French is Quebec's only official language and is used for government services, work, and daily life. In Montreal you can manage with English at first, but learning French is essential long term — the government offers [free French courses](/en/guides/provincial/free-french-francisation-quebec), and there are everyday ways to [practise your French](/en/guides/provincial/practicing-french-in-quebec).

A common order is: get your [Social Insurance Number](/en/guides/provincial/get-your-sin-in-quebec), [open a bank account](/en/guides/provincial/open-a-bank-account-in-quebec), [find a place to live](/en/guides/provincial/signing-a-lease-in-quebec), [register with RAMQ](/en/guides/provincial/register-ramq-in-quebec) for health coverage, and get a [phone plan](/en/guides/provincial/choosing-phone-plan-quebec). Several unlock the others — the SIN is needed to work and to open accounts.

Quebec residents are covered by [RAMQ](/en/guides/provincial/register-ramq-in-quebec). You register after you arrive and meet the residency conditions; coverage can take up to three months to start, so many newcomers bridge the gap with [private or travel insurance](/en/guides/provincial/drug-insurance-ramq-vs-private).

You can usually drive on a valid foreign licence for a limited time after arriving in Quebec. To get a Quebec licence you go through the [SAAQ](/en/guides/provincial/exchange-foreign-drivers-licence-saaq); whether you exchange it directly or must take exams depends on the country or state that issued your licence.

Most newcomers rent. Quebec [leases](/en/guides/provincial/signing-a-lease-in-quebec) are heavily regulated — a landlord cannot ask for a deposit beyond the first month's rent — and [tenants have strong rights](/en/guides/provincial/tenant-rights-in-quebec). Read the lease carefully before you sign.

Bring your photo ID and, usually, your SIN; the major Canadian banks all offer newcomer packages — see [how to open an account](/en/guides/provincial/open-a-bank-account-in-quebec). Starting a [Canadian credit history](/en/guides/provincial/building-canadian-credit-quebec) early also helps.

Yes. Every guide on VIEAUQC is free and available in both French and English, with no account required — [browse the full catalogue](/en/guides).

Canada has three levels of government: federal (immigration, passports, citizenship, the SIN), provincial — Quebec (health care, driver's licences, education, provincial taxes), and municipal (local services). Our [province-wide guides](/en/guides/provincial) cover the Quebec and federal procedures most newcomers need.

It depends on your work, family, budget, and comfort with French. Within Quebec, Montreal is the largest and most bilingual; other areas have their own job markets and generally lower costs. Use the region cards above, or start with the [province-wide guides](/en/guides/provincial) that apply everywhere.

In Montreal and Quebec City the [public-transit networks](/en/guides/provincial/public-transit-quebec-city) are good enough that many people skip a car; smaller Quebec towns often need one. Each region's pages cover the local network.

Winters are long and cold — often below -15 °C, down to -25 to -30 °C with the wind. With the right gear it is very manageable: see [surviving winter](/en/guides/provincial/surviving-the-quebec-winter) and [winter outdoor activities](/en/guides/provincial/winter-outdoor-activities-in-quebec).

In Quebec a foreign diploma often needs to be [assessed and recognized](/en/guides/provincial/foreign-diploma-recognition-quebec) before employers understand it. Resumes here are short and factual — see the [Quebec-style CV](/en/guides/provincial/writing-a-quebec-style-resume) and [job interviews](/en/guides/provincial/job-interview-tips-quebec).

[Francisation Québec](/en/guides/provincial/free-french-francisation-quebec) offers free French courses to eligible newcomers — full-time, part-time, evening, and online. You can also [practise day to day](/en/guides/provincial/practicing-french-in-quebec) and [get used to the Quebec accent](/en/guides/provincial/understanding-the-quebec-accent).

Keep your passport and immigration papers, and bring official copies of key records — diplomas and transcripts (for [credential recognition](/en/guides/provincial/foreign-diploma-recognition-quebec)), civil-status certificates, and your driving record for the [SAAQ](/en/guides/provincial/exchange-foreign-drivers-licence-saaq) — with certified French or English translations where needed.

Quebec has a dense network of [community organizations](/en/guides/provincial/community-resources-newcomers-quebec) that support newcomers for free and in several languages, plus [free legal aid](/en/guides/provincial/free-legal-aid-in-quebec) for those who qualify.

Guides are grouped two ways: [province-wide guides](/en/guides/provincial) cover procedures that apply everywhere in Quebec, and the region cards above gather the guides for each area. Or open the [full catalogue](/en/guides) to see every guide at once.

Costs vary a lot by region and household. Our [immigrant family budget](/en/guides/provincial/immigrant-family-budget-quebec) guide walks through realistic numbers, and the [grocery](/en/guides/provincial/grocery-stores-in-quebec) guide helps you shop smart.

Public school in Quebec is free and follows a specific structure — see [how the school system works](/en/guides/provincial/quebecs-school-system) and [choosing a primary school](/en/guides/provincial/choosing-elementary-school-quebec).

Quebec residents file two returns each spring — one federal and one provincial (Quebec is the only province with its own return). The [taxes for newcomers](/en/guides/provincial/filing-taxes-newcomers-quebec) guide explains who must file and how it works.

Compare carriers in the [cellphone plan](/en/guides/provincial/choosing-phone-plan-quebec) guide, and set up [home internet and TV](/en/guides/provincial/home-internet-tv-quebec) when you move in.

Yes — in Quebec, tipping is customary at restaurants and for several services, typically around 15–20% of the pre-tax total at a sit-down restaurant. The [tipping guide](/en/guides/provincial/tipping-culture-quebec) explains who to tip and how much.

You arrive in Canada with no local credit history. The [building Canadian credit](/en/guides/provincial/building-canadian-credit-quebec) guide shows how to establish one with a first card and good habits.

Many newcomers have no family doctor at first. See [finding a family doctor](/en/guides/provincial/find-family-doctor-quebec) and, in the meantime, [how to see a doctor](/en/guides/provincial/seeing-a-doctor-in-quebec) through walk-in clinics and Info-Santé 811.

Quebec offers subsidized daycare. The [subsidized childcare](/en/guides/provincial/subsidized-daycare-in-quebec) guide explains the types of places and how to get one.