Settling in Nunavut

The territorial plan is the Nunavut Health Care Plan, run under the Canada Health Act by the Nunavut Health Insurance Programs Office in Rankin Inlet.

"Permanent residents of Nunavut" are eligible, and the plan defines that term by where a person lives, not by immigration status.

Holders of a work or study permit (the page says "visa") valid for one year or more and showing a Nunavut address are eligible.

People are not eligible if their permit is valid for less than a year, or if they are tourists, visitors, or temporary workers on contracts under a year.

The application form also lists refugees and refugee claimants among those not eligible for Nunavut coverage.

Coverage may start on the first day of the third month, provided all eligibility requirements are met.

Applicants arriving from outside Canada must attach copies of their official immigration documents.

Applicants send two clear copies of ID: a birth certificate, valid passport or valid immigration documents (one is mandatory) plus one secondary document.

Applicants must also prove they intend to make Nunavut their main home for over 12 months and are not temporary or rotational workers.

Supporting documents can include a Permanent Resident Card or a work or study permit.

Forms are at community health centres, nursing stations, Qikiqtani General Hospital and the Rankin Inlet office.

The web page says the form can be emailed or mailed to the Health Insurance Programs Office, which tells applicants whether they are eligible.

The 2021 form itself says faxed applications are not accepted and asks for mail.

There is no fee for a Nunavut Health Care Card.

On private insurance, Nunavut's site describes buying third-party coverage only in general terms, for costs the plan does not cover; it gives no advice specific to the waiting period.

New residents must apply for a Nunavut licence within 30 days of moving, and a licence expired more than 12 months means an examination.

Applicants go to their local Motor Vehicle service provider with the application, a remittance slip and two pieces of ID.

The acceptable ID list includes immigration authorization.

The driver's manual says a new resident holding a licence from another province, territory or "state" must get a Nunavut licence within 30 days, and that an outside licence is accepted only on the Registrar's conditions.

Acceptance of an outside licence is left to the Registrar.

To register a child, parents contact the school directly, in the district where they live.

A child aged five by December 31 may register, and registration is required at six.

Under the Education Act, anyone lawfully admitted to Canada, or the child of such a person, is entitled to attend school.

The Act lets a district education authority charge tuition only to students who are not entitled to attend under section 2.

Parents must register a child by the first school day, or within seven days after moving.

Schools confirm a child's identity and entitlement with government ID such as a passport or Permanent Resident Card.

When documents are missing, a statutory declaration is accepted.

IRCC keeps one page per province and territory linking to provincial settlement resources; for Nunavut it says there are no immigrant-specific services.

No territorial newcomer portal was found for Nunavut, and IRCC's own Nunavut page says there are no immigrant-specific services there.

IRCC's page refers newcomers to the Department of Community and Government Services for information on services (its link is dead; see below).