The First 48 Hours in Canada: What to Do Immediately After Landing

You made it. After months, maybe years of paperwork, waiting, and planning, you have just landed in Canada. Take a breath. The excitement and the nerves are completely normal.

What you are feeling right now is shared by the hundreds of thousands of newcomers Canada welcomes every year — 380,000 permanent residents are targeted for admission in 2026 alone, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

But here is the truth no one tells you before you board the plane: the first 48 hours can feel overwhelming if you do not have a clear plan. This article is that tells you the most important things to do after landing in Canada.

Think of it as a trusted friend walking you through every step: hour by hour, day by day so that instead of scrambling, you are moving forward with confidence.

At the Airport: Before You Leave the Terminal

What to Expect at the Canadian Border

Your first encounter with Canada’s official systems happens at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) booth, before you even collect your luggage.

Whether you are landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), or Montréal-Trudeau (YUL), the process is broadly similar.

Have these documents in your carry-on, not your checked luggage before you land:

Valid passport
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), if you are a new permanent resident
Permanent Resident (PR) card (if you already have one)
Visa letters or work/study permit approval letters
Proof of funds (bank statements showing you can support yourself and your family)
Invitation letter, if applicable

At the kiosk or with the officer, you will be asked standard questions: the purpose of your visit, where you plan to stay, how long you plan to remain, and what you are bringing into the country. Answer calmly, honestly, and concisely. Do not overshare or volunteer information that was not requested.

If something goes wrong at the border: for example, a document is missing or your status is unclear, ask to speak with a supervisor calmly. You have the right to request a phone call.

Do not sign anything you do not understand. If you have a lawyer or immigration consultant, contact them immediately.

Collecting Your Luggage

Once cleared, proceed to the baggage carousel. Keep your documents in a secure bag close to your body. Airports like Pearson’s Terminal 1 can be large and disorienting, follow the signs clearly marked for baggage claim and customs.

At the customs declaration stage, declare everything you are bringing in, including cash over $10,000 CAD. Failing to declare goods can result in fines.

Gifts, household items, and goods you owned abroad are generally admissible – a CBSA officer can guide you if you are unsure.

Hours 1–3: Getting Out of the Airport

Currency and Money

Avoid airport currency exchange kiosks where possible. They typically charge exchange rates 5–10% higher than market rate. If you need cash immediately, use an airport ATM instead; the fees are usually lower.

Most Canadian merchants accept international debit and credit cards with tap payment, so you may not need much physical cash right away.

Pro tip for Ontario arrivals: The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and GO Transit accept Presto cards, credit cards, and debit cards directly at fare gates. You do not need cash for transit.

Getting to Your Accommodation

Avoid unmarked taxis or anyone approaching you in arrivals offering rides. Use only licensed taxis from designated stands, ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft, or pre-booked airport shuttles.

Approximate costs from major airports:

Toronto Pearson to downtown Toronto: Uber/Lyft $40–60 CAD; UP Express train $12.35 CAD (fastest, 28 minutes to Union Station) Vancouver YVR to downtown Vancouver: Montréal-Trudeau to downtown Montréal: Calgary Airport to downtown Calgary:

Toronto Pearson to downtown Toronto: Uber/Lyft $40–60 CAD; UP Express train $12.35 CAD (fastest, 28 minutes to Union Station)
Vancouver YVR to downtown Vancouver: Canada Line SkyTrain — note the YVR Airport AddFare increases to $6.50 from July 1, 2026; taxi $35–45 CAD
Montréal-Trudeau to downtown Montréal: 747 express bus $11.25 CAD (includes a 24-hour STM transit pass); taxi $49.45 CAD fixed rate (daytime, between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.)
Calgary Airport to downtown Calgary: Cab $40–55 CAD; transit route $3.60 CAD

If you are arriving in winter particularly in cities like Calgary, Edmonton, or even Toronto, ensure your temporary accommodation has adequate heating. January temperatures in Calgary can drop to -20°C or colder.

Hours 3–6: Settling In and Getting Connected

Buy a Canadian SIM Card or Phone Plan

This is your first priority once you reach your accommodation or even at the airport. Without a local number, you cannot call Service Canada, book appointments, or receive verification codes for Canadian accounts.

Approximate SIM card costs:

Prepaid SIM (Lucky Mobile, Public Mobile, Chatr): $15–25 CAD for setup + $15–45/month for a basic plan
Newcomer-specific plans: Many major carriers (Rogers, Bell, Telus, and their subsidiaries) offer newcomer SIM packages. Fido and Freedom Mobile are popular affordable options.
Airport kiosks sell SIMs at Rogers and Bell outlets inside terminal buildings at Pearson and Vancouver – convenient but slightly pricier.

