Consulter un médecin au Québec — chaque situation a sa porte d'entrée.
1. First: the RAMQ card
To consult for free, you need your RAMQ card.
Waiting period: 3 months for new permanent residents. During this time, get private insurance.
2. Finding a family doctor
For an assigned family doctor, register with the GAMF.
Wait time: sometimes several years. In the meantime, use the other options.
3. Walk-in clinics
Walk-in clinic:
- Arrive early, at opening
- Wait: often several hours
- Booking sometimes possible on Bonjour-santé or Clic Santé
4. Info-Santé 811
Info-Santé 811: dial 811.
- Free, 24 hours a day
- A nurse triages you
- Service in French and English
5. When to go to the ER
Go to the ER only for:
- Chest pain or breathing difficulty
- Major injury or loss of consciousness
- Alarming symptoms in a young child
For non-urgent cases, the wait is often over 12 hours.
6. Telehealth
Telehealth:
- Maple, Dialogue, Lufa Médical
- 50 to 80 $ per consultation (sometimes free via your employer)
- Useful for simple questions and prescription renewals
7. Family medicine groups (GMF)
Family medicine groups (GMF) are clinics combining several doctors, nurses, and other professionals. If your family doctor works at one, you can see a nurse practitioner or another group doctor in urgent cases. Often faster than classic walk-in clinics.
8. Which door should you choose?
Each type of service has its entry point. The right reflex depends on severity, time of day, and your RAMQ status. The table below summarizes the most common options for fast decisions.
| Situation | Service to use | Cost with RAMQ |
|---|---|---|
| Quick advice, medical doubt | Info-Santé 811 | Free |
| Cold, gastro, sore throat | Walk-in clinic | Free |
| Simple prescription renewal | Telehealth or pharmacist | 0 to 80 $ |
| Ongoing chronic follow-up | Family doctor (GMF) | Free |
| Chest pain, serious injury | Hospital ER or 911 | Free |
| Alarming symptom in a baby | 811 then paediatric ER | Free |
| Question in the evening or at night | Info-Santé 811 (24 h) | Free |
| Quick consultation from home | Maple, Dialogue, Lufa Médical | 50 to 80 $ |
Without a valid RAMQ card, most of these services become billable at the private rate: expect about 100 to 200 $ for a clinic visit, and several hundred for an ER visit. That's why the 3-month waiting period makes private insurance genuinely essential at the time of arrival.
9. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from newcomers about seeing a doctor in Quebec: how long to get a family doctor, can you be seen without a RAMQ card, what's the difference between 811 and 911, and what to do on a weekend evening.
How long does it take to get a family doctor in Quebec?
It depends a lot on your region. In Montréal and Québec City the wait is often 1 to 3 years; in some rural regions, it can exceed 4 years.
The GAMF assigns priority based on your medical profile (chronic illness, pregnancy, age) — declare every relevant condition when you register. While you wait, walk-in clinics, GMFs without an assigned doctor and Info-Santé 811 cover most needs.
Can you see a doctor without a RAMQ card?
Yes, but you pay out of pocket at the private rate. A walk-in clinic visit typically runs 100 to 200 $, and ER visits can reach several hundred dollars or more.
This is the situation for new permanent residents during the 3-month waiting period — which is exactly why short-term private insurance is recommended to cover the gap. Telehealth services like Maple or Dialogue also accept patients without RAMQ at their usual private rate.
What's the difference between 811 and 911?
811 (Info-Santé) is the free 24/7 nurse line for medical advice — fevers, suspicious symptoms, doubts about whether to go to a clinic.
911 is the emergency line for situations that are life-threatening: chest pain, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty, suspected stroke.
If you're not sure, call 811 first — the nurse will tell you immediately if you should dial 911 or go to the ER. Calling 911 for a cold blocks dispatchers; calling 811 for chest pain wastes critical minutes.
What do you do on a Sunday evening if you get sick?
First reflex: call 811. The nurse triages you and tells you what to do.
For a non-serious problem, she might suggest waiting until Monday morning, taking an over-the-counter pharmacy product, or direct you to a walk-in clinic still open in the evening (some Montréal and Québec City clinics open until 9 or 10 pm).
For a more pressing problem, telehealth services like Maple or Dialogue often have doctors available evenings and weekends within an hour. The ER stays a last resort for genuinely serious situations.
10. Official sources
For official information:
- GAMF registration
- Bonjour-santé
- Clic Santé
- Info-Santé: dial 811
11. See also
Related guides that may help:
- Get your RAMQ health insurance card — the prerequisite for public consultations in Quebec.
- Pharmacies and prescriptions — how prescriptions and the drug insurance plan work.
- Going to the dentist in Quebec — accessing dental care, mostly outside RAMQ coverage.
Author's Note: Healthcare in Quebec is free but slow. Register with the GAMF as soon as you have your RAMQ card, keep 811 in your contacts, and learn the difference between urgent and serious.
