Your first two weeks: student life checklist
The essentials to sort out as soon as you arrive, in priority order — including an important clarification about health insurance (it's not OHIP).
1. SIN Number — free to apply for, do it as early as possible (see the paperwork guide).
2. Bank account — open it as soon as you arrive; some banks have booths on campus or at the airport during welcome week.
3. Health insurance — IMPORTANT: as an international student you're NOT eligible for OHIP (Ontario's public health plan), no matter how long you've lived here. Nearly every university and college requires private insurance as a condition of enrollment — at public universities this is usually UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan), billed along with your fees and typically not optional to opt out of. Confirm with your institution that your coverage is active before you need it.
4. Local phone plan or eSIM — so you have a Canadian number and data from day one.
5. Register with your institution and confirm your schedule.
6. Transit card (PRESTO) — see the transit guide to choose between the automatic fare cap, a monthly pass, or a U-Pass if your institution offers one.
7. Join at least one international student group or community — it helps a lot in the first few months, both for making friends and getting quick answers to practical questions.
Keep handy: 911 for emergencies, and your institution's campus safety number.