Settling in Canada
Once we’ve approved your family member’s application, you can help them settle permanently in Canada. Their next steps will depend on their current location.
Prepare to live in Canada
They can get free help to prepare for living in Canada. These services will help them learn about life and work in Canada.
Pre-arrival services
Before they arrive, get free services to help them prepare for life in Canada.
Publications for newcomers
Find information in different languages to help your family members during their first weeks in Canada.
Arrive at the border
Everyone wants their border crossing to go smoothly, with as few delays as possible. The best way to make sure this happens is to know what to expect and prepare before you and your family members arrive at the border.
The Canada Border Services Agency provides helpful tools to help you when crossing the border.
After they’ve arrived
They need to complete a few important tasks as they settle into their new life as permanent residents.
Get a permanent resident card
After their first landing in Canada, we’ll start the process to mail their permanent resident (PR) card, their new identification document, to their address in Canada.
Make sure we have their mailing address
If they didn’t provide their Canadian mailing address when they became permanent residents, they can use our online address notification tool within 180 days to avoid the cancellation of their PR card. Otherwise, they’ll need to apply for another one and pay new processing fees.
Apply for a social insurance number
While your family members wait for their PR card, they can use their signed confirmation of permanent residence to apply for a social insurance number to work in Canada or access government programs and benefits.
Get settlement support
Settling in a new country can be an exciting but challenging experience. Once they’re in Canada, our free services can help them transition smoothly into everyday life.
Protect them from fraud
In a world full of scams, it’s important to protect yourself and your family members. Discover simple ways to avoid scammers, and learn what to do if you or your family members become victims of fraud.
Learn more about immigration and citizenship fraud and scams.
Learn the steps before arriving in Canada
This video can help you and your family members get ready for their new life in Canada. It covers key areas such as language, job search preparation, the education system and health coverage.
Help for new immigrants
It’s time for your family members to learn how to settle as newcomers in Canada.
You and your family members can contact friendly and experienced settlement professionals in Canada to get free newcomer services. These organizations offer services such as
- help finding a job
- language assessment or training
- help signing up kids for school
- help connecting with others in your community
Find newcomer services near you
Confirm permanent resident status
We’ll send them 2 emails:
- The first email will ask them to respond with some basic information.
- The second will let them know we’re ready to confirm their permanent resident (PR) status.
If they didn’t get our email, please ask them to check their junk mail or spam folder to see if a message from us is there.
Learn more about confirming permanent residence from inside Canada.
Get a permanent resident card
After we confirm their status, they’ll get an automated email when their electronic confirmation of permanent residence (e-COPR) is ready. This document is proof of their new status in Canada. It can take up to a few weeks for their e-COPR to be processed.
In the portal, we’ll also ask them for a photo so we can start making their first permanent resident (PR) card. They don’t need to apply for their first PR card.
Once their photo is approved, we’ll send their PR card to the mailing address in Canada they gave us.
Make sure we have their mailing address
If they didn’t provide their Canadian mailing address when they became permanent residents, they can use our online address notification tool within 180 days to avoid the cancellation of their PR card. Otherwise, they’ll need to apply for another one and pay new processing fees.
Apply for a social insurance number
While your family members wait for their PR card, they can use their signed confirmation of permanent residence to apply for a social insurance number to work in Canada or access government programs and benefits.
Protect them from fraud
In a world full of scams, it’s important to protect yourself and your family members. Discover simple ways to avoid scammers, and learn what to do if you or your family members become victims of fraud.
Learn more about immigration and citizenship fraud and scams.
Learn the steps before arriving in Canada
This video can help you and your family members get ready for their new life in Canada. It covers key areas such as language, job search preparation, the education system and health coverage.
Page details
- Date modified: