CANADA · CHAPTER 12
Your first weeksin Canada.
At the airport, check that your study permit includes the work condition. In your first weeks, apply for a Social Insurance Number, open a bank account, enrol in your provincial or university health plan and get a student transit pass.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
Steps
- 01
Check your permit
Name, dates and work remarks must be correct; fix errors immediately.
- 02
SIN
Needed to work.
- 03
Bank and phone
Student packages are common.
- 04
Health insurance
Provincial plan or university plan, depending on province.
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
First two weeks
- 01
At the border
Check your study permit carefully — the conditions and expiry date must be correct.
- 02
SIN
Apply for a Social Insurance Number at Service Canada or online to work.
- 03
Bank and phone
Student accounts at major banks; prepaid or postpaid plans.
- 04
Health coverage
Enrol in your university plan and provincial coverage where available.
- 05
Transit pass
Most universities include or discount a student pass.
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Ask the border officer to correct it on arrival if possible. Otherwise apply to IRCC to amend the document; do not work under incorrect conditions.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
CANADA GUIDE
Housing & student life
On-campus residences, shared rentals and homestays in Canada: costs, leases, deposits and avoiding rental scams.
CANADA GUIDE
Health, bank & phone
Provincial health plans and university insurance for international students in Canada, banking and phone plans.
CANADA GUIDE
Safety, wellbeing & emergencies
911, the 988 crisis line, campus counselling, the High Commission of India, IRCC and CRA scam calls, winter safety and recruiter fraud in Canada.
FRANCE
First 30 days in France
Your first month in France, day by day: permit validation, bank, SIM, CAF and transport.
FROM INDIA
Scams & emergencies abroad
Study abroad fraud warnings for Indian students: fake agents, offer letters and visas, forex and job scams, plus lost passports and emergencies abroad.
TOOL
Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
COMING SOON
Support for Canada
opens soon.
Althéa’s personal support for Canada is coming soon. Today we help students coming to study in France, and everyone already living in France.
Coming soonExplore France while you wait