L'aéroport Montréal-Trudeau — votre point de départ au Québec.
1. At the airport: first welcome
As soon as you arrive at Montréal-Trudeau airport, look for the welcome desk of the Ministère de l'Immigration. Staff will give you essential documents about your rights and your first steps in Quebec.
2. Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit number issued by the Government of Canada. It is mandatory for working or receiving government services.
To get it, present yourself at a Service Canada office with your original documents. In Montreal, the best-known office is at the Complexe Guy-Favreau, downtown. The service is free and you often leave the same day with your number.
Required documents depend on your status:
- Permanent residents: PR card (CRP) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
- Temporary workers: work permit
- International students: study permit
- Plus a photo ID (passport)
3. Finding housing
If you don't yet have permanent housing, start with temporary housing. This gives you time to visit apartments in person before signing a lease.
In Quebec:
- Most leases run 12 months and traditionally start on July 1st
- The rent is monthly
- The landlord cannot ask you for a security deposit (it's illegal)
4. Open a bank account
To open a bank account, present yourself in person at a bank with:
- Your PR card or your work permit
- A photo ID (passport)
The major banks (Desjardins, RBC, BMO, TD, Banque Nationale, Scotia) often offer a newcomer package free the first year.
5. The OPUS card for transit
To travel by metro and bus, you'll need an OPUS card. You can get it from automatic ticketing machines in any metro station. See our guide to using the Montreal metro and bus (STM) for all fare details.
6. Your first 4 steps at a glance
Here is a recap of the four first steps to take after arriving in Montreal.
Suggested order: SIN first, since it blocks everything — no work, no certain bank accounts without a SIN. Temporary housing in parallel to give yourself time to visit before signing a lease. Bank account as soon as you have the SIN. OPUS card on your first metro trip.
The rest — RAMQ, SAAQ licence exchange, francisation — can follow in the weeks after.
| Step | Where to go | What to bring | Cost | Usual time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIN (Social Insurance Number) | Service Canada office (Complexe Guy-Favreau) | PR card / COPR / work permit / study permit + passport | Free | Often same day |
| Temporary housing then lease | Airbnb / hotel / furnished studio then in-person visit | Photo ID + income / proof of work | Variable | Days to weeks |
| Bank account | Branch of a major bank (Desjardins, RBC, BMO, TD, Banque Nationale, Scotia) | PR card or work permit + passport | Free (newcomer package) | Same day |
| OPUS card | Automatic dispenser at a metro station | No documents for the basic card | Card + fare | A few minutes |
7. Your next steps
Once these first steps are done, plan the next ones:
- Health insurance card (RAMQ) — for access to public healthcare
- Driver's licence exchange (SAAQ) — within 6 months of arrival
- Free French courses (Francisation Québec) — an excellent investment for your integration
8. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from new Montreal residents during the first 48 hours: how long to plan for getting the SIN, whether you can open a bank account before getting your SIN, whether temporary housing is really necessary, and what to do as soon as you arrive if you already have all your documents.
How long does it take to get my SIN?
The Service Canada office issues SINs same day in most cases. You present yourself in person at a Service Canada office — the best-known in Montreal is at Complexe Guy-Favreau downtown — show your original documents (PR card, COPR, work permit or study permit, plus a photo ID like your passport), and you usually leave with your number.
The service is free. The risk: showing up without one of the required original documents and being turned away. Bring everything in original, no photocopies.
Can I open a bank account before getting my SIN?
Yes, often possible. The major banks (Desjardins, RBC, BMO, TD, Banque Nationale, Scotia) have newcomer packages that let you open a basic chequing account with a passport plus your PR card or work permit, even before you have your SIN.
The SIN becomes mandatory if you want to open an interest-bearing account, a TFSA, an RRSP, or any product tracked by the Canada Revenue Agency. In practice: open the basic account on arrival, add the SIN to your file as soon as you have it. The newcomer package is usually free the first year.
Do I really need temporary housing first?
Almost always, yes. Renting an apartment without seeing it in person is one of the most common scams targeting newcomers — paying a deposit for a unit that doesn't exist, or getting an apartment in much worse condition than the photos.
A few weeks of temporary housing (Airbnb, hotel, furnished studio) gives you time to visit in person, verify the landlord's identity, and read the lease carefully before signing. Quebec law forbids security deposits, so a serious landlord will never ask for one. If someone asks you to wire money for an apartment you haven't visited, it's a scam.
What should I do on day one if I already have all my documents?
If you arrive with all your originals in hand, the priority is the SIN — go to the Service Canada office at the Complexe Guy-Favreau the morning after arrival and you usually leave with your number.
Then head to a bank to open a newcomer account. With a SIN and a bank account, you can sign a job contract, sign a lease (after seeing the apartment), and launch your set-up. The same day or the next, pick up an OPUS card at any metro station. The rest — RAMQ, SAAQ exchange, French courses — fits into the weeks that follow.
9. See also
To go further once you're settled in Montreal:
- Read how to use the Montreal metro and bus (STM) to save on transit with the right OPUS card.
- Check finding housing in Montreal to spot scams and read your lease carefully before signing.
- Prepare the next step with finding healthcare in Montreal to know where to go during the three-month RAMQ waiting period.
- Understand recycling and garbage collection in Montreal to sort your bins and follow the pickup schedule.
- Follow the list of things to do during your first week in Quebec to tick each step off in the right order.
10. Official sources
For official, always up-to-date information, see these pages:
You can also call Service Canada at 1-800-622-6232.
Author's Note: The first days are the most stressful. Do one thing at a time, in this order: SIN, temporary housing, bank account, OPUS card. Everything else will come next. Welcome to Quebec!
