Your first week in Canada: the connected newcomer's checklist

Your first week sets the pace for your whole first year. With a working Canadian number in your pocket, here is the order that saves the most time.

Day 1–2: the essentials

1. SIN (Social Insurance Number) — register online or at a Service Canada office. You'll need it before your first paycheque.
2. Bank account — most banks verify you by texting a local number. Book the appointment before you land, walk in on day one.

Day 3–4: getting around

• Grab a transit card (Presto, Compass, Opus — depending on your city) and register it to your number so you can recover the balance if it's lost.
• Set up rideshare and food-delivery apps — both require an SMS code from a Canadian number.

Day 5–7: housing and work

• Landlords reply fastest to local numbers. Put yours on every viewing request.
• Update your resume and job profiles with your Canadian contact details.

Everything on this list assumes one thing: a phone that works the moment you land. Order your Get Canada Sim plan before you fly and start the checklist at the arrivals gate.

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What should you set up before your first day in Canada?

The best first week actually starts before the flight.

Check that your phone is unlocked, confirm it works on Canadian networks, download offline maps, save your accommodation address, back up important documents, and install the apps you expect to use after landing.

Doing those jobs while you still have familiar Wi-Fi and access to your existing accounts is much easier than trying to solve everything from an airport or temporary accommodation.

Use the full tech checklist for moving to Canada to work through your phone, apps, documents, charging equipment, banking preparation, and connectivity before departure.

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How should you handle banking in your first week?

Opening a bank account is a common early task, but don't assume you need a Canadian phone number before a bank will speak to you.

Requirements vary by institution. Your identification and personal details are generally more important, while a Canadian number can become useful for account communication, callbacks, and some verification processes.

If you are deciding whether to arrange your number specifically because of banking, read do you need a Canadian phone number to open a bank account? first.

That guide explains the distinction clearly: a local number can be convenient, but it is not universally required to open a Canadian bank account.

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When should you update your resume with your Canadian number?

Update it once the number is active and you can reliably receive calls or voicemail.

If you are already applying for jobs before travelling, keep using a contact method that works rather than replacing it with a Canadian number that has not activated yet.

Once the line is live, you can update:

• your resume,
• LinkedIn,
• job-board profiles,
• email signature,
• and applications that allow you to edit your contact details.

A Canadian number is not required to get a job, but it can give recruiters another straightforward way to contact you. The guide to getting a Canadian number for your job hunt goes deeper into when to add it, voicemail, Dual SIM, and applying while you are still abroad.

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What should you sort out before the first week ends?

By the end of your first week, the goal is not to have your entire life in Canada finished. It is to have the basics working.

A useful checkpoint is:

By the end of week one	What “done” looks like
Phone	Calls, texts, and mobile data work reliably
Important contacts	Family, employer, school, or accommodation contacts are saved
Banking	You know your bank's requirements or have started the account setup
Transport	You know how to pay for local transit and have maps available
Housing	Your reliable contact details are on active enquiries
Work	Your resume and profiles show contact information you actually monitor
Documents	Important copies are backed up and accessible

If you are making a long-term move, continue from there with the SIM and mobile setup guide for newcomers to Canada. It is designed around the needs of people settling in Canada rather than visitors staying for only a few days or weeks.