Once you have a working number, connect to WiFi and send a message to family back home to confirm your safe arrival. A simple WhatsApp or voice note goes a long way in easing the worry of those who love you.

Day 1: The Essentials

Finding Food and Groceries

You will need food today and you likely do not need to spend a lot. Canada has excellent budget grocery chains where you can stock up affordably:

No Frills (Ontario, Western Canada) — known for low prices and no-name brands
Food Basics (Ontario) — discount grocery with weekly deals
FreshCo (Ontario, BC, Alberta) — affordable with a decent produce selection
Maxi (Quebec) — Loblaws’ discount banner in French Canada
Real Canadian Superstore — slightly higher-end but great for bulk basics

Essential items to grab on Day 1: bread, eggs, butter, rice, pasta, canned goods, fresh produce, milk, and a phone charger if yours is not compatible with Canadian outlets (Canada uses the same Type A/B plugs as the US — no adapter needed if you are coming from the US or Mexico, but you may need one if arriving from elsewhere).

Paying in Canada: Nearly all stores accept tap payment (contactless debit or credit). Chip-and-PIN is standard. Cash is accepted but increasingly less used in urban areas. Tipping at restaurants is standard at 15–20%.

Temporary Accommodation Check

Whether you are staying in an Airbnb, a newcomer shelter, or a friend or family member’s home, take 30 minutes today to assess:

Safety: Are there working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms? (Required by law in Ontario, BC, and Alberta.)
Heat and hot water: Especially critical in winter months.
Internet access: Essential for the steps ahead.
Nearest transit stop: Download the Transit app (free, works in most Canadian cities) and identify your nearest bus or subway stop.
Nearest walk-in clinic: Use Google Maps and search “walk-in clinic near me.” Save the address. If a family member becomes ill in the next few days, you will be glad you did this in advance.

Download These Apps Today

Transit — real-time public transit directions
Google Maps — navigation and local business search
211 Ontario / 211 Canada — connects you to social services, food banks, newcomer support
Canada Post — track mail, important for document deliveries
Service Canada app or website — for appointment booking
Your province’s health app (e.g., Health811 in Ontario for health advice, HealthLink BC in British Columbia)

Day 2: Getting the Important Stuff Done

Day 2 is really just the beginning. If you want a complete picture of everything you’ll need to tackle across your first three months, the full settlement roadmap covering housing, health, banking, schooling, and employment is worth bookmarking now.

Visiting Service Canada to Apply for Your SIN

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the nine-digit number that allows you to work legally in Canada, open bank accounts, and access government benefits.

It is one of the most important things you need. Apply through the official Service Canada website or visit a centre in person.

What to bring to Service Canada:

Original identity document (passport, COPR, work or study permit)
Proof of your Canadian address (can be a utility bill, lease agreement, or even a signed letter from the person you are staying with)

Processing time: In-person applications at a Service Canada Centre are typically completed the same day. Online applications through the eSIN portal now take approximately 1–3 business days.

You will receive your SIN on a paper letter — protect this number carefully and do not share it unnecessarily.

Note: a new SIN@Entry program that will allow newcomers to receive their SIN before even arriving in Canada is expected to launch in fall 2027.

Province-specific Service Canada locations:

Ontario: Over 100 locations; book online at canada.ca or walk in. Select airports including Toronto Pearson offer on-site SIN services during operating hours.
BC: Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Kelowna, and other centres
Alberta: Calgary and Edmonton have multiple Service Canada centres
Quebec: Note that Quebec residents also interact with Revenu Québec for provincial tax purposes

Opening a Bank Account

Most major Canadian banks — RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, and CIBC — offer newcomer banking packages with no monthly fees for the first year and no credit history required. Scotiabank’s StartRight program was rated the best newcomer banking offer by Ratehub.ca. Bring:

Your passport
Your SIN (or proof that you have applied for one)
Proof of address

Online-only banks are also excellent, fee-free options that can be set up the same day:

Simplii Financial (a division of CIBC) — free unlimited chequing with access to CIBC’s network of ~3,400 ATMs across Canada
Tangerine (backed by Scotiabank) — no-fee chequing with Scotiabank ATM access
EQ Bank — strong choice for high-interest savings; currently one of the higher everyday interest rates among Canadian digital banks
PC Money Account (President’s Choice Financial) — a no-fee prepaid Mastercard-based account that earns PC Optimum points on purchases; note this is not a traditional chequing account but works well as a supplementary spending card, especially for families who shop at Loblaws-banner stores

A note on credit history: Your credit score from your home country does not transfer to Canada — you start from zero.

