Neighbourhoods & renting
How to research areas with official data, and your rights as a tenant.
Schools
Toronto's four school boards, how to register, and official test results.
- To register with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), gather proof of age, proof of address and immunization records, then register online. If your child was not born in Canada, bring proof of their arrival date.
Source: Registration — TDSB ↗ - TDSB's 'Find Your School' tool shows families which school their address is assigned to.
Source: Elementary School — TDSB ↗ - The Toronto Catholic District School Board's Orientation Centre registers newcomer students aged 14–20 and places them in a grade. It assesses English and math and reviews school records from abroad.
Source: Orientation Centre — TCDSB ↗ - Conseil scolaire Viamonde is a French-language public school board. It takes registrations all year.
Source: Conseil scolaire Viamonde ↗ - Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir runs French-language Catholic schools. It accepts registrations at any time.
Source: Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir ↗ - EQAO measures reading, writing and math skills in Ontario's public schools. It publishes provincial results and has a 'Find My School' tool.
Source: EQAO ↗
Healthcare
Getting OHIP, finding a doctor, and where to go for care.
Banking & IDs
Your SIN, a bank account, photo ID and tax basics.
Driving & cars
Licence exchange, graduated licensing, insurance and buying a used car.
- Ontario exchanges licences from all Canadian provinces and territories and from a set list of countries, including the US, UK, Australia and Japan. India is not on the list.
Source: Getting your driver's licence — MTO Driver's Handbook — ontario.ca ↗ - From July 1, 2026, drivers from countries without an exchange agreement can claim up to 12 months of driving experience. They need an original, valid foreign licence and may also need an authentication letter.
Source: Getting your driver's licence — MTO Driver's Handbook — ontario.ca ↗ - New drivers go through three stages: G1 (knowledge test), G2 (after a road test), then a full G. Each stage usually lasts 12 months. Take tests at a DriveTest centre.
Source: Get a G driver's licence: new drivers — ontario.ca ↗ - FSRA says: "In Ontario, all motorists are legally required to have auto insurance." Carry proof of insurance (the 'pink slip') while driving.
Source: It's the law — what you need to know — FSRA ↗ - Sellers of a used vehicle must give the buyer a Used Vehicle Information Package. It shows the vehicle's Ontario registration history, any liens and its condition status.
Source: Used Vehicle Information Package — ontario.ca ↗