Getting Settled

There are several organizations in Niagara that can offer help to you when you arrive, depending on where you chose to live. It is important to remember that Niagara is a very large area and not fully accessible by public transit. Below is the links to the four multi-cultural centres in the Niagara region that can help you find the information and the resources you need, as well as help you to make Niagara your new home.

•   Folk Arts Council of St. Catharines
•   Fort Erie Multicultural Centre
•   Welland Heritage Council
•   Multicultural Network of Niagara Falls

Welland 905 732-5337          Niagara Falls 905 356-2249

Fort Erie 905 871 3649          St. Catharines 905 685 6589

By clicking on Settlement services you will find settlement services to all new immigrants and refugees, including help finding local medical, educational and social services.

If you require further help with Translation Services, Information Niagara Inc, Interpreters Niagara/Hamilton will be able to help.

Applying for Documents

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number used in the administration of various Canadian government programs. You will require a SIN to work in Canada or to receive government benefits. For more information on how to apply for an SIN please click here. For the office location of where to apply for your SIN please select one of the listed offices below:

• St. Catharines Service Canada Centre
• Niagara Falls Service Canada Centre
• Welland Service Canada Centre

An Ontario driver's license is your proof of your privilege to drive. You must carry it with you whenever you drive. If you hold a driver-license from another province or country, you will be required to apply for an Ontario driver's licence within 60 days of taking up residence in the province.

If you are a licensed driver, please click here , for information on Getting an Ontario Driver’s License.

For information on how to apply for a driver’s license in Ontario, please click here.

For more information on vehicle insurance please click here.

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays for basic medical services for Ontario residents. A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. There may be a three-month waiting period for your OHIP coverage. If you are new to Ontario, or a former resident returning here to live after being out of the country for more than seven months, the waiting period begins on the date you establish or re-establish residence in Ontario. You are also required to be present in Ontario for 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date residency is established in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6 months of residency).If you are an eligible resident moving to Ontario from another part of Canada, the health insurance of your former province/territory will cover you for up to three months. If you are not covered by the health insurance of another province/territory, it is important to buy private health insurance to cover you until you receive your Ontario health coverage.

For more information:
Contact a private insurance company directly or call the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. at 1 800-268-8099.

For more information about OHIP and how to purchase private health insurance please click here.

All immigrants to Ontario must visit an OHIP office. The Niagara office is located at:

301 St. Paul Street, Mezzanine Level
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7R4
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

For more information call the INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only), TTY 1-800-387-5559. The INFOline is available from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Permanent Immigration
For information on how to apply to become a Canadian Citizen please click here.
For Canadian Citizen Application Forms please click here.