Getting a secured credit card in your first month and paying the full balance every month is the fastest way to build a Canadian credit score. Most newcomers can reach a 650+ score within 6–12 months.

Quebec newcomers: Desjardins is a major credit union in Quebec with strong French-language services.

Visit Your Local Public Library

This is one of the most underused newcomer resources in Canada. Public libraries are free to join and offer:

Free internet and computer access
Free English and French language classes (ESL/FSL)
Newcomer settlement programs and workshops
Free access to job search tools, resume help, and legal clinics
Children’s programming for young families

You only need proof of your address to get a free library card. Many libraries also offer free access to Rosetta Stone, LinkedIn Learning, and other digital platforms through your card.

Emotional and Mental Health: The Weight No One Talks About

Landing in a new country is one of the most emotionally complex experiences a human being can go through. You may feel exhilarated and heartbroken at the same time. You may be laughing in one moment and calling home in tears the next. This is not weakness, this is a completely normal response to one of life’s biggest transitions.

Common feelings in the first 48 hours:

Exhaustion — long flights, time zone changes, and high emotional alertness take a physical toll
Culture shock — even small things (different grocery layouts, unfamiliar accents, new social cues) can feel disorienting
Homesickness — especially if you left behind aging parents, close friends, or a familiar way of life

Practical coping tips:

Rest when you can. Sleep is underrated in the first 48 hours.
Eat familiar foods if possible — even a simple meal from home can be grounding.
Call family back home. Connection helps.
Give yourself permission to feel sad and excited at the same time. Both are true.
Remind yourself: you do not need to solve everything in 48 hours. Today’s goal is simply to be safe and stable.

Community support resources:

Settlement.Org (Ontario) — newcomer guides, FAQ, forums
ACCES Employment — job search support for newcomers
211 — province-wide help line connecting you to mental health support, food banks, and crisis services
CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) — mental health resources by province

Safety Tips for Newcomer Families

Canada is a safe country overall, but newcomers are frequently targeted by scammers who know you may be unfamiliar with local systems. Be aware of these common scams:

The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) phone scam: You receive a call claiming you owe back taxes and must pay immediately or face arrest. The real CRA does not demand immediate payment over the phone or ask for gift cards. Hang up.
Fake immigration consultants: Only lawyers and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) are legally allowed to offer immigration advice for a fee. Verify any consultant at college-ic.ca before paying anyone for immigration help.
Fake rental listings: Do not send e-transfer deposits for rental units you have not personally viewed. If a deal seems too good for the neighbourhood, it usually is.

For trustworthy information, use only:

Canada.ca — all official government services
Settlement.Org — Ontario newcomer information
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) — immigration status and applications

Your 48-Hour Newcomer Checklist

Use this list as your daily reference during your first two days in Canada.

✅ At the Airport

Documents ready in carry-on (passport, COPR/visa, proof of funds)
Cleared CBSA customs and immigration
Collected all luggage
Arranged ground transportation (no unmarked taxis)

✅ Hours 1–6

Arrived safely at temporary accommodation
Bought a Canadian SIM card or local phone plan
Connected to WiFi and notified family of safe arrival
Identified nearest grocery store and transit stop

✅ Day 1

Stocked up on essential groceries (budget store)
Checked accommodation safety (smoke detector, heat, hot water)
Downloaded Transit, Google Maps, and 211 apps
Located nearest walk-in clinic
Located nearest Service Canada office
Located nearest public library

✅ Day 2

Visited Service Canada to apply for SIN (in-person = same day; online = 1–3 business days)
Opened a newcomer bank account (or booked an appointment)
Signed up for a library card
Checked provincial health insurance enrollment: OHIP in Ontario currently has no waiting period; BC has a 2-month wait + remainder of arrival month; Alberta has no waiting period
Identified nearest settlement agency for further support

A Final Word

The first 48 hours in Canada will not be perfect. Something will go differently than planned. You will be tired. You may feel lost. That is okay.

Every single person who has built a life in this country started exactly where you are standing right now: a little overwhelmed, a little hopeful, and figuring it out one step at a time.

You have already done the hardest part by getting here. Now, just take it one item on this list at a time.

Welcome to Canada. You belong here.

For ongoing newcomer support, visit settlement.org, 211.ca, or contact your nearest immigrant services organization.

0 Shares