Arriving in Ontario or BC: Your First 30 Days
Most newcomers land in one of two provinces — and the rules that matter most in your first month differ between them. Here's Ontario and British Columbia side by side, so you know exactly what applies where you're settling.
Same country, different rulebooks
Here's something that surprises almost every newcomer: Canada runs a lot of daily life at the province level, not the national one. Your healthcare, your driver's licence, your rental rights and part of your taxes all change depending on whether you land in Toronto or Vancouver. Two friends arriving the same week — one in Ontario, one in BC — genuinely face different first months.
This guide walks the five things that matter most in your first 30 days, each shown for both provinces. If you already know where you're settling, jump to your side. If you're still deciding, this is a fair look at how they compare. Either way, your province hub pulls together the deeper local detail.
1. Health coverage — mind the gap
This is the single most expensive thing to get wrong. Neither province covers you the instant you land, and an ER visit in the gap can cost thousands.
Ontario (OHIP)
Ontario's public plan is OHIP. Eligible residents historically faced a three-month wait, but the bigger issue for newcomers is that most international students aren't eligible for OHIP at all — they rely on a university health plan (like UHIP) or private cover.
Read the detail in our Ontario health-coverage guide, and arrange private coverage for any gap.
Watch out: don't assume your school plan starts on day one — check the exact start date and bridge anything before it.
British Columbia (MSP)
BC's plan is MSP (Medical Services Plan). Enrolment is mandatory, but there's a waiting period of the rest of your arrival month plus about two more months before coverage begins. Apply as soon as you land so the clock starts.
Our BC health-coverage guide explains the wait and how to cover it.
Watch out: the waiting period is real for almost everyone — buy private cover to bridge it.
The universal rule for both provinces
Whichever you land in, treat the first three months as not covered until you've confirmed otherwise in writing. Short-term private insurance for the waiting period is cheap next to one uninsured emergency. Our waiting-period guide compares provinces and covers how to bridge the gap.
2. Driver's licence exchange
You can usually drive on your foreign licence for a short window after arrival — but to keep driving you'll need to switch to a provincial one.
Ontario
Ontario lets you drive on a valid foreign licence (with an International Driving Permit for non-English/French ones) for a limited period after arrival. To keep driving, you exchange it through ServiceOntario / DriveTest.
Drivers from countries with a reciprocal agreement (e.g. the UK, several EU states, Japan, Korea, Australia) can often swap directly. Others must pass Ontario's knowledge and road tests, with credit for driving experience.
British Columbia
In BC, licensing runs through ICBC. You can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 90 days, then must switch to a BC licence if you're staying.
BC also has reciprocal agreements with several countries for a direct exchange; drivers from other countries take the knowledge and road tests. Bring your licence and a translation or IDP if it isn't in English.
3. Provincial ID
A local photo ID saves you carrying your passport everywhere and is widely accepted for day-to-day verification.
Ontario
If you don't drive, Ontario issues a photo card through ServiceOntario — a government photo ID for anyone 16+. You'll need proof of identity, legal status in Canada, and an Ontario address.
Handy once you've got a lease and want to stop carrying your passport to buy age-restricted items or enter venues.
British Columbia
BC issues the BCID card through ICBC for non-drivers, or you can use the combined BC Services Card. Same idea: proof of identity, status, and a BC address.
Getting one early makes everyday life smoother and keeps your passport safe at home.
4. Renting & deposits
Deposit rules are set provincially — and knowing the legal maximum protects you from being overcharged in your first, most vulnerable week.
Ontario
A landlord can legally collect a rent deposit — usually last month's rent — but cannot charge a separate damage or security deposit. If someone demands a "damage deposit" on top, that's not allowed under Ontario's tenancy rules.
Budget realistically for first-and-last-month plus setup costs in our Ontario first-month cost guide.
Watch out: never pay a large "holding fee" in cash to a stranger before seeing a signed lease — a common newcomer scam.
British Columbia
BC allows a security deposit of up to half a month's rent, plus a pet deposit of up to another half-month. That's the legal cap — anything more isn't permitted.
Vancouver rent is steep, so plan the numbers with our BC first-month cost guide.
Watch out: the same "pay a deposit to hold it" scam is common in Vancouver's tight market — insist on viewing and a proper agreement first.
5. Provincial tax quirks
You pay federal tax everywhere, but the sales tax you see at the till — and part of your income tax — depends on the province.
Ontario
Ontario uses a single 13% HST (harmonised sales tax) on most purchases — one blended rate you'll see added at checkout, since prices are almost always shown before tax.
Provincial income-tax brackets and credits are Ontario-specific, but you file one combined return.
British Columbia
BC splits it: 5% federal GST + 7% provincial PST (12% combined on many items, though some are taxed differently or exempt). The split occasionally matters — a few things are GST-only.
BC has its own brackets and credits too, filed in the same combined return.
Your first tax return might pay you back
Whichever province you're in, don't skip your first tax return — as a newcomer you may be owed a refund or benefit payments even on a modest income. See our first tax return guide for who needs to file and the easiest free way to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Honest answers for your first 30 days in Ontario or BC.
Is there a health-card waiting period in Ontario and BC?
Can I use my foreign driver's licence?
How much is a rental deposit in Ontario vs BC?
Do I need a provincial ID if I have a passport?
Are taxes different in Ontario and BC?
Keep going — the next steps
This guide is part of our arrival trio. Wherever you land, here's what pairs with it.
Get the province-specific essentials sorted
Open a local bank account and cover your health-insurance gap — the two things that matter most in your first 30 days.