Your 90-day plan
Moving to a new country is like starting a new video game level. You need the right keys first (a SIN, a health card, a bank account), then you can unlock the next doors, like jobs.
A simple order many newcomers follow (adjust to your situation):
| When | What | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Apply for your SIN | Service Canada (online, mail or in person) |
| Week 1 | Apply for provincial/territorial health coverage; consider private insurance while you wait | Your province or territory |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Open a bank account | A bank or credit union |
| Weeks 1 to 4 | Connect with free newcomer services | IRCC's newcomer services finder |
| Weeks 2 to 12 | Job search, credential checks, language classes | Job Bank, settlement agencies, regulators |
| Within the first months | Learn about taxes and benefits; apply for benefits you may qualify for | Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) |
| Before driving | Check your driver's licence rules and get car insurance | Your province or territory |
- Canada.ca's "New life in Canada" section links to official pages on health care, housing, jobs, education, driving, money and taxes.
- Free settlement services (help with forms, jobs, language) are offered by immigrant-serving organizations across Canada. Eligibility depends on your status; check the IRCC eligibility page.
- Open the table in this lesson and copy it into a notebook or your phone calendar.
- Next to each row write a real date: week 1 for SIN and health coverage, weeks 1 to 2 for a bank account.
- Open canada.ca and search New life in Canada for official pages on health, housing, jobs and taxes.
- Find free newcomer services near you with IRCC's newcomer services finder.
- Make a folder or envelope for your original documents: passport, permit or PR papers.
- Check: every task has a date and an office or website beside it.
Read the video script
[Host] "New to Canada? Here's your first ninety days in one screen."
[Text on screen: SIN, Health, Bank] "Week one: your Social Insurance Number and your health card application. Then a bank account."
[Screen: settlement services finder] "Next, find free newcomer services near you. They help with jobs, forms and language."
[Host] "Then the job search, taxes and benefits. Let's go step by step, using official canada.ca pages only."
Copy the table above into a notebook or spreadsheet. Add your own dates and check off each step as you finish it.
ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude
Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.
For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.
I'm learning "Newcomer to Canada: Your First 90 Days (Jobs, SIN, Banking)" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "Your 90-day plan". What the lesson teaches: - When - What - Where to start - Week 1 - Apply for your SIN - Service Canada (online, mail or in person) - Week 1 - Apply for provincial/territorial health coverage; consider private insurance while you wait - Your province or territory - Weeks 1 to 2 - Open a bank account - A bank or credit union - Weeks 1 to 4 - Connect with free newcomer services - IRCC's newcomer services finder - Weeks 2 to 12 - Job search, credential checks, language classes - Job Bank, settlement agencies, regulators - Within the first months - Learn about taxes and benefits; apply for benefits you may qualify for - Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) The exercise I'm working on: Copy the table above into a notebook or spreadsheet. Add your own dates and check off each step as you finish it. I'm stuck. Please: 1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example. 2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step. 3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it. 4. This is for learning only. Remind me to check with a licensed professional before I make a real decision about my own money, health or legal situation.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "Your 90-day plan" from the course "Newcomer to Canada: Your First 90 Days (Jobs, SIN, Banking)". Here's what the lesson says: Moving to a new country is like starting a new video game level. You need the right keys first (a SIN, a health card, a bank account), then you can unlock the next doors, like jobs. The activity: Copy the table above into a notebook or spreadsheet. Add your own dates and check off each step as you finish it. Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words. Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time. Keep it general and educational. This is not advice for a real situation.
Sources
- Canada.ca, New life in Canada: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigra
- IRCC, Find free newcomer services near you: ircc.canada.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp
- Canada.ca, Newcomer services eligibility: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/settle-cana
Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
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Health coverage
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Banking basics
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Finding work
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Taxes, benefits, driving and scams
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Final project
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Quiz
How much does it cost to apply for a SIN?
Nothing; there is no fee.
What number does a temporary resident's SIN start with?
9.
Does Service Canada still issue plastic SIN cards?
No. You can view your SIN in My Service Canada Account.
How long may it take for provincial health coverage to start?
Up to 3 months in some provinces; Ontario (OHIP) has no waiting period.
Can you use a foreign passport as ID to open a bank account?
Yes, it is on the FCAC accepted list.
What must a bank give you if it refuses to open an account?
Written notice with complaint and contact information.
When is a personal tax return usually due?
April 30 of the following year.
Why file a tax return even with no income?
The CRA uses it to calculate your benefits and credits.
What should you do if a "CRA" caller gives you a number to call back?
Don't call it until you have verified the number yourself.
Final exam
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Certificate
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