I arrived in Moncton, New Brunswick a week before my classes in Fall semester starts. I personally believe this is a good timing so you have enough time to familiarize your new “home” and get necessary things done prior to getting busy with school.
As an international student, these are the things I suggest that needs to be done on your first few days in Canada.
1. Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
This is a nine-digit number that you need in order to work and get paid in Canada.
You can get your SIN at a Service Canada Office and this is free. The only requirement in getting SIN is your study permit. (This study permit will be given to you on your point of entry in Canada. In my case, it was given to me at Vancouver airport.)
Just to be sure, I also brought my proof of address (Airbnb booking) and my passport.
Your SIN will be issued the same day that you apply. Its validity will depend on your school program duration. You need to renew this once you get your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or your Permanent Residency in order to continue working.
2. Open a bank account
I didn’t know that opening an account is by appointment basis. I don’t have a local number yet to call for appointments and Scotiabank is just walking distance from Service Canada so I just decided to walk in.
Fortunately, they found a vacant spot for me. I was able to open my Scotiabank student account. Regular banking here has monthly fees and it’s not easy to get a credit card unless you have a credit history. That’s why I chose Scotiabank because they have a StartRight program for newly landed immigrants and international students where we have unlimited transactions and no monthly fees. On top of that, they also give us a credit card to help us build credit history. I got a credit card with $1000 limit. I think other banks have the same kind of program too. Just do some more research and find what suits you.
The requirements for opening a Scotiabank student account are SIN, passport, study permit and letter of acceptance from your Canadian school.
3. Get a local number
After I got my SIN and opened my Canadian bank account, I went to the mall to find the cheapest sim card I could find. If you’re in Moncton, we only have one mall here. You won’t be lost. 😉
I just used my old Philippine phone and got a local sim via Koodo. The sim card itself is $10 and I had to pay $45 a month to use it. This is unlimited messaging (outgoing and incoming) and unlimited call on weekends and evening. Mobile plans in New Brunswick are really expensive! I found a cheaper option later on and transferred to Rogers. This plan is very basic though. It’s called Pay As You Go. It is just unlimited messaging (outgoing and incoming) for $15. If you use phone call (you calling or you answering), you will be charged with .30 cents per minute. So different with our phone plans back in the Philippines!
By the way, even if you transfer to another service provider, you can still keep the same number. Again, so different with what I am used to back home.
4. Find a “Permanent” Place to Stay
Prior to arriving in Moncton, I contacted a lot of ads in Kijiji but for whatever reason, I never got a response from owners. It’s ok anyway because it is really recommended to see the place in person first before committing to renting it since rental here is usually with a one year contract.
Since I don’t know anyone in Moncton, I decided to book an AirBnB accommodation for one week near downtown area, which is Main Street. I had 7 days to look at apartments/rooms to rent. I highly suggest to find a place near your school that is maximum of 10 minutes walk. If distance of the place is more than 10 minutes walk, try to find somewhere else that is near a bus stop. 10 minutes walk is a very long walk already in winter here. I got lucky to find an apartment that is just beside NBCC, 3 minutes walk with a bus stop in front!
There are places to rent that is just a bedroom. These are bedrooms inside a private house and everything is included (except meals). Range for these rentals would be between $400-$600. Most places to rent here are 2-bedroom apartment with heats and lights included but these are unfurnished. However, these are equipped with fridge, stoves and oven already. Range would be $700-$1000. If you are coming alone like me, make friends with a fellow international student and ask if you can rent a 2-bedroom apartment together. This will give you more privacy, in my personal opinion. Take note though that since these apartments are bare, you have to buy your own furniture like your bed. But you don’t have to spend much on this since there are many barely used furniture that are for sale in Kijiji or in Facebook market. Sometimes, you can also find these items in a neighbor’s curb for free!
*Rental prices I put here is based in New Brunswick. Other provinces may have different price range.
5. Apply for Medicare
One of the benefits of studying in New Brunswick is that international students are part of their Medicare Program. This is Canada's free health care which is usually just applicable to its citizens or permanent residence. Not all provinces extend health-care coverage to its international students. To get this card, I just went to Service New Brunswick and brought the following documents: Passport, Study Permit, Proof of Address and Proof of enrollment (LOA) from NBCC. Processing would take about 3 weeks and the Medicare card will be mailed to your address once approved. There is no fee in applying for Medicare in New Brunswick. Same with your SIN, the validity will also depend on your school program duration. You will just have to renew this once you get your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or your Permanent Residency.
Next, explore your new found home and make new friends.
Hope you can share how you got your driver's license in Canada.
Hoping for new blogs.