Newcomers · First 90 days

Month two and three: settling in properly.

Once you have your SIN, health card and bank account (see our First 30 Days guide), these are the next things to sort out. Everything below comes from the government or the organisation that runs the service, and we link you to the source.

Last checked October 20, 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the linked page before you go or pay anything.

← Haven't done the first 30 days yet? Start here.

1. Switch to an Ontario driver's licence

You can drive on your Kenyan licence for 60 days after you move to Ontario. After that you need an Ontario licence.

Kenya does not have a licence exchange agreement with Ontario, so you go through the tests: a vision test, a knowledge test, and the G2 road test. Then, at least 12 months later, the G road test.
New since July 1, 2026: you can get credit for up to one year of driving experience. Bring your valid, original Kenyan licence and an official letter from the agency that issued it confirming that the licence is real. The letter must be in English or French. Ask for it from home early.
Bring original ID showing your legal name and date of birth, your original licence, your proof of experience, and the fee.

Our driving in Ontario guide covers this step by step, including the Kenya High Commission's licence verification letter.

Source: Government of Ontario, "Exchange an out-of-province driver's licence"

Winter tip: if you have never driven on snow and ice, practise with someone experienced before your road test. Our winter guide covers winter driving.

2. No licence? Get an Ontario Photo Card

If you don't drive, the Ontario Photo Card is an official photo ID, so you don't have to carry your passport everywhere. It is for Ontario residents aged 16 or older who don't have a driver's licence. It costs $35, and you apply in person at ServiceOntario with original ID.

Source: Government of Ontario, "Ontario Photo Card"

3. Register your children for school

Thunder Bay has two English-language school boards, and you register online with either one. Which school your child goes to depends on your address.

Lakehead District School Board (public): lakeheadschools.ca/register. Families new to the board create an account first.
Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board: tbcschools.ca/education/register. Parents don't need to speak French for their children to join French Immersion.

Ontario schools can give extra language support to students who speak a different kind of English from the one used in Ontario classrooms. That can include children from Kenya. Ask the school board about it when you register.

Source: the two board registration pages above, and Government of Ontario, "Improve your English and French"

4. Get on the list for a family doctor

Once you have your Ontario health card number, join Health Care Connect, the province's waitlist for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Sign up online or call 811. The mailing address you give must match the one on your health card. Joining doesn't guarantee you a doctor right away, so sign up early.

While you wait, call 811 (Health811) any time for free advice from a nurse.
For an emergency, call 911 or go to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, 980 Oliver Road.

Source: Government of Ontario, "Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner" and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

5. Apply for benefits

You don't have to wait until you file your first tax return. As a new resident you can apply now.

With children under 18: apply for the Canada child benefit (CCB) with form RC66. The same application covers the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (the new name for the GST/HST credit) and the Ontario child benefit.
No children: apply for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit online with Web Form RC151.
On these forms you report your income from outside Canada, including Kenya, for up to two years before you arrived.
Taxes: file your first return the year after you arrive. The usual deadline is April 30. Include the ON-BEN form so you can get the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which includes the Northern Ontario Energy Credit for people living in the north. File even if you had no income.

Source: Canada Revenue Agency, "Newcomers to Canada", "Canada child benefit: before you apply" and Government of Ontario, "Ontario Trillium Benefit"

6. Start building credit

In Canada, landlords, phone companies and lenders check your credit history, and your history from Kenya doesn't carry over.

A free bank account: since December 1, 2025, newcomers in their first year can get a $0-a-month account at participating banks, including BMO, CIBC, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank, Tangerine and TD.
A secured credit card is made for people with no credit history. You pay a deposit, and the deposit is usually your limit. Check the fees first.
Pay on time every month, at least the minimum, and use less than 30% of your limit.

Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, free and low-cost bank accounts, choosing a credit card and improving your credit score

Looking for work? See jobs in Thunder Bay and our jobs and credentials guide.

7. Get around by bus

A single ride is $3.25 in cash (exact change), and a cash transfer lasts 90 minutes.
A monthly pass is $92.65 for adults and $63.90 for youth and seniors. Children 12 and under ride free; ages 6 to 12 need a Lift Pass card.
A reloadable Lift Pass card costs $5 at the Transit Office, City Hall or some shops, and you can top it up online.
On a low income? The Affordable Bus Pass pilot gives eligible adults a half-price monthly pass. It is run by the Lakehead Social Planning Council, (807) 624-1726, and applications open November 1.

Source: City of Thunder Bay, "Fares and passes" (fares from April 1, 2026)

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This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. For your own situation, speak to the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, the Canada Revenue Agency, or a licensed professional.

Next guide: Driving in Ontario →