Guides for Toronto

Practical guides checked against official sources. Filter by topic to find what you need next.

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ArrivalLocal guide Your first 30 days in Toronto - a step-by-step checklistWhat to do in your first month in Toronto, in order: check your permit at the border, save emergency numbers, get a SIN, open a bank account, apply for OHIP, pay for transit, find a home, register children at school, connect with settlement services and plan your driver's licence exchange.Most of the steps fit into your first month; finding a home can take longer
MovingMoving to Canada - an overview for newcomers to TorontoThe big picture before you move to Toronto: who needs a permit, eTA or visitor visa, the main routes (work, study, family, Express Entry), what to prepare, the first registrations after arrival and how federal, Ontario and City services fit together.About 20 minutes to read; planning a move usually takes several months
RegistrationGetting a Social Insurance Number (SIN) in CanadaWhat the Social Insurance Number is, who needs one, the documents for permanent and temporary residents, how to apply online, in person at Service Canada or by mail, what a SIN starting with 9 means and how to protect your number.About 30 minutes online, or one visit to a Service Canada Centre
Residence and visasPermanent residence in Canada - Express Entry, the PR card and staying a residentHow skilled workers become permanent residents through Express Entry (profile, CRS ranking, invitation, 60 days to apply, $1,590 in fees in 2026), what happens when you land, how the PR card works, the 730-day residency obligation and the path to citizenship.Months from creating an Express Entry profile to a decision; IRCC publishes current processing times
Residence and visasVisas, work permits and study permits in CanadaWhich documents you need to come to Canada to work or study: eTAs ($7) and visitor visas ($100), employer- specific and open work permits ($155), LMIAs, study permits ($150) with the 2026 proof-of-funds amount, arriving at the border, extensions and keeping your status.Applications take hours to prepare; IRCC processing times vary by country and permit type
HousingLocal guide Finding a home to rent in TorontoHow the Toronto rental market works in 2026 (average two-bedroom asking rent $2,660 in Q1 2026), types of rentals, what landlords ask newcomers for, which deposits are legal, how to spot rental scams and what to check before you sign the Ontario Standard Lease.Often several weeks; plan temporary accommodation for your first weeks
HousingTenant rights in Ontario - leases, rent increases and the Landlord and Tenant BoardYour rights as a renter in Toronto and the rest of Ontario: the standard lease, which deposits are legal, rent increase rules (2.1% guideline for 2026, 1.9% for 2027), repairs, heat, entry, evictions and how the Landlord and Tenant Board resolves disputes.About 30 minutes to read; disputes at the Landlord and Tenant Board take longer
JobsFinding a job in Canada - Job Bank, regulated professions and credential recognitionHow to look for work in Canada as a newcomer: checking whether you may work, whether your occupation is regulated in Ontario, getting credentials recognized, writing a Canadian-style resume, free employment services in Toronto and how to spot job scams.Usually several months of active searching; licensing in a regulated profession can take longer
EmploymentYour rights at work in Ontario - minimum wage, hours, vacation and leaveThe Employment Standards Act basics for workers in Toronto: the $17.95 minimum wage from October 1, 2026, hours and overtime, vacation and vacation pay, the nine public holidays, sick leave, the 2026 job-posting rules and how to get help.About 20 minutes to read
TaxesIncome tax in Canada for newcomers in OntarioHow Canadian income tax works when you move to Toronto: when you become a tax resident, payroll deductions, 2026 federal and Ontario tax rates, filing your first return by April 30, and applying for benefits such as the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit.About 30 minutes to read; filing a simple return online takes one to two hours
BankingOpening a bank account in Canada as a newcomerYour right to a bank account in Canada, the ID banks must accept, free accounts for newcomers in their first year, the $4 low-cost account, when a bank may ask for your SIN, building a Canadian credit history and where to complain.About an hour at a branch, or less online
HealthcareOHIP and health care in Ontario - eligibility, applying and finding a doctorHow Ontario's public health insurance (OHIP) works for newcomers in Toronto: who is eligible, the end of the three-month waiting period, applying in person at ServiceOntario, what OHIP does not cover, OHIP+, finding a family doctor through Health Care Connect and calling Health811.One visit to a ServiceOntario centre; your health card then arrives by mail
FamilyFamily, childcare and schools in OntarioFor families moving to Toronto: the Canada Child Benefit (up to $8,157 a year per child under 6 for July 2026 to June 2027), free full-day kindergarten for 4- and 5-year-olds, public, Catholic and French- language school boards, registering with the TDSB and finding licensed childcare.About 30 minutes to read; school registration takes one to two hours plus a school visit
TransportLocal guide Public transport in Toronto - TTC, PRESTO and fare cappingHow to get around Toronto on the TTC's subway, streetcars and buses: 2026 fares ($3.30 with PRESTO or a bank card), the two-hour transfer, monthly fare capping after 47 paid trips since September 2026, discounts, One Fare connections to GO Transit and neighbouring systems, and getting a PRESTO card.About 15 minutes to read; buying a PRESTO card takes a few minutes
EmergenciesEmergency and helpline numbers in Canada and TorontoThe numbers to save on your first day in Toronto: 911 for emergencies, the Toronto Police non-emergency line, 311 for City services, 211 for community and social services, Health811, the 988 suicide crisis helpline and the Ontario Poison Centre.Five minutes to save the numbers in your phone