New to Canada? Your admin checklist for B.C.

This checklist walks through the everyday admin of settling in B.C.: your SIN, photo ID, bank account, credit history, benefits, taxes and address changes. It is an independent guide from a local real estate agent, not affiliated with Service Canada, the CRA, ICBC or any bank. Sean is not an immigration consultant, lawyer or tax adviser, so for immigration questions go to IRCC or WelcomeBC. Everything here is general information from official sources, not legal, immigration or tax advice.

Before you arrive

A few things are worth researching before you land.

Can you open a bank account in Canada as a non-resident?

Yes, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says you can open a Canadian bank account with proper ID even if you are not a citizen or live outside Canada. The bank must verify your identity from original documents, and a foreign passport is among the accepted items. You may need to visit a branch in person, so check with the institution first.

Banks can refuse an account in some cases, such as suspected illegal use, but they must tell you in writing and explain how to complain. See the FCAC page for the ID options.

Can a foreigner get a credit card in Canada?

Yes, a newcomer can apply for a Canadian credit card; the FCAC lists being of legal age in your province as a requirement and does not mention citizenship. Approval still rests with the card issuer, and some lenders may look at your credit history from another country.

If you are new to Canada and have no credit history, a secured card may be an option. You pay a security deposit, which may range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and your limit is normally set at or above it. Watch for one-time set-up fees, and be particularly careful of secured card offers from issuers outside Canada. See the FCAC's credit card guide.

Which bank is best for newcomers to Canada?

The best bank for a newcomer depends on how you will use the account, so compare options rather than picking a name. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says to weigh how you plan to use the account, fees and charges, interest you may earn, and deposit insurance protection.

It offers an Account Comparison Tool and suggests reading the account agreement and keeping a copy. Ask each institution what ID it needs, whether you must attend a branch and whether a minimum deposit applies, since the FCAC page doesn't cover those. Start with the FCAC guide to opening an account.

First week: your SIN

You need a Social Insurance Number to work and to receive most benefits.

How much is it to get a new SIN number?

Service Canada says there is no fee to apply for a Social Insurance Number. You can apply online, which Service Canada recommends for faster processing, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada Centre after requesting an appointment online. If everything is in order at an in-person visit, you get your SIN during the visit.

Service Canada no longer issues plastic SIN cards, though old cards can still be used. If you need proof of your number, you can request a Confirmation of SIN in paper or digital format, or view it in My Service Canada Account. Keep your number private. The SIN application page lists the documents you need.

Can I just walk into Service Canada for a SIN number?

Service Canada's SIN page tells you to request an in-person appointment online, and it does not say whether walk-ins are accepted. It only advises checking whether your local Service Canada Centre is open.

The page lists applying online as the fastest option, with mail as a slower choice. If you go in person with a complete application, you receive your SIN during the visit and keep your documents. Bring valid originals, typically a primary identity document plus a secondary one if you are an adult. Confirm the local policy before you drive over using the SIN application page.

Does a permanent resident SIN number start with 6?

No official source says a permanent resident's SIN starts with 6; the only starting digit Service Canada explains is 9, which marks a temporary resident's number. A 9-series SIN expires along with your work permit, study permit or visitor record, while SINs held by citizens and permanent residents are permanent and do not expire.

Service Canada's pages do not say what other first digits mean, so it is best not to read anything into them. If your SIN starts with 9 and you become a permanent resident, update your SIN record. The temporary residents page explains how.

Do I need to update my SIN number after PR?

Yes, you should update your SIN record when you become a permanent resident, especially if your SIN starts with 9. Service Canada lists a change in immigration status, such as temporary to permanent resident, as a reason to update. Online updates take about five business days and mail takes about 20.

Your number may or may not change. If it does, Service Canada notifies the CRA and CPP, but you must tell your employer and financial institutions yourself. A permanent resident SIN does not expire. Start on Service Canada's update page.

What to do when your SIN expires?

If your SIN starts with 9, it expires with your permit and you extend it by applying to Service Canada with your new immigration document. The expiry date on your SIN record has to match the one on your permit. Online updates take about five business days, and mail takes about 20.

If your SIN expires while IRCC is still deciding on your extension, the page says you can keep working until a decision is made. SINs held by citizens and permanent residents do not expire. See the temporary residents SIN page.

First week: B.C. ID

What is required to get a BC ID card?

To get a BCID you must be 12 or older, book an appointment at an ICBC driver licensing office, bring accepted ID and pay the fee. ICBC asks for two pieces of ID, one primary and one secondary, as originals or government-certified true copies. Documents not in English need an ICBC-approved translation, and if your name differs between documents you must show proof of the change.

ICBC's accepted ID page has an online checker for what to bring, and the current price is on its fees page. A BCID suits people who do not drive, and ICBC says a BC Services Card can be used as an alternative.

How to get ID in BC without ID?

If you were born outside Canada and are missing the primary ID ICBC needs, contact IRCC about your immigration document first. ICBC lists IRCC's number as 1-888-242-2100 and warns that federal ID can take months. For a driver's licence, it can often issue an interim paper licence in the meantime. If you're unsure what else it will accept, ask ICBC directly.

For a BC Services Card account for online services, the province says to email bcservicescard@gov.bc.ca with the ID you do have and the website you want to use. See ICBC's accepted ID page.

