No health card yet, no family doctor, and not sure where to start? Here is exactly how to get OHIP coverage, find care before your card arrives, and connect with a family doctor in Ontario.
Arriving in a new country without a doctor, a pharmacy you trust, or even the words to explain a symptom in English can be one of the most stressful parts of settling in. The good news is that Ontario's public health system, once you understand the steps, is straightforward to access — and there is no longer a waiting period standing between you and coverage. This guide walks you through getting your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card, what to do for care while you wait for it to arrive, and how to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
OHIP is Ontario's public health insurance plan. It is available to Canadian citizens and to newcomers who hold an eligible immigration status and make Ontario their primary home, including most permanent residents, and work or study permit holders who meet the provincial requirements (generally a permit valid for at least six months). To qualify, you generally need to be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period. Refugee claimants and protected persons are not always eligible for OHIP right away; many are instead covered by the federal Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) until their status allows them to apply for OHIP directly. Note that starting May 1, 2026, IFHP beneficiaries will see a small co-payment (about $4 per prescription and 30 percent on some supplemental services such as dental and vision), while doctor visits and hospital care remain fully covered.
There is no online or mail-in application for a first OHIP card — you must apply in person at a ServiceOntario centre. Bring a completed Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form along with three original documents: one proving your citizenship or eligible immigration status (such as your passport or PR card), one proving your Ontario residency (such as a lease agreement or utility bill in your name), and one proving your identity with your signature. Photocopies are not accepted for the citizenship and identity documents. A helpful update for newcomers: Ontario permanently removed its former three-month waiting period, so eligible applicants are covered from the day their application is approved, not three months later.
Even without a wait for coverage, it typically takes four to six weeks for your permanent photo health card to arrive by mail. ServiceOntario gives you a printed acknowledgment at your appointment, and most clinics and hospitals can verify an active OHIP number electronically, so you can still see a doctor or go to a walk-in clinic in the meantime. Keep this paper safely until your card arrives.
Many newcomers find it harder to secure a family doctor than to get their health card. Once you have a valid OHIP number and mailing address, register with Health Care Connect, Ontario's free program that matches people without a regular provider to a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team accepting new patients in their area. You can register online through Health811 or by calling 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), where phone interpretation is available in over 200 languages, including Farsi. Registration does not guarantee a match, and wait times vary by region, so it helps to register as early as possible and to use walk-in clinics or urgent care for non-emergency needs in the meantime.
Understanding a new health system while managing everything else about starting over is genuinely difficult, and it is normal to need help translating a form or making a phone call. OIA's settlement support and confidence circles exist for exactly these moments — practical guidance in Farsi, from people who have been through the same process. If healthcare navigation, or the stress that comes with it, feels overwhelming, we encourage you to join a workshop or become a member so you have a community and real answers, not just a search engine, behind you.
Join a community of Iranian newcomers building confidence, income and belonging — together.
Apply to Join