Nanny&Me

Your nanny has arrived and hopefully you've given him/her a very warm welcome (see my post HERE on how to do so). Once you've allowed your nanny to settle in and rest up, it is kind and supportive to help them navigate the documents/accounts that they need for life in Canada. 

In order to get them started, clear your schedule for a half day and take them to the appropriate government offices/businesses to get the following done (in relevant order) and make sure you offer a friendly reminder for them to bring their passport and work permit.

1. Obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A SIN can be obtained from any Service Canada office. You can find your local Service Canada office HERE. Your nanny will need to bring their passport and work permit in order to apply for a social insurance number. They will be asked to provide details of their current address and contact information. Since this if the first step, our nanny listed my cellphone as her contact number (since she didn't have one of her own yet). We found the Service Canada representative very friendly and happy to have me there to support our nanny in the event of any language barriers.

2. Obtain a government issued provincial ID (Ontario Card in Ontario)

Getting an Ontario Card ensures that your nanny will have a second piece of government issued ID. The SIN card works as one piece of ID, but an OHIP card is not a government recognized form of ID in situations such as entrance into a bar (yup that was the first and only example that came to mind). If your nanny won't be applying for a driver's license then it is strongly recommended to get an Ontario Card so that they have two pieces of government issued ID. The cost is about $35. They can apply for an Ontario Card at any Service Ontario location. 

3. Open a bank account

Your nanny needs a bank account in order to manage their finances and to ensure that you are paying their salary in a well documented manner. Take your nanny to the bank of their preference (our nanny went with RBC which costs $4/month for a basic account and we also bank with them) and help them get set up with a bank account.  

4. Get a cell phone

Just like anyone else, not all nannies will choose to get a cellphone, but if they do, take them to pick one out or sign on for a plan using an existing phone. Our nanny chose WIND Mobile which offers unlimited text, talk and data for only $35/month, but WIND is only a good option in the city (from what I hear) as their service can be unreliable in rural and remote areas. Most cell phone companies will only offer a pre-paid option to newcomers so chances are they'll have to sign on for a month-to-month account, but we helped our nanny automate payments from her bank monthly so that she doesn't need to think about it. 

*Some employers pay for a nanny's cellphone if it's going to be used largely for work purposes. We didn't feel the need for this (particularly since we are getting a home phone) so our nanny chose to purchase a phone and a prepaid plan for personal use.

5. Apply for provincial government health plan (OHIP in Ontario)

Your nanny is required to apply for coverage under the government health plan (OHIP in Ontario). This can ONLY be done for foreign workers at full-service Service Ontario offices (for us this meant a trip downtown). Your nanny can ONLY apply for OHIP once they have received their Ontario Card or Driver's License because those forms of ID along with a SIN are required to apply for coverage. They will also need a piece of mail, and an employment letter (I'm bringing the employment contract along as well just in case). They are very strict about application requirements for foreign workers so make sure you read the required document list (which you can get when applying for Ontario Card). Your nanny is eligible for coverage 90 days after their arrival in Canada. This does not change according to when you apply, so whether the Ontario Card (or Driver's License) takes 1 week or 4 weeks to arrive, you will not be penalized. 

Be Prepared...

I like to err on the side of caution, so I am recommending bringing the following documents (as you obtain them) to all appointments at government offices/businesses:

• Valid work permit
• Passport from country of origin
• Signed employment contract
• Signed letter of employment
• SIN
• Ontario Card/Driver's License
• Piece of registered mail
• Copy of bank account information

Good luck and enjoy your day together running these errands. Your nanny will surely appreciate you taking the time to support them in getting these tasks done, and it's a great opportunity to spend some time with one another.