I AM > Permanent Resident
Permanent Resident
A Permanent Resident is a person who is not Canadian who has been granted approval to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. HIV status is a factor that may impact your application to live in Canada. Canadian immigration law includes rules that may directly impact you if your health care costs are higher than the average Canadian. You can find detailed information about these rules and how they affect people living with HIV in the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network’s resource, Immigration and Travel to Canada for People Living with HIV: Questions and Answers.
As a landed immigrant/Permanent resident you are entitled to register for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Through OHIP you can access health care that is paid for by the government, including emergency services. For more information about coverage, check out the OHIP website.
As a landed immigrant/permanent resident, you are also entitled to a Social Insurance Number (SIN). You need this to work in Canada, and to access other government programs and benefits.
If you have been diagnosed with HIV, you can also apply for financial assistance through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works. A worker from your local AIDS service organization (ASO) or settlement agency can assist you in doing this.
To find an ASO and other HIV/AIDS programs near you, call the Ontario AIDS & Sexual Health InfoLine.For information in English and many other languages call: 416-392-2437 or 1-800-668-2437 (toll-free in Ontario), and for French call: 1-800-267-7432 (toll-free in Ontario). The InfoLine is free and anonymous.
In Ontario, you can dial 211 on your phone or visit 211 Ontario to find an ASO and other HIV/AIDS programs in your city or town. Use your location to find services near you.
You can also visit HIV 411 and search for an ASO using your postal code, or the name of your city or town.
To find a settlement agency near you, click here.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
In Ontario, health care is confidential under the Personal Health Information Act. If you want to learn more about service providers’ privacy and confidentiality policies, you can ask the healthcare provider themselves. Read up on the policy here or contact HALCO.
If you do not have a lawyer and require legal advice, contact Legal Aid Ontario for assistance in over 200 languages call:416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 (toll-free). If you do not qualify for legal aid, you can find a lawyer by clicking here. People with HIV who are new to Ontario can get free legal advice and information about immigration from the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO). To talk to a lawyer about HIV and your immigration status, contact HALCO at 416-340-7790 or 1-888-705-8889 (toll-free in Ontario). If you have been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities, this information applies to you.
Your HIV status may affect your application to live in Canada. Canadian immigration law includes rules that may directly impact you if your health care costs are higher than the average Canadian. You can find detailed information about these rules and how they affect people living with HIV at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network available here, or download your copy Immigration and Travel to Canada for People Living with HIV: Questions and Answers
