Newcomers to Canada can access a bunch of free services & benefits and signing up is easy
Moving countries can be scary, and if you're a newcomer to Canada, you probably already know just how hard it is to start from scratch.
From looking for jobs and adjusting to the weather, to learning a new language and making new friends, there's a whole list of things you may have to adjust to and figure out after moving to Canada — and that can be hard on anyone.
To help you out, the federal government and some private organizations actually have a bunch of benefits and credits for those immigrating to Canada.
So, if you've just landed, try not to get overwhelmed! Here are a few places you can go if you need help settling in.
Settlement services
If you've arrived in the country as a permanent resident, the government has loads of beneficial settlement services that you can make use of.
These organizations sometimes play multiple roles and can guide newcomers on everything from finding the right place to live to local community events near you.
To find the programs available, you can simply scan through the list of free settlement services online and find one located close to you that offers the services you need — whether you're looking for a job or need to enrol your children in school.
There are over 1,000 services listed, and some agencies are quite specific (for example, women-only or youth-only programs), so choose the one that meets your needs best.
Employment services
One of the most important things for many newcomers to Canada is finding a job — more specifically, finding a job in the right field or industry.
Fortunately, there are loads of agencies that exist to help newcomers in Canada find jobs, as long as you're eligible to work in the country.
ACCES Employment is one such example where you can sign up, get a guide and attend workshops on interviews and creating a resume. Alongside offering job fairs and workshop sessions, this employment agency also partners with organizations that are actively hiring.
Apart from that, you can search for similar organizations depending on where you live.
If you're not sure where to start or feel like you need more experience, the Federal Internship for Newcomers program (FIN) can help you gain temporary work experience and training that will prepare you to enter the Canadian workforce.
You could also try Career Edge, which connects eligible newcomers to employers for paid internships so that they can earn while getting local experience. Note that you must be a permanent resident or have an open work permit to qualify for Career Edge internships.
Language classes
Knowing how to understand and speak English and/or French is extremely helpful if you live in Canada, especially if you're planning to enter the workforce.
If you're fluent in one and want to learn the other — or if you just want to generally brush up on your existing language skills — there are plenty of free classes you can take.
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) is a great resource for those wanting help with these languages.
To enroll, you can complete an online self-assessment before getting a formal language assessment at an organization that helps newcomers from the settlement services list above. Once you've been assessed, you can register for the appropriate level class.
These government-funded courses have flexible schedules and can be done full or part time, in person or online, and some places also offer additional services like transportation to and from the class or child care services on site.
Health insurance
Health care in Canada is public, meaning that the system is funded through tax dollars. So, any Canadian citizen or permanent resident can apply for publicly funded health insurance. Since health care falls under provincial jurisdiction, your insurance plan will depend on the province or territory you choose to settle in.
You do need to apply for a health card to access services in your province or territory, which is free to do online. However, some provinces have a waiting period of three months before the public insurance starts, so be prepared to plan accordingly.
Coverage and services can vary between regions, but public health insurance across the country will cover the majority of health care costs. In general, emergency medical services will also be covered even if you don't have a health card.
Community connections
Building relationships in your new community can make settling in Canada much easier, and the government has a program called Canada Connects that can help with that.
This program pairs newcomers with Canadian citizens or long-term residents to create meaningful connections. It's all about fostering a sense of belonging and helping everyone understand each other better.
Once you're matched, you and your buddy can engage in a variety of activities, like attending local events, sharing meals or just chatting to practice your language skills.
You can join the program through your local settlement services provider, which will pair you up with a volunteer in your community.
Banks with newcomer programs
One of the things that might take newcomers by surprise when they move to Canada is that big banks actually charge you for opening a day-to-day account.
This fee is usually not very high, and it's waived if you have a certain threshold of cash in your accounts.
However, here's where being a newbie comes in handy. All of the big five banks in Canada — RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC and Scotiabank — offer newcomer promotions of some kind.
For example, several offer accounts with fees waived for a set period of time — usually six months to a year. Additional perks include no-fee international transactions and money transfers as well as special support for newcomers.
What's more, these newcomer accounts can be tailored to your status in Canada, whether you're an international student or a permanent resident. Many of the banks also offer services in multiple languages so newcomers can feel confident when opening a Canadian bank account.
And, since you also need to start building your Canadian credit history and credit score, these programs are a great way to open your first credit card in the country.
Store discounts
Okay so this isn't technically free, but there are brands that give newcomers to Canada discounts, too.
This includes companies like Uber and HelloFresh that offer deals for first-time users in Canada.
Moreover, tons of brands and services have special promos like discounts and even free trials for those who sign up for their membership programs for the very first time.
Free activities
Finally, what's better than exploring your new country?
To help newcomers better explore their new home, Canoo — an app backed by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship — allows those new to Canada to visit over 1,400 destinations across the country for free.
This includes national parks, historic sites, science centres, museums, art galleries and more.
According to the app's website, you are eligible for Canoo if "you are over 18 and a newcomer to Canada within your first five years as a permanent resident, or you received your Canadian citizenship less than 12 months ago."
That's not a bad deal at all. Get out there and get exploring, newbies!
This article has been updated since it was originally published on September 19, 2022.
