Everything to know about living and working in the Yukon

In chronological order, here are the tasks you’ll want to complete before you can settle down in your new home:

1. Social Insurance Number (SIN)

We detail the procedure of how to obtain your SIN in Getting your Canadian Social Insurance Number. You will need a SIN before you can legally start working.

In the Yukon, you won’t have much choice of Service Canada offices. Check the opening hours in advance, as they operate shorter working days than you may be used to in larger Canadian cities like Toronto or Vancouver.

2. Open a bank account

With your SIN secured, you can now open a bank account. This will be necessary to make purchases with a local bank card and to be able to receive payments from any future employer! Unless you live in Whitehorse, you may be limited on choice for who to bank with.

To get around the poor choice of companies in most Yukon towns, you may also want to open up a bank account before arriving. Pvtistes has a great deal with National Bank of Canada; open your account online and you’ll receive CA$100 cashback plus three years of no-fee banking.

3. Buy a telephone plan

Once you have a bank account sorted, you’ll be able to buy a Canadian SIM or mobile phone plan and get your Canadian phone number. This Canadian number will be extremely important for applying for jobs, as most employers want to see evidence you are already in Canada.

Be aware that no matter which phone operator you choose, cell coverage is not widespread in the Yukon. Therefore, you will only have service in the main towns of the Yukon!

4. Get Internet access

For a long time, having access to the Internet in the Yukon was like going back in time because it was so slow. While it is not yet perfect, things are getting better, even if the speeds are lower and the costs are higher than you are used to. You will be limited in choice, and sometimes there will only be one company to choose from in a town!

If you need access to the Internet (or a computer) outside of your accommodation, you can visit the public library, or cafes like Starbucks and Tim Hortons, which offer Wi-Fi to their customers.

5. Get provincial/territorial healthcare

If you’ve been a resident in the Yukon for at least three months (and if your work permit is valid for at least one year), you qualify for the Yukon health care card. This gives you coverage for things such as routine doctor’s appointments and medical examinations without paying upfront.

Be warned that this does not exempt you from needing travel health insurance, which is mandatory for your IEC permit. This is because your Yukon health care card will not cover repatriation and civil liability.

You also will not be covered for all medications; for some prescriptions, you will still have to pay the full amount.