The practical order of things for your first weeks on a Canada IEC working holiday. One thing is non-negotiable before you fly: mandatory health insurance for your whole stay, checked at the border. Most steps link to our verified living guides.
Employers, banks, landlords and government services all need to reach you on a Canadian number.
Install a travel eSIM for the airport run, then get a local SIM. Budget flanker brands like Public Mobile, Koodo, Fido and Freedom Mobile run on the big networks for less.
Read the SIM guideYou need a roof and an address to give the bank and employers, and a base to scout from.
Book a hostel or short stay for your first week or two. Factor in winter if you arrive in the cold months.
Find a hostelCanadian employers pay by direct deposit into a local account, and rent runs from one too.
RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC and BMO let you start a newcomer account before you fly; finalise in a branch. Note your transit, institution and account numbers, and watch the fee-waiver clock.
Read the banking guideYou cannot legally work in Canada without a Social Insurance Number, and your employer needs it to pay you.
Apply free through Service Canada, online (about five business days), by mail or in person, using your IEC work permit and passport. Keep your SIN private.
Read the tax guideEligibility and waiting periods vary by province, and for Quebec (RAMQ) by your home country. Your mandatory IEC insurance bridges any gap.
There is no national health card. Coverage and waiting periods vary by province, and many IEC participants wait months or do not qualify.
Check your province health-ministry page for eligibility and apply if eligible. Keep your mandatory private insurance active until provincial coverage actually starts. Save 911.
Read the healthcare guideMost casual and hospitality jobs are filled through online listings and walk-ins.
Adapt your CV to a Canadian resume format noting your open work permit. Use Indeed Canada and the government Job Bank; hand resumes in person for hospitality.
Search jobs on IndeedA shared place is far cheaper than a hostel, and income makes you a credible tenant.
Look on Rentals.ca, Kijiji and local groups. Budget first and last month rent upfront (a common Canadian requirement). Never pay before seeing the place in person or on a live video call.
Browse rooms on Rentals.ca