Guides for New York City
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Arrival Local guide Your first 30 days in New York City – a step-by-step checklistWhat to do in your first month in New York City, in order: check your I-94, save the numbers you need, pay for the subway, apply for a Social Security number, open a bank account, enroll in health insurance, find a home, report your address, get an IDNYC card and enroll children in school. Most steps fit into your first month; finding a long-term home can take longer Moving Several months of preparation for most visa routes; the first registrations take a few weeks after arrival Registration Local guide Getting an IDNYC cardIDNYC is New York City's free photo ID for residents aged 10 and over, regardless of immigration status. What it is good for, the documents and points you need, how to book an appointment or walk in, when the card arrives, and what it cannot be used for. One appointment of about an hour; the card is mailed within 10 to 14 business days after approval Registration About 20 minutes online plus an office visit; once approved, the card usually arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days Residence and visas Several months for most work and study routes; often years for green cards Housing Local guide Finding a home in New York CityHow the New York City rental market works for newcomers: what rents and vacancy look like, which fees are legal under the FARE Act and state law, what landlords ask for, rent-stabilized and affordable housing lotteries, and how to avoid rental scams. Often several weeks; plan temporary accommodation for your first month Housing Local guide Renters' rights in New York CityYour main rights as a tenant in New York City: deposits and fees, rent-stabilized and market-rate leases, the 2026–27 rent freeze for stabilized apartments, Good Cause Eviction, heat and hot water, repairs, harassment and lockouts, and where to get free legal help. About 30 minutes to check which rules apply to your apartment Jobs Job searches often take several months; plan for work authorization first Employment Local guide Your rights at work in New YorkThe main rules that protect employees in New York City: at-will employment and illegal reasons for firing, the 2026 minimum wage and overtime, tips, paid prenatal leave, NYC Protected Time Off, Paid Family Leave, discrimination, and where to complain, regardless of immigration status. About 20 minutes to check your pay statement and leave balance Taxes Setting up withholding takes minutes; a first-year return can take several hours or a tax preparer Banking About an hour at a branch, or less online Healthcare About an hour to compare plans; enrollment usually takes effect from the first of a following month Schools Local guide Families, childcare and schools in New York CityHow to enroll children in New York City public schools, the documents and vaccines you need, free 3-K and Pre-K and the fall 2027 application dates, health insurance for children through Child Health Plus, and family tax credits, with your rights regardless of immigration status. An appointment at a school or Family Welcome Center; 3-K and Pre-K applications open once a year Transport Local guide Public transport in New York City – subway, buses, OMNY and faresHow to pay for the New York City subway and buses with OMNY, what a ride costs in 2026, how the free transfer and the weekly fare cap work, reduced fares and Fair Fares, the end of the MetroCard, commuter trains and the free Staten Island Ferry. A few minutes to set up a payment method Emergencies Local guide Emergency and helpline numbers in the United States and New York CityThe numbers to save on your first day: 911 for police, fire and ambulance (with text-to-911 in New York City), 988 for mental health crises, Poison Control, 311 for City services, and hotlines for domestic violence, immigration questions and tenants. Five minutes to save the numbers in your phone