Quick answer: In your first year in Canada, the insurance to sort out, in rough order, is: tenant insurance when you rent, car insurance if you drive, health coverage (provincial or through work or school), life insurance once you have dependents or debts, and visitor or Super Visa insurance if family comes to visit. Most can be arranged quickly, and an independent broker can handle several at once and find newcomer-friendly pricing.
Written and reviewed by Navneet Saran, RIBO and LLQP Licensed Insurance Broker – last reviewed July 2026.
Key takeaways
- Start with tenant insurance as soon as you rent; it is cheap and often required by landlords.
- Arrange car insurance before you drive; newcomers pay more at first but can lower it.
- Confirm your health coverage through the province, your employer, or your school.
- Add life insurance once you have a mortgage, dependents, or family who rely on you.
- Set up visitor or Super Visa insurance when parents or family come to visit.
Your first-year insurance checklist
1. When you rent: tenant insurance
Often your very first policy in Canada. It protects your belongings and your liability, usually for a low monthly cost, and many landlords require it. It also quietly begins your Canadian insurance history. See our tenant insurance guide.
2. Before you drive: car insurance
Auto insurance is mandatory in Ontario. As a newcomer you have no Canadian driving history, so you often start in a higher price bracket, but a letter of experience from your home country, an approved course, and comparing insurers can bring it down. See our newcomer car insurance guide.
3. Confirm your health coverage
Depending on your status and province, your health coverage may come from the provincial plan, your employer, or your school. Confirm what is included, and consider extra coverage for any gaps such as prescriptions or dental.
4. When you have dependents or debt: life insurance
You do not need to be a citizen to buy life insurance in Canada. Once you have a mortgage, children, or family who rely on your income, it is worth arranging while you are younger and healthier. See our life insurance guide for new Canadians.
5. When family visits: visitor or Super Visa insurance
If parents or relatives come to stay, they need visitor insurance for a normal visit, or Super Visa insurance if you are sponsoring parents or grandparents long term. See our visitor insurance guide and Super Visa insurance page.
Why choose NavInsurance
Settling into a new country is busy enough. As an independent, RIBO and LLQP licensed broker in Brampton, I help newcomer families handle several of these policies at once, compare across multiple Canadian insurers for fair newcomer pricing, and explain everything in plain language, in English, Punjabi, Hindi or Urdu.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance should a new immigrant get first in Canada?
Usually tenant insurance when you rent and car insurance if you drive, since both are needed early and are your own responsibility. Health coverage is typically arranged through the province, work or school.
Can newcomers get insurance without a Canadian credit or driving history?
Yes. Tenant and life insurance do not depend on driving history, and car insurance is available to newcomers, though it often costs more at first and can be lowered with the right documents and comparison.
Do I need life insurance as a new permanent resident?
You do not need citizenship to buy it. It becomes important once you have a mortgage, children, or family who depend on your income.
What insurance do my visiting parents need?
Visitor insurance for a normal visit, or Super Visa insurance if you are sponsoring parents or grandparents on a Super Visa, which has specific coverage requirements.
Can one broker handle all of these?
Yes. That is the advantage of an independent broker. I can set up several policies at once and compare insurers so you are not overpaying in year one.
New to Canada and not sure where to start? Let us build your insurance plan together, step by step. Reach out on the contact page and we will sort it out in plain language.
Navneet Saran is a RIBO and LLQP licensed insurance broker serving Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Through NavInsurance, he helps individuals, families, newcomers and business owners compare insurance solutions from multiple Canadian insurers, including Auto, Home, Life, Commercial, Visitor, Travel and Super Visa Insurance.
