Landing & first week · Students
Your first week in Canada: SIN, bank, SIM, ID — in order
The short answer
Do four things in order, because each unlocks the next. First get your Social Insurance Number, which is free and issued the same day when you apply in person at Service Canada. Then buy a phone SIM, open a bank account, and sort your provincial ID and health cover. Your study permit must authorise work to get a SIN.
On this page
Your first week is a chain, not a to-do list. Each errand hands you the thing the next one needs, so the order matters more than the speed.
The order that works
The sequence is fixed by what each step needs. Your SIN lets you be paid and open a bank account; a phone number is asked for on every form; the bank account is where pay and rent live; your provincial ID and health check come once you have an address.
Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Where: a Service Canada Centre. Bring: your study permit that authorises work, plus your passport. It's free.
Buy a phone SIM
Where: any carrier store or kiosk. Bring: your passport and a Canadian address. A prepaid SIM works the day you land.
Open a bank account
Where: a bank branch (walk in or book online). Bring: passport, study permit, SIN, proof of address, and your new number.
Sort provincial ID and health cover
Where: your provincial service centre (ServiceOntario and equivalents). Bring: proof of status and a Canadian address.
Get your SIN
Do this first. It’s free, same-day in person, and everything else leans on it. A SIN is a 9-digit number issued only by Service Canada. You need it to be paid, to work on or off campus, and to open most bank accounts.
Study permit that authorises work
Your passport
A Canadian address
By the numbers
Never pay for a SIN
A SIN is issued only by Service Canada, and there is no fee to apply. Any website, agent, or “helper” charging you to get your SIN is running a scam. Apply yourself, in person or online, and give your SIN to employers and banks only, never to a stranger who asks for it.
Get a phone plan
Get a SIM the day you land, because a Canadian number is asked for on almost every form after this. You have two routes, and for week one, prepaid wins.
Prepaid SIM, today
- Pay up front, no credit check
- Your passport is enough ID
- Works the day you land, which is what week one needs
Postpaid plan, later
- Monthly billing, usually cheaper data
- Often needs a SIN and Canadian credit history
- Easier once your bank account is open
Start prepaid, then switch to a postpaid plan once your bank account and a little credit history are in place.
Open a bank account
Open a chequing account once you have your SIN and a number. It’s where pay, rent, and your credit history start. Most banks run newcomer or student accounts and often waive the monthly fee, so ask for the newcomer package by name.
Passport
Study permit
Your SIN
Proof of a Canadian address
A debit card is issued on the spot. Ask about a student credit card too. A small limit, paid off monthly, is how you build the Canadian credit history that postpaid phone plans and rentals look for.
Provincial ID and health card
These are two separate things from your provincial government: a photo ID card, and, only if you qualify, a public health card. Get the photo ID for a wallet-sized proof of identity once you have an address. The health card is the catch for students.
By the numbers
Don't go uninsured on day one
Most students on a study permit are not covered by the provincial health plan. In Ontario, universities enrol you in a mandatory plan, the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP), that covers you from your first day. Public coverage rules differ by province, so confirm what your province and school provide before your first clinic visit.
Week one extras
Once the four core steps are done, a few smaller things make the city usable. None of these blocks the others, so fit them in around your SIN and bank visits.
Get a transit card
Find groceries and a warm layer
Confirm your health insurance is active
Register with your school's international office
What to do next
- Packing for Canada from India: what’s worth the suitcase, and what to buy after you land.
- Planning your studies? See how we handle Canada study permits end to end.
- Working while you study: the hours you’re allowed and how the work condition fits in.
Common questions
What should I do first when I arrive in Canada as a student?
Work in order, because each step unlocks the next. Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) first: it's free and issued the same day in person at Service Canada. Then buy a phone SIM, open a bank account, and finally get your provincial photo ID and check your health coverage. The SIM and bank account both go faster once you have a SIN and a Canadian number.
Is a Social Insurance Number free in Canada?
Yes. A SIN is issued only by Service Canada, and there is no fee to apply, whether in person, by mail, or online (as of 2026). Anyone or any website charging you to 'get your SIN' is a scam. Apply in person with your documents and you receive your SIN during the visit.
Can international students get a SIN without a work condition on the study permit?
No. To qualify for a SIN, your study permit must carry a condition that authorises work, with wording like 'may work' or 'may accept employment' in Canada. If your permit has no work condition, you can ask IRCC to add it if you're eligible to work off campus, and there is no fee to add it. Sort that before you apply for the SIN.
Can international students get OHIP in Ontario?
Usually not on a study permit. To qualify for Ontario's OHIP you must make Ontario your primary home, be physically present 153 of your first 183 days, and hold a qualifying immigration status. A study permit alone does not qualify (as of 2026). Most students rely on their university's mandatory plan, such as UHIP, instead. Coverage rules differ by province, so check yours.
What do I need to open a bank account in Canada as a student?
Bring your passport, your study permit, your SIN, and proof of a Canadian address such as a lease or a letter from your school. Most banks offer newcomer or student chequing accounts and often waive the monthly fee, so ask for the newcomer package. Having a SIN and a Canadian phone number first makes the whole process quicker.
How long does it take to get a SIN in person?
The same day. If you apply in person at a Service Canada Centre with complete documents, you receive your SIN during the visit and keep your original documents. The online route is processed within 5 business days when everything is in order (as of 2026). In person is the fastest way to walk out with your number.
Related guides
Landing & first week
The first week is admin. The next permit is a file.
A spouse joining you, a parent visiting, or the permit after this one. We can represent you before IRCC, which is something no comment section can do.
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