at a Service Canada Centre.
    • Permanent residents: PR card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Originals only, no copies.
    • A temporary resident's SIN starts with 9 and expires with your work or study permit.
    • Give your SIN only where the law requires it: your employer after you're hired, banks for interest income, and government programs. Not to rent a home, sign a phone contract or fill in a job application.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Certified translators

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  2. Ontario health card (OHIP)There is no longer a three-month waiting period: ontario.ca says eligible people are covered right away. You apply in person at ServiceOntario.
    • Bring three separate original documents: one for citizenship or immigration status, one for Ontario residency, one for identity. No photocopies.
    • Bring the completed Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form.
    • Ontario must be your primary home and you must be here at least 153 days in any 12 months.
    • Not eligible for OHIP (e.g. a visitor)? Ontario recommends private health insurance. The federal IFHP only covers refugees and a few specific groups.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Farsi-speaking doctorsInsurance (if you're not on OHIP)

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  3. Open a bank accountYou can open a personal account even with no job and no money to deposit yet; the bank only has to be able to confirm who you are.
    • Either two original documents from the FCAC list (e.g. government ID or a passport), or one document plus confirmation from a customer in good standing or a respected person in your community.
    • Since December 1, 2025, participating banks offer low-cost accounts for at most $4 a month, and $0 accounts for newcomers in their first year.
    • Ask exactly what the fees are and how many free transactions you get each month.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Accountants and tax helpCurrency exchange

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  4. Phone planThe CRTC Wireless Code gives you a few rights worth knowing before you sign.
    • 15-day trial: if you've used less than half of your monthly allowance, you can cancel and return the phone at no cost.
    • New phones must be sold unlocked, and unlocking an existing phone is free.
    • Early cancellation fees must reach zero within 24 months, device financing included.
    • If you can't sort it out with the provider, a CCTS complaint is free.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Phone and electronics shops

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  5. PRESTO card and the TTCIn Toronto you ride TTC subways, buses and streetcars with a PRESTO card or by tapping your credit or debit card.
    • A physical PRESTO card costs $4: TTC and GO station machines, Shoppers Drug Mart, or prestocard.ca.
    • The TTC adult fare is $3.30 with PRESTO or a card tap, $3.35 cash (exact fare).
    • With PRESTO or a card tap, transfers are free for two hours from your first tap; tap the same card each time.
    • Youth, senior and Fair Pass discounts need a PRESTO card set to that fare type, not a bank card.

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  6. Free settlement servicesThe federal government funds organizations that help you for free: job search, language assessment and classes, and help with paperwork.
    • IRCC's “Find free newcomer services near you” tool finds the closest centres by postal code.
    • Permanent residents, refugees and protected persons are eligible; most visitors and temporary residents are not.
    • From April 1, 2026, economic-class permanent residents can use these services for 6 years after landing (5 years from April 1, 2027).
    • For local community and government services, 211 Ontario answers free, 24/7, in 150+ languages. Emergencies: 911.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Community and cultural groupsImmigration consultants

    Before you pay anyone, look the consultant up on the CICC public register: the status must be Active. Lawyers and paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

Week 2

Week 2: home and money

A stable address and a financial track record.

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  1. Renting and tenant rightsMost Ontario leases must use the government's Standard Lease, and the law rules out many extra charges.
    • Your landlord must give you a copy of the Standard Lease within 21 days of signing.
    • Damage deposits are illegal. A rent deposit can only go toward the last month's rent, and you must be paid interest on it every year.
    • The rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027; only after 12 months, with at least 90 days' written notice. Most units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt.
    • Disputes with a landlord go to the Landlord and Tenant Board.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    RealtorsLawyers and paralegalsMovers and home services

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  2. Build a credit historyLandlords, lenders and some contracts look at your credit. Newcomers start from zero, so start early.
    • Get your credit report free online from the two main bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion.
    • FCAC says a secured credit card may suit newcomers with no history: you pay a deposit that the issuer holds.
    • Payment history matters most: pay on time, at least the minimum.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Accountants and financial adviceMortgage advisors

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  3. Your address and PR cardIRCC mails your first PR card automatically if it has your Canadian mailing address and photo within 180 days of becoming a permanent resident.
    • Miss the 180-day window and you have to apply for the PR card yourself.
    • Have an open application? Update your address with IRCC; otherwise use IRCC's web form.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Immigration consultantsCertified translators

    Before you pay anyone, look the consultant up on the CICC public register: the status must be Active. Lawyers and paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

Week 3

Week 3: health, school and language

A doctor, school for the kids and English classes.

