Health Card
In Canada, publicly funded health care is available to all citizens and permanent residents. Services are delivered by your province or territory and cover most basic medical costs and emergency health services.
Canadian residents should register as soon as possible with their provincial or territorial health plan to receive health care services. Most provinces and territories encourage applying for your health card online. Physical application forms may also be available in-person or online, depending on your province/territory. See the links below for more information on applying for your province/territory's health card.
Alberta
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
Telephone for information: 780-427-1432 or toll-free in Alberta - dial 310-0000, then 780-427-1432
British Columbia
BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) – How to Apply
Telephone for information: Lower Mainland - 604-683-7151 or Elsewhere in BC - 1-800-663-7100
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Telephone for information: Medicare - 1-888-762-8600; Health NB - 506-457-4800
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Care Plan (MCP)
Telephone for information: 1-866-449-4459 or 1-800-563-1557
Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories Health Care Plan
Telephone for information: 1-867-678-8050 or 1-800-661-0830
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Telephone for information: 418-646-4636 (Québec city), 514-864-3411 (Montréal), 1-800-561-9749 (the rest of Quebec)
Saskatchewan
Yukon
In most provinces and territories, each family member receives his/her own card with a personal health identification number. You must carry the card with you and present it at a hospital or clinic when you or someone in your family needs health services.
We recommend you to purchase private health insurance to pay for your healthcare needs until the date you receive government health insurance. Residents in some provinces and territories require a waiting period (up to three months) before becoming eligible for government health insurance. If you live in one of these provinces, we recommend getting a private insurance for this waiting period. Please look for the private insurance in Yellow Pages:
Please use following information as your reference:
Provinces with Immediate Coverage
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Alberta
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New Brunswick
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Newfoundland & Labrador
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Nova Scotia
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Ontario
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Prince Edward Island
Provinces/Territories with Waiting Period
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British Columbia
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Manitoba
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Northwest Territories
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Nunavut
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Quebec *under age 18 = no wait
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Saskatchewan
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Yukon
Driver's Licence
To legally drive in Canada, you need a valid driver’s licence issued from your provincial or territorial government. To obtain a driver's license, you usually need to pass a written exam on road rules and 1-2 driving tests. If you have a valid driver’s license from your home country, you may be able to exchange it for a local driver’s license or use it in Canada for a short period of time. Please check below for details on obtaining a driver's licence in your province/territory.
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
Applying for documents
Permanent Resident Card (PR Card):
Your PR Card will be mailed to you in about 6 – 8 weeks when you provide your home address in Canada to the CBSA officer during the landing interview. You can check current PR card processing times here.
If you did not provide your address during the landing interview, or the address has changed before receiving your PR Card, you need to inform IRCC of the correct Canadian address by submitting an Address Notification online.
Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine digit number you need to work in Canada and access government programs and benefits. You should apply for your SIN as soon as possible upon arriving in Canada. Parents/guardians may apply for minor children and dependent adult children. For more information on SIN and full application instructions, click here.
You will need the following original documents to apply for your SIN:
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Primary proof-of-identity document (one of the following):
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Permanent resident card issued by IRCC
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Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) issued by IRCC
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You may require additional proof-of-identity, depending on how you apply
You can apply for your SIN via:
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Online (apply here) - If all documents are in order, you will receive your SIN within 10 business days from the date the online application is received.
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By Mail - If all documents are in order, you will receive your SIN within 20 business days from the date the application is received.
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In-Person - Bring all necessary documents and visit a Service Canada centre. If all documents are in order, you will receive your SIN the same day of your visit and will not need to part with your documents.
In-person SIN services are also offered by Service Canada at YVR airport every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. You can visit them at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. booth on Level 3 of International Departures at YVR airport, across Check-in Counter 155.
Protecting your SIN
Your SIN is confidential. You and Service Canada are responsible for protecting your SIN from inappropriate use, fraud and theft. Only provide your SIN when it is required, such as:
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To your new employer(s), after you have found a job;
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For income tax purposes;
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To show to financial institutions (for example, banks) where you are earning interest or income;
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Applying for and accessing government services and benefits, including employment insurance, student loans, grants and public pensions.
Learn more about protecting your SIN here.