Your First 72 Hours on PEI: An Arrival Checklist for New Immigrants

1. At the Port of Entry First

Before you even think about PEI specifically, you need to clear the border. If you're landing as a new permanent resident, carry (don't pack in checked luggage):

• Your valid passport
• Your signed Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa, if one was issued
• Proof of funds, unless exempt
• Any additional documents IRCC specifically requested

A CBSA officer will verify your documents, may ask questions similar to your original application, confirm your Canadian mailing address for your PR card, and sign and date your COPR. If you're arriving on a work or study permit instead, you'll go through a similar document check but without the COPR step; your permit itself is your authorization.

2. The Reality Check: No One Is Picking You Up (Usually)

This surprises a lot of newcomers. Airport greeting and transport to temporary housing is a specific service under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), available only to Government Assisted Refugees during their first 6-8 weeks. If you're arriving as an economic immigrant, a PEI PNP nominee, a work permit holder, or a student, you are responsible for your own transport from the airport — book a shuttle, rental car, or taxi in advance, especially if you're landing in Charlottetown outside of regular daytime hours, since the airport is small and options thin out quickly in the evening.

3. Your First Stop on the Ground: Register With IRSA

The Immigrant and Refugee Services Association of PEI (IRSA) is the Island's settlement agency, with offices in Charlottetown and Summerside. Registering is free and is the fastest way to get oriented — a settlement worker will do a needs assessment and help you prioritize the list below based on your specific immigration category.

4. The Must-Do List, Roughly in Order

1. Register with IRSA (or francophone settlement services, if applicable)
2. Find temporary housing if you don't already have a lease lined up — don't assume you can sort this out after arriving with no booking at all
3. Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) — you need this before you can legally start work or get paid
4. Apply for your PEI Health Card — there's a waiting period before coverage starts, so apply as early as possible (see the companion article on health card timelines)
5. Open a Canadian bank account
6. Register for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the GST/HST Credit, if applicable to your household
7. Get on a family doctor waitlist and find out your nearest walk-in clinic for anything urgent in the meantime
8. If you have school-age children, register them with your local school
9. If you're a PEI Provincial Nominee, register with the Office of Immigration specifically, in addition to IRSA

5. One More PEI-Specific Reality

PEI is genuinely car-dependent outside Charlottetown and Summerside's core areas — there is no light rail or subway, and bus coverage is limited (see the companion article on getting around PEI without a car). Factor transportation into your very first days, not just your first few months.