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The short answer
In your first 90 days in Canada, get your social insurance number first, because you need it to work, to receive benefits and to open most types of bank account. Then open a bank account, register for provincial health cover, set up a phone plan, apply for child and essentials benefits, and start a Canadian credit file. Watch two hard deadlines: Alberta Health Care should be registered within three months of arriving, and a Nigerian licence can be used for 60 days in Ontario, 90 days in Alberta before exchange and three months in Manitoba.
Why order matters
Most newcomer tasks depend on another one. The bank wants your SIN. The health card office wants proof of address. The phone company wants a bank account. Benefits want a bank account for direct deposit. Do them in the wrong order and you queue twice. The plan below follows those dependencies.
Week one: SIN, phone and address
Social insurance number
CRA says you need a SIN to get benefit and credit payments, to work in Canada and to open most types of bank accounts. Service Canada charges no fee. You can apply online, which it says is faster; in person by appointment, where you get your SIN during the visit if everything is in order; or by mail. Temporary residents need a work permit, a study permit that allows work, or a visitor record that authorises work, and their SIN starts with 9 and has an expiry date tied to that document. See what a SIN starting with 9 means.
Phone
A Canadian number is needed for nearly every form. With no credit history, prepaid is the quickest start, and any deposit a carrier asks for on a postpaid plan is governed by the CRTC's Wireless Code. Our guide to getting a phone plan without credit history has the details. Keep your Nigerian line active for bank codes back home.
An address you can prove
A signed lease or a utility bill in your name is the document health card and bank offices tend to ask for. If you are staying with relatives at first, ask what they will accept. Before paying any rent, read rental scams aimed at newcomers.
Weeks one to four: bank, health and benefits
| Task | What the official source says | When |
|---|---|---|
| Bank account | SIN is needed for most types of account (CRA) | As soon as you have a SIN |
| Ontario health card (OHIP) | No waiting period; apply in person with three original documents; be in Ontario 153 of the first 183 days | Once you have proof of address |
| Alberta health card (AHCIP) | May be covered from the date you established residency if you register within three months | Within three months of arriving |
| Canada Child Benefit | Newcomers send RC66 and RC66SCH; temporary residents qualify after 18 months in Canada | As soon as you are eligible |
| Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit | New residents can apply with RC151 before their first tax return; CCB applicants use RC66 instead | Soon after arrival |
For benefits, CRA asks for income from up to two years before you arrived, for you and your spouse, even if it was zero. Gather Nigerian payslips and statements before you leave if you can. Guides: OHIP, Alberta Health Care, the CCB and RC151.
Month one to three: credit and driving
A Canadian credit file
Canadian lenders and landlords look at Canadian credit reports, and a good record from Nigeria does not carry across on its own. Many newcomers start with a newcomer card from their bank or a secured credit card, use a small part of the limit and pay in full every month. Read building a credit score from zero before you apply for several cards at once.
Your Nigerian driving licence
| Province | How long on a Nigerian licence | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 60 days after moving | Vision, knowledge and G2 road tests |
| Alberta | Exchange within 90 days of becoming resident (permanent residents) | Class 7 knowledge test, then Class 5 road test |
| Manitoba | Up to three months | Knowledge, vision and road tests with MPI |
Sources: Ontario, Alberta and MPI pages, August to September 2026. Bring every Nigerian licence card you own; some provinces need them to prove experience.
A worked example
What to check first
- Have you applied for your SIN?
- Do you have one document proving your new address?
- Have you booked your health card appointment, and do you know your province's deadline?
- Have you gathered Nigerian income records for benefit forms?
- When does your driving-on-a-Nigerian-licence window end?
Where Pryme fits
Many newcomers keep money and obligations in Nigeria while they settle. A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country and holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local account details for each (multicurrency), so school fees or rent at home can be paid in naira without moving everything at once. Send shows the rate and fee before you approve, and a Personal Assistant can keep reminders for bills and transfers, preparing them for your approval (assistant).
Questions people ask
What should I do first when I arrive in Canada?
Apply for your SIN. CRA says you need it to work, to receive benefits and to open most types of bank account.
Is there a fee for a SIN?
No. Service Canada says there is no fee to apply for a SIN.
When should I register for a health card?
As soon as you have proof of address. Ontario has no waiting period; Alberta asks you to register within three months of arriving.
How long can I drive on my Nigerian licence in Canada?
It depends on the province: 60 days in Ontario, exchange within 90 days in Alberta and up to three months in Manitoba.
Sources
- Service Canada: Apply for a social insurance number (modified 15 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- CRA: Benefits, credits and taxes for newcomers (modified 3 Aug 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ontario: Apply for OHIP and get a health card (updated 21 Jul 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Alberta: AHCIP, moving to Alberta (published 1 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ontario: Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence (updated 23 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Alberta: Exchange non-Alberta licences (published 4 Aug 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.