Key takeaways
- Covers 8 large cities in detail, plus every province and territory
- Shows which programs you can use based on your status (PR, refugee, worker, student or citizen)
- Always includes 2-1-1, the free line that knows all local services
- IRCC-funded settlement services are for PRs and protected persons; many other programs are open to everyone
How the support finder works
The finder matches three things: your location, your need and your status. For each need it lists the first places to contact, in order, with links to official or well-known non-profit sites. For 8 large cities (Toronto, Ottawa, Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Winnipeg and Halifax) it adds the local food bank and public library. For other places it uses province-wide programs.
Your status changes the answer because different programs have different funders:
- IRCC-funded settlement services are for permanent residents and protected persons, plus a few small groups of temporary residents. Canadian citizens are not eligible.
- Economic-class permanent residents (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program and similar) can use them for up to 6 years after becoming a PR from April 1, 2026, and up to 5 years from April 1, 2027.
- Provincial, city and charity programs, like 211, food banks, libraries and many job centres, are usually open to everyone who lives in the area.
Every result ends with 2-1-1, because it is the one service that knows all local programs.
Example: a work permit holder in Calgary who needs a job
Priya has an open work permit and lives in Calgary. She chooses Calgary, Jobs and training and Work permit holder. The finder tells her:
- Get free one-on-one job help through Alberta’s career services (ALIS).
- Search and set alerts on Job Bank.
- As a worker, most IRCC settlement programs are not for her, but provincial employment centres often are.
- If she has a licensed profession, find her regulator.
- Call 2-1-1 for anything else.
If Priya becomes a permanent resident later, she can run the finder again: her list will include free IRCC-funded job programs, mentoring and bridging programs.
Quebec is different
Quebec selects many of its own immigrants and runs its own newcomer services. Instead of IRCC-funded agencies, you use Accompagnement Québec for settlement help and Francisation Québec for free French classes. The IRCC online finder does not list Quebec services. The finder points you to the right Quebec programs when you pick a Quebec location.
Which status should I choose?
- Permanent resident (economic): you came through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, a pilot, or as a business immigrant. This includes your spouse and children who came with you.
- Permanent resident (family, refugee or humanitarian): you were sponsored by a family member, resettled as a refugee, or approved on humanitarian grounds.
- Protected person: your refugee claim in Canada was approved, but you are not yet a permanent resident.
- Refugee claimant: you made a claim and are waiting for a decision. Health care comes from the Interim Federal Health Program.
- Work permit holder or student: you are a temporary resident. Some francophone pilot and Atlantic program participants can use IRCC services; ask an agency.
What to do next
- Read the full newcomer support directory for every type of help.
- New in Canada? Use the first 7 days planner and the checklist by province.
- Need food today? See food banks.
- Feeling unsafe or in crisis? See emergency help.
We started with 8 cities and will add more. If a link is out of date, please tell us.