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Newcomer BoardCanada, explained for newcomers

Welcome to Canada. Start here.

Plain-language guides, the latest rule changes and free tools, each linked to the official source.

Before you land First week First month First year

See news for your city first
Pick your province and city. Local news and guides move to the top.

News & Policy

How to read Express Entry draw results10/29Express Entry✓ Official sourceIRCC · Express Entry rounds of invitations

Settlement Guide

Setting up your CRA account10/30First year✓ Official sourceCanada Revenue Agency · Sign in to your CRA account Getting your foreign credentials recognized10/30Before you land✓ Official sourceGovernment of Canada · Foreign credential recognition Photos for immigration applications: sizes, files and how to get them right10/30Apply✓ Official sourceIRCC · Photo specifications Where to find a job in Canada: Job Bank and the big job sites10/30First month✓ Official sourceGovernment of Canada · Job Bank

About Canada

Getting ready for your first Canadian winter10/30Winter✓ Official sourcePublic Safety Canada · Weather-related hazards How health care works in Canada10/19✓ Official sourceHealth Canada · Canada's health care system Canadian taxes in plain words10/15✓ Official sourceCanada Revenue Agency · Newcomers to Canada Enrolling your children in public school10/12✓ Official sourceOntario · Find an elementary or secondary school

Housing

Putting together a rental application10/30Apply✓ Official sourceCMHC · Renting a home Setting up your new home: utilities and internet10/30Move in✓ Official sourceIRCC · Newcomers: Housing in Canada Renting with no Canadian credit history10/28Apply✓ Official sourceOntario · Renting in Ontario: your rights Rental scams that target newcomers10/26Safety✓ Official sourceCanadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Learn English

Conversation circles: practise speaking for free10/30SpeakingToronto Public Library · Newcomer programs English for work: free job-specific classes10/30Free classes✓ Official sourceIRCC · Improve your English and French Free English classes for newcomers (LINC)10/27Free classes✓ Official sourceIRCC · Improve your English and French IELTS General, CELPIP or PTE Core: which English test?10/25Tests✓ Official sourceIRCC · Language tests for Express Entry

Free tools

Settlement checklist

Before you land, first week, first month, first year.

Take-home pay

Salary after tax, CPP and EI, by province.

Test score → CLB

IELTS and CELPIP scores as CLB levels.

Currency converter

Canadian dollars to US dollars and more, plus bank rates.

Q&A soon

Ask other newcomers about rent, phones, winter and work, or share a tip that helped you.

General information, not legal advice. Every guide links to the official source and shows when we last checked it. For your own case, use IRCC’s tools or a licensed consultant.