Settling in Manitoba

Manitoba's plan is Manitoba Health coverage under The Health Services Insurance Act; the department (Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care) issues each eligible resident a Manitoba Health card.

The plan is also called the Manitoba Health Services Insurance Plan.

Permanent residents are among the people who may be eligible.

Work permit holders may be eligible with a valid work permit of 12 consecutive months or more; agricultural workers with a work permit are also listed.

The spouse or minor child of a work permit holder may be eligible, subject to permit validity periods, as may convention refugees and protected persons.

Every applicant must also make their home in Manitoba and be physically present six months (183 days) in a calendar year.

Tourists, transients and visitors are not eligible.

No waiting period for people arriving from outside Canada: citizens and permanent residents may apply for coverage from the date they arrive in Manitoba.

Work permit holders may apply for coverage from the date their valid work permit was issued, with proof of a permit (or permits) of at least 12 consecutive months and proof of Manitoba residence.

A work permit holder can also apply for a spouse and minor children listed on the permit; each needs legal status in Canada valid for at least six months.

A visitor record holder who is the spouse or child of a person with a work permit valid for 12 months or more may be eligible if the visitor record is valid for at least six months.

A worker who applies to IRCC to extend a work permit before it expires may be able to extend Manitoba Health coverage temporarily.

International students are not covered: study permit holders lost eligibility on September 1, 2018.

The province's FAQ for international students recommends private health insurance through the school or a private insurer.

People moving from another province or territory wait: coverage starts on the first day of the third month after arrival.

Documents: a copy of your passport and all IRCC documents issued to you, your spouse and minor children, plus proof of residence in Manitoba.

How to apply: register online and upload copies of the required documents; public access computers are offered at Bilingual Service Centres.

The Insured Benefits Branch is at 300 Carlton Street, Winnipeg (204-786-7101, toll free 1-800-392-1207).

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), which issues licences, says new and returning residents may drive on their current licence for a short time, but most must switch to a Manitoba licence within three months.

A valid licence similar to a Class 5 or 6 can be used for up to three months.

Licences from countries with reciprocal or recognized exchange arrangements can be exchanged for an equivalent Manitoba licence without a knowledge or road test.

MPI's reciprocal country list: Australia, Austria, Germany, France, Ireland, Isle of Man, Japan, Northern Ireland, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States and its territories.

MPI's simplified exchange list: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canadian Forces Europe, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine (Category B only).

Some listed countries carry extra conditions, for example a vision test and a driver licence report dated within 90 days for Australia, and a National Police Agency certificate for South Korea.

From a listed country: drive up to three months, then get a Manitoba licence with no tests.

From a country not on the list: drive up to three months, then pass a knowledge test and a road test.

The original foreign licence is surrendered (copies are not accepted) and is not returned.

Test fees for drivers from countries not on the list are $12 for the knowledge test and $35 for the road test.

Full-time students from reciprocal countries do not need to exchange a valid licence.

MPI does not accept an International Driving Permit as the official translation of a foreign licence.

The province publishes Newcomer Parent Guides, including one on how to register a child in school.

A child has the right to attend the local public school if residency requirements are met.

To register, families visit the school division office or the school with their documents; students 18 or older can register on their own.

Children of temporary residents who live in Manitoba can attend without tuition if certain criteria are met.

Minor children of parents on work permits, study permits, temporary resident permits with a work or study permit, and in the refugee determination process are eligible for provincial funding (child refugee claimants need not be accompanied by a parent).

Children of visitors are not eligible for provincial funding, and divisions may charge fees for pupils who are not eligible.

Children of visitors need a study permit to attend school, however short the stay.

Children of parents on work or study permits need no study permit unless the stay goes beyond six months from entry or beyond the date on the entry documents (as the 2022 policy states it).

A refugee claimant child's Determination of Eligibility letter is evidence that no study permit is needed to attend school.

Through Schools of Choice, a student may apply to any public school in the province.

Immigrate Manitoba (immigratemanitoba.com) is the official Province of Manitoba immigration site (home of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program) and carries the province's newcomer pages.

Its Settlement Services page gathers supports for newcomers and their families.

It links pre-arrival support, a directory of Winnipeg settlement services, Settlement Workers in Schools, and orientation, needs assessments, referrals and employment support from Manitoba Start.

Rural and small centres have their own settlement offices offering orientation, language supports, youth programming and employment supports.

The rural offices listed are Northwest Regional Immigrant Services, Westman Immigrant Services, Eastman Immigrant Services, Regional Connections Immigrant Services, Neepawa and Area Immigrant Settlement Services, and Portage Learning and Literacy Centre.

The page also points to IRCC's searchable directory of IRCC-funded newcomer services.