Your teen just got offered their first job. Congratulations — now the paperwork starts. This is the stuff that nobody teaches in school, and missing any one of these items can delay a first paycheck by weeks.
Before they can legally start
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) — apply free online through Service Canada if they don't already have one. Takes about 10 business days by mail, or same-day if you go in person to an office.
- Proof of age — in Alberta, 12- and 13-year-olds need a permit and parent consent; 14 and up can work most jobs without one. Some specific industries (construction, mining) have higher age minimums.
- Void cheque or direct deposit form — most employers pay electronically. Walk into your bank or use the app to get a pre-filled direct deposit form.
First-day paperwork the employer will hand them
- TD1 federal and provincial tax forms — tells the employer how much tax to withhold. For most teens earning under $15,000/year, they'll claim basic personal amount and pay little or no income tax.
- Employment agreement — pay rate, scheduled hours, start date. Read it. If anything is unclear, ask.
- Direct deposit authorization — attach the void cheque.
- Emergency contact form — that's you.
Things to buy or borrow before the first shift
- Non-slip black shoes if it's food service — this catches teens off guard every time
- A plain black or white shirt if they don't have a uniform yet
- A small notebook and pen for the first week (taking notes = looking eager)
- A reusable water bottle
Things to set up in the first 30 days
- A separate savings account — we recommend splitting every paycheck 80/20 between spending and savings
- A calendar app with the work schedule synced to it (Google Calendar is free)
- A paper or digital log of hours worked, as a backup — mistakes happen
The conversation to have before day one
Talk about what to do if they get sick: call, don't text, and call as early as humanly possible. Talk about what to do if they're running late: call on the way, not after you arrive. Talk about what to do if they make a mistake: tell the manager before the manager finds it. These three conversations prevent 80% of first-job disasters.