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  1. Find a family doctorRegister with Health Care Connect using your OHIP number to be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner taking new patients.
    • Register online or by calling 811 (24/7). You need a valid Ontario health card number.
    • Registering doesn't guarantee a quick match; once matched you get a referral and the clinic contacts you.
    • Health811 (call 811): free, confidential advice from a registered nurse, day or night.
    • Meanwhile, walk-in clinics are free for non-urgent care; bring your health card.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Farsi-speaking doctorsFarsi-speaking dentistsHealth and wellness

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  2. Register your children for schoolUnder Ontario's Education Act, no child under 18 can be refused school because of their own or their parents' immigration status.
    • TDSB: contact your local school or register online.
    • Documents: proof of age, proof of address, immunization records, and the arrival date if your child was born outside Canada.
    • Permanent residents and refugee claimants register directly at the school. Missing documents? The school refers you to TDSB's admissions office at 5050 Yonge Street.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Tutoring and educationTranslators for school records

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  3. Free English classes (LINC)Permanent residents and protected persons can take government-funded English classes (LINC) for free, after a language assessment.
    • Start with a language assessment. In Toronto the YMCA runs several centres, including the Barrett Centre for Newcomers at 365 Bloor St E.
    • Ontario school boards' adult ESL classes are free too (small materials fees may apply) and are open to more groups, including refugee claimants.
    • From April 1, 2026, economic-class permanent residents can use LINC for 6 years after landing.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Language schools and tutors

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

Week 4

Week 4: driving, taxes and immigration

Start these early and you'll be ahead later.

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  1. Ontario driver's licenceA valid foreign licence covers you for 60 days after you settle here. Iran has no exchange agreement with Ontario, so you go through the tests.
    • Route for non-exchange countries: vision test, knowledge test and G2 road test, wait at least 12 months, then the G test.
    • From July 1, 2026 you can get up to one year of experience credit: your valid original licence plus an official authentication letter from the issuing country, in English or French.
    • Apply in person at a DriveTest centre, and ask DriveTest exactly how the credit affects your wait.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Driving schoolsCar insuranceCertified translators

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  2. Taxes and benefitsYour tax return isn't only about paying tax: benefits like the Canada Child Benefit depend on it. You can apply for benefits as soon as you arrive.
    • Your first return is due the year after you arrive; CRA's example: arrived in 2025, file the 2025 return by April 30, 2026.
    • The GST/HST credit is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: Form RC151 without children, Form RC66 with children (it covers both).
    • File every year, even with no income, so your benefits keep coming.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Accountants and tax preparers

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

  3. Licensed immigration helpAnyone paid to handle your immigration matters must be licensed, or IRCC returns the application. Free help from family or friends is allowed.
    • Authorized representatives: CICC-licensed consultants, lawyers or paralegals of a law society (in Ontario, the LSO), or Quebec notaries.
    • On the CICC public register, only “Active” licensees with “Yes” under Entitled to Practise may give paid advice.
    • IRCC's warning: no one can guarantee a visa or faster processing. Pressure to hurry and large cash payments are red flags.

    Where to get help (on IrooniMap)

    Immigration consultantsImmigration lawyers

    Before you pay anyone, look the consultant up on the CICC public register: the status must be Active. Lawyers and paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO).

    Official source

    Last checked against the source: October 19, 2026

Newcomer FAQ

Do I have to wait three months for OHIP?

No. Ontario's website says there is no longer a waiting period: if you are eligible, you are covered right away. Apply in person at ServiceOntario with three original documents.

How long can I drive on an Iranian licence?

For 60 days after you settle in Ontario; after that you need an Ontario licence. Iran has no exchange agreement, so you take the tests; from July 1, 2026 an authentication letter can earn up to one year of experience credit.

Can a landlord ask for a damage deposit?

No. In Ontario a damage deposit is an offence; a rent deposit can only be used for the last month's rent.

How do I know an immigration consultant is licensed?

Search the CICC public register: the status must be Active with “Yes” under Entitled to Practise. Ontario lawyers and paralegals are licensed by the LSO.

Are government English classes free?

Yes for permanent residents and protected persons (LINC), after a language assessment. School boards' adult ESL classes are free too.

Official sources

Everything on this page comes from these official pages. Rules change, so check the page itself before a final decision.