Guide to your first month in Canada: essential checklist for Brazilians | ImmigraCan

Arriving in Canada is just the beginning. In the first 30 days, you'll have a long list of things to sort out — some with real deadlines. Here's the checklist ordered by priority.

Week 1 — the essentials

Day 1 (arrival):
- Go through customs (CBSA), confirm your entry stamp
- If PR: confirm that your COPR was processed correctly. Request your PR Card on the spot or have it mailed to you (60 days)
- If temporary: confirm your work/study permit was printed and the conditions are correct (employer, expiry date)
- Cash on hand: keep ~CAD 500 in cash for the first day
- Airport SIM card (temporary): CAD 25–50 for 7 days — only if you need it right away

Days 2–3:
- SIN (Social Insurance Number) — go to a Service Canada Centre with your passport plus work/study permit or PR Card
- Bank account — TD, RBC, Scotia, BMO, or CIBC have newcomer programs with a free account for 12 months
- Newcomer credit card — even if secured, take it. Start building credit history on day 1

Days 4–7:
- Cell phone plan — Rogers, Bell, and Telus are expensive (CAD 60–100/month). Alternatives: Public Mobile, Fido, Freedom, Chatr (CAD 25–50/month)
- Health card — apply in the first week even with a 3-month waiting period (ON/QC/BC). Alberta/Manitoba/Prairie provinces grant coverage immediately
- Wise or Remessa Online — set up so you can transfer money from Brazil cheaply

Week 2 — housing and transportation

• Long-term rental — if you're still in an Airbnb or hotel, start looking for an apartment on Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, PadMapper, Zumper
• Documents to rent: proof of employment (or funds), passport, credit report (you won't have one — negotiate 6 months of rent upfront or a guarantor)
• Damage deposit: ~1 month's rent, returned at the end if the apartment is in good condition
• Utilities: electricity bills (BC Hydro, Ontario Hydro, ENMAX), gas (Enbridge), water (usually already included). Set these up on your move-in date
• Internet: Rogers, Bell, Telus (expensive). Alternatives: TekSavvy, Distributel (cheaper)
• Public transit: Presto (ON), Compass Card (BC), OPUS (QC). Buy and top up

Week 3 — infrastructure

• Driver's license:
• Brazilians can drive with a valid CNH plus a certified translation for up to 90 days
• After that, you'll need a Canadian license (rules vary by province)
• Many provinces require Brazilians to go through the full process from scratch (G1 → G2 → G)
• Essential purchases:
• Winter clothing (if applicable — Costco, Uniqlo, Winners)
• Basic household items (Ikea, Walmart, Dollarama)
• Facebook Marketplace for used furniture
• Register for benefits:
• Canada Child Benefit (CCB) — if you have children, apply online through the CRA
• GST/HST Credit — quarterly refund for low income, applied for together with your annual tax return
• Family doctor — sign up for local waiting lists (Health Care Connect in ON, for example)

Week 4 — integration

• Kids' schooling: enroll in a public school board (online application, takes a few hours)
• ESL/FSL: free English/French classes for newcomers through YMCA, ISS, community centres
• Local Brazilian community: look for Facebook groups ("Brazilians in Toronto," etc.)
• Church/religious community: if applicable, many cities have Brazilian/Portuguese communities
• Professional networking: update your LinkedIn, start sending out resumes. Newcomer job fairs are common

Financial checklist

• ✅ SIN
• ✅ Chequing account
• ✅ Savings account (optional, but start a TFSA early if possible)
• ✅ Newcomer or secured credit card
• ✅ Automatic rent payment set up
• ✅ International transfer (Wise/Remessa) tested with a small amount
• ✅ Interac e-Transfer activated

Document checklist

• ✅ COPR/PR Card (if PR) — kept with your passport
• ✅ Work/study permit — digital copy in the cloud
• ✅ Passport — digital copy in the cloud
• ✅ Brazilian driver's license plus translation
• ✅ Translated birth/marriage certificates (WES or a certified ATIO translator)
• ✅ Diplomas plus WES ECA (keep a copy)
• ✅ Bank statements from the last 6 months (for renting an apartment)
• ✅ Signed Canadian rental agreement
• ✅ Canadian employment contract (if applicable)

Common mistakes Brazilians make in the first month

1. Signing a blank cheque or accepting an agreement without a contract — always insist on getting everything in writing
2. Not opening a credit card — you lose 6+ months of credit history building
3. Buying a car right away — it depreciates fast and you don't know your options yet. Rent or use Turo for 2–3 months
4. Getting the wrong home/renter's insurance — "tenant insurance" costs CAD 20–40/month and is essential (protects belongings plus liability)
5. Not filing taxes in the first year — even with zero income, file to receive the CCB, GST/HST credit, and other benefits
6. Waiting for a family doctor with no backup plan — use walk-in clinics and telehealth in the meantime
7. Buying a car at the dealership without doing research — always check CarProof, negotiate the "out the door price," bring a Canadian friend
8. Buying everything new — excellent-quality furniture, appliances, and clothing circulate on Facebook Marketplace for 30% of the price

Approximate first-month costs (Toronto)

• One month's rent upfront: CAD 2,200
• Damage deposit: CAD 2,200
• Utilities (setup): CAD 200
• Basic furniture (Ikea plus used): CAD 1,500–3,000
• Initial household purchases (Dollarama plus Walmart): CAD 300–500
• Winter clothing (if applicable): CAD 500–1,000
• Phone (setup): CAD 100
• Public transit (month): CAD 156
• Food (month, couple): CAD 800–1,200

Realistic total for a couple: CAD 8,000–12,000 in the first month.

Next steps

• Still planning your move? Take the quiz and calculate the cost of living by city
• Coming soon? Check out our practical guides on budgeting, the Express Entry checklist, and moving

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*This content is informational and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. ImmigraCan is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. Always confirm official information at canada.ca and, for your specific case, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a specialized lawyer.*