A handful of documents quietly control your access to work, money, and healthcare in Canada. Get them in the right order and the rest of your year gets easier.
The document ecosystem
- SIN (Social Insurance Number): required to work and to open most accounts. Apply here. If your SIN starts with a 9 (temporary residents), it has an expiry tied to your permit — keep it current.
- PR card: proof of your permanent-resident status for travel and services. Renew before it expires via IRCC.
- Provincial health card: apply immediately — the waiting period (where it exists) starts from registration, not arrival.
- Provincial photo ID / driver’s licence: your everyday identification ($10–$35 for a photo card).
Set up your CRA “My Account” in month one
Your CRA My Account is how you’ll receive benefits and file taxes. Registering early means you’re ready when benefit applications and tax season arrive.
The mistakes that cost months
Letting a permit-linked SIN lapse, missing a PR-card renewal window, and not keeping a simple expiry calendar are the three that hurt most. Set a reminder for every document’s expiry the day you receive it.
Get the full picture. This is one chapter of your first year. The complete guide — in order, with 13 fillable worksheets — is in Your First Year in Canada. And grab the free First-30-Days Checklist + resource hub.
General information, not legal, financial, or immigration advice. Programs and amounts change — verify with official sources before deciding. Current as of 2026.
