How to find a job in Canada as a newcomer: 8 steps from permit to first paycheque
Quick summary
The path is the same for most newcomers: make sure you are allowed to work, get your SIN, check whether your job needs a Canadian licence, search for openings, fill out a TD1, check your pay stub, and set up a bank account. Start with the newcomer hub if you have just landed.
Checked November 11, 2026. Main source: IRCC: Welcome to Canada, Finding a job (modified August 12, 2024, read November 11, 2026). See all 6 sources.
Key facts
- SIN
- Needed to work. Free. IRCC suggests applying within 2 weeks of arriving
- Source: Service Canada, IRCC
- Temporary residents
- A SIN starting with 9 ends with your permit. You can start work once you have applied
- Source: Service Canada, June 2, 2026
- Credentials
- Foreign degrees usually need an assessment
- Source: Job Bank, Sept. 24, 2026
- Tax form
- Fill out the TD1 when you start
- Source: CRA
The 8 steps at a glance
| Step | What to do | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check that you may work in Canada | Job Bank |
| 2 | Apply for your SIN | Service Canada |
| 3 | Check whether your job is regulated | Job Bank |
| 4 | Search for jobs and use free help | Job Bank, IRCC |
| 5 | Build your résumé | Job Bank |
| 6 | Start: give your SIN, fill out a TD1 | CRA |
| 7 | Check your pay against minimum wage | Minimum Wage Database |
| 8 | Set up a bank account and start your credit | Our guides |
Step 1. Check that you may work
The IRCC page says you need a work permit to work in Canada. Some people are exempt, such as permanent residents, so confirm on the IRCC site which applies to you. Job Bank says that if you cannot immigrate permanently, you may still work temporarily, usually with a work permit, and you should check your eligibility before you apply.
If you are applying for a job from outside Canada, Job Bank says to apply only to jobs marked open to international candidates.
Step 2. Apply for your SIN
Service Canada says you need a SIN to work in Canada, and applying is free. You can apply online, by mail or in person. IRCC recommends applying within your first 2 weeks.
If you are a temporary resident, your SIN starts with 9 and ends when your permit ends. Service Canada says you can start working once you have applied. If you extend your permit, apply for your SIN again with the new document so the dates match.
Step 3. Check your credentials
Job Bank says to use the Foreign Credential Recognition Tool to see whether your occupation is regulated in Canada, how long recognition takes and what it costs. It also says foreign degrees usually need an assessment.
Do this early. If your job is regulated, you may need a licence before you can do that work. A job that is not regulated does not.
Step 4. Search and use free help
Job Bank lists jobs across Canada, and IRCC points to a Job Bank newcomer resource, career quizzes and links to help in each province and territory. Start there, then look at the help for the province where you live.
Not every job posting is real. Our scam protection page explains common signs.
Step 5. Build your résumé
IRCC lists the Job Bank résumé builder as a free tool for making a résumé. Use it to get a clean first draft, then ask a settlement agency or a friend to read it.
Step 6. Your first day: SIN and TD1
Your employer will ask for your SIN. You also fill out a TD1 when you start. The CRA says it tells the employer how much tax to take off. If it is not filed, only the basic personal amount is used.
Step 7. Check your pay
Every province and territory has a minimum wage, from $15.00 in Alberta to $20.17 in Nunavut for general rates, per the federal database. Compare your first stub to your hours and rate. To estimate take-home pay, use our calculator.
Step 8. Bank account and credit
Many employers pay by direct deposit, so ask yours how you will be paid. A bank account is also the first step to building a Canadian credit file.
Check what you learned
3 quick questions. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. What does a temporary resident's SIN do when the permit ends?
2. What does Job Bank say foreign degrees usually need?
3. What does the CRA say happens if a TD1 is not filed?
Questions people ask
Can I start working before I get my SIN card?
For temporary residents, Service Canada says you can start working once you have applied. Ask your employer what proof they need.
Do I need a Canadian licence for my job?
Only if your occupation is regulated. Job Bank points to the Foreign Credential Recognition Tool to check.
What if my permit gets extended?
Service Canada says to reapply for your SIN with the new document so the expiry dates match.
Is there free help finding a job?
Job Bank has a newcomer resource, a résumé builder and links to each province and territory, according to IRCC.
What is a TD1?
A CRA form you fill out when you start a job so your employer knows how much tax to withhold.