Settling in
Your first weeks in British Columbia.
In your first weeks in BC, focus on five things: a Social Insurance Number, health coverage, the Canada Child Benefit, a bank account, and a family doctor or walk-in clinic. Here is the order that works, and where Steady Path helps you through it, free.
First 1–2 weeks: documents and health
These are the applications everything else depends on: income support, healthcare, and your children’s benefits.
- Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for each family member
- Enrol in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and apply for your BC Services Card
- Apply for the Canada Child Benefit (CRA Form RC66)
- Open a Canadian bank account and set up online banking
- Find a walk-in clinic, and ask a family doctor for any referrals your child needs
Weeks 2–6: housing and knowing your area
Once the essentials are in motion, settle your home and learn how things work where you live.
- Start your search for long-term rental housing
- Learn your rights and responsibilities as a tenant in BC
- Register your home address with local schools and clinics
- Save the key numbers: 911 for emergencies, 811 for health advice
If your child has a disability, start these early
Some supports take time, so it helps to begin them in your first months. Two guides walk through them: school and IEP support and disability benefits for newcomer families. You can also read about sibling support for the brothers and sisters.
Official application pages: the Social Insurance Number, the Medical Services Plan, and the Canada Child Benefit. Still not sure where to start? Ask us and we will point you to the right one.
Questions
First weeks in BC, answered plainly.
What should a newcomer family do first in BC?Start with the documents everything else depends on: apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), enrol in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and get a BC Services Card, apply for the Canada Child Benefit, open a bank account, and find a walk-in clinic or family doctor.
How do I get health coverage in BC as a newcomer?Enrol in the Medical Services Plan (MSP) through Health Insurance BC and apply for a BC Services Card, which is your health card. There can be a wait before coverage starts, so apply as soon as you arrive and use walk-in clinics in the meantime.
Can Steady Path Society help me with these steps?Yes, and it is free. We help with SIN, MSP, BC Services Card, and Canada Child Benefit applications, and we can point you to housing listings, your nearest clinic, and more. We help you through the process. We are not a government office.
What number do I call in an emergency?Call 911 for any emergency. For non-urgent health advice in BC, call 811 to reach HealthLink BC, day or night.
You don't have to do it alone
We'll walk through the list with you.
Free, one-on-one help with the paperwork and the systems, at your pace, in person or online.