How long does it take to get a BC ID card?

ICBC says most licence or ID cards take up to 60 days to arrive, and its page gives no separate timeline for the BCID. After you apply at a driver licensing office, the card is mailed to the address on file, so make sure that address is right before you leave.

You can sign in to My ICBC to see whether and when your card has been mailed. For a driver's licence, ICBC can often issue an interim paper licence while you wait, but its pages do not say the same applies to a BCID. See ICBC's card status tracking page.

What is the difference between a BC ID card and a BC Services Card?

A BCID is ICBC's photo ID for people who do not drive, while a BC Services Card is the provincial card tied to your health coverage and online government services. ICBC says a BCID has the same security features as a B.C. driver's licence, and you must be 12 or older.

The photo BC Services Card also works as photo ID, but you must be enrolled in MSP to get one. Some residents, including adults with temporary immigration status, are eligible for a non-photo card instead. ICBC notes a BC Services Card can be used as an alternative to a BCID, and drivers can combine their licence with it. See the province's Photo BC Services Card page.

Does a Canadian health card count as ID?

In B.C., the photo BC Services Card counts as government-issued ID, but a non-photo card cannot be used as photo ID. The province says you can show the photo card at places that ask for photo ID, such as when opening a bank account, and it is the fastest way to set up a BC Services Card Account for online government services.

If you have a non-photo card, you will need separate photo ID, such as a passport. Health cards from other provinces vary, and B.C.'s login service accepts a photo health card from elsewhere in Canada only as a second piece of ID. Check what each organization accepts. See the BC Services Card page.

First month: credit history

How to obtain a credit history?

You do not request a credit history; it builds as lenders report your accounts to the credit bureaus, so you start by using credit and repaying on time. Canada's two main credit bureaus are Equifax and TransUnion.

The FCAC calls payment history the most important part of your credit score. It suggests using less than 30% of your total credit limit, keeping long-held accounts open and active, and not sending several credit applications at once. If you are new to Canada, a secured card is one starting point, and some lenders may ask for a credit report from another country. See the FCAC page on improving your score.

Is there a credit score in Canada?

Yes, Canada has credit scores, and they usually range from 300 to 900, with a higher number better. Credit bureaus create them from the information in your credit report, and the two main ones are Equifax and TransUnion.

Paying on time and using credit responsibly raise your score, and a good history can help you qualify for more credit at better rates. The FCAC says checking your own report or score does not hurt it. See the FCAC's credit report and score basics.

First month: benefits and taxes

Does Canada give money to newcomers?

Canada does not give every newcomer a welcome payment, but you may qualify for benefits you have to apply for. The CRA says newcomers can apply for the Canada Child Benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit) as soon as they arrive, before filing a first tax return, using forms RC66 or RC151. You generally need to be a resident for tax purposes and have a SIN.

Government-assisted refugees can also get income support for up to a year. Newcomer settlement services in B.C. are free, though each organization sets its own eligibility. See the CRA newcomers page.

How to update CRA with a new address?

The quickest way to update your address with the CRA is through My Account, where the change applies as soon as you submit it. Sign in, open your individual account, and edit your contact information under Profile.

You can also phone the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday) with your SIN and a notice of assessment or other tax document handy, or mail Form RC325, which takes four to six weeks. Do not wait for tax season, because the CRA warns that outdated details can affect your benefits. It also does not pass the change to other departments, so see the CRA page and update each one separately.

How do I notify Service Canada of a change of address?

Service Canada does not receive your new address from the CRA, so you need to tell it yourself if you use its programs. The Government of Canada says federal systems are not connected, which is why each department needs its own update.

For Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, the Canadian Dental Care Plan and similar programs, the page points you to the personal information section of your my Service Canada Account. If you live outside Canada, contact Service Canada directly. Your SIN is only affected if you are still waiting for a SIN confirmation letter by mail. Start with the federal address-change page.

First month: update your address

Where do I need to update my address when I move in Canada?

There is no single place to change your address in Canada, so plan on updating each federal and provincial body separately. Federally, that means the CRA, Service Canada for programs like EI and CPP, and IRCC if you have an application in progress. Health cards and driver's licences are provincial, so you deal with the province you now live in.

In B.C., the online address change service covers your driver's licence and BC Services Card, and ICBC asks for your new address within 10 days of moving. Mail forwarding through Canada Post is separate and paid, and Elections BC should pick up licence changes but can lag.

How can I update the address on my BC Services Card?

You can update the address on your BC Services Card online through the B.C. government's address change site. The same online service also covers your B.C. driver's licence.

If your card has a photo, the province sends you an address sticker to attach to it, so you usually don't need a replacement card. Your BC Services Card app account updates automatically once the card address changes. The province expects B.C. residents to keep their personal information current, and ICBC asks drivers to update their address within 10 days of moving. The BC Services Card page has the current steps.

Related guides

• Health care in Vernon: MSP, doctors and urgent care
• Moving to B.C.: the checklist
• What it's like to live in Vernon
• Cost of living in Vernon, compared
• Buying a home in B.C. when you're moving from out of province

Updated October 28, 2026. Published by Sean Phillips, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker Executives Realty. General information from official sources, not legal, tax, immigration or medical advice.

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