Re-entry Planner
Coming home to Canada — a week-by-week plan
You are moving back. Here is what to do, in what order, and when each thing actually starts. Federal CRA + Service Canada + provincial health + tax filing + driver's licence + banking. Covers all 13 jurisdictions.
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Your plan
OHIP coverage starts 2026-05-22
Same day as application approval. No wait period.
Arrive 2026-05-22. OHIP coverage starts same day as application approval. You are fully back on-grid by 2026-09-19.
Apply for OHIP on arrival day
Bring three original documents: proof of Canadian citizenship or eligibility (passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate), proof of Ontario residence (lease, utility bill, or bank statement with provincial address), and proof of identity (driver's license or credit card with signature). OHIP coverage starts the same day as approval — no wait period.
Update CRA My Account with Canadian address
Log into CRA My Account and update your address to your new Canadian one. This is the first signal that re-establishes factual Canadian tax residency.
Exchange US driver's license for Ontario license
Most provinces have reciprocal exchange with most US states. Bring proof of address + your current US license. Time limit on exchange varies (typically 60-90 days from establishing residency). Written and road test may be waived for licensees with 2+ years documented experience.
Confirm your SIN is active
Most citizens retain their original SIN. Call Service Canada 1-800-622-6232 to confirm activity if there's any doubt.
Reactivate dormant Canadian bank accounts or open new ones
Update address with your Canadian bank. If accounts were closed, opening a new account requires Canadian address + ID. The 25% Part XIII non-resident withholding on payments to non-residents stops once factual residency resumes.
File T1 declaring Canadian tax residency for partial / first year
Filed by April 30 of the following year. Triggers GST/HST credit (~$500/year), Canada Workers Benefit if income-eligible, Climate Action Incentive Payment, and provincial credits like Ontario Trillium Benefit. First T1 as resident also re-establishes the date for TFSA contribution-room accrual.
Understand TFSA contribution-room loss during non-residency
TFSA room does NOT accrue for years of non-residency. A 5-year US stint costs roughly $35,000 in lifetime contribution space. Forward years from your return will accrue normally. Do not over-contribute trying to catch up — there is no catch-up mechanism.
Want push reminders for each step?
Being Canadian tracks your re-entry checklist day by day, with push reminders on critical dates (license exchange deadline, OHIP card delivery, T1 filing window). Free for 30 days.
Get Being Canadian$79/year. Same number in USD and CAD.