First week
Four things, before the accounts and the benefits.
By Vishal Tomar · Checked against official sources · Updated 13 November 2026
Educational only, not financial or tax advice. Not affiliated with CRA. Full disclaimer.
Day-one task 1
Apply for a social insurance number
Service Canada issues the SIN you need before a paycheque, a tax return, or a registered account. Do not use it as everyday identification.
Day-one task 2
Open a bank account in your name
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explains what identification a bank may ask for. This checklist does not name a bank or a newcomer package.
Day-one task 3
Get a phone number you control
Banks and the CRA will use a number to reach you. No plan price is quoted here, because no official page used for this checklist publishes one.
Day-one task 4
Leave the credit card for after you understand the file
A Canadian credit file starts when you borrow or apply. Ordering your own Equifax or TransUnion report is free and does not change the score. A secured card is one product type, not a brand.
- Apply for a Social Insurance Number · Government of Canada
- Opening a bank account · Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
- Credit report and score basics · Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
- How a credit file starts
- The rest of the first year
- What a landlord can ask for as a deposit