Bienvenue, bébé — voici les démarches administratives à venir.
1. The birth declaration
The birth declaration:
- Mandatory within 30 days of birth
- Automatically triggers several documents and programs
- Online or on paper at the Directeur de l'état civil du Québec
2. Documents that follow
Documents received automatically after the declaration:
- Official birth certificate
- SIN (Social Insurance Number) for the baby
- RAMQ enrollment (baby's carte soleil)
- Triggers the Quebec family allowance and the CCB — estimate your family allowance
3. QPIP: paid parental leave
QPIP (paid parental leave):
- Base plan: 70% of salary, 50 weeks
- Special plan: 75% of salary, 40 weeks
- Apply online, ideally before birth
Estimate your benefits by salary and plan with our QPIP benefits calculator.
4. Daycare spot: register once your child is born
For daycare:
- Register your child on the Childcare Registration Portal (*Portail d'inscription aux services de garde*, formerly La Place 0-5) once the child is born — only already-born or newly-adopted children can be registered
- Multiple facilities at once (free)
- Wait-lists: 1 to 3 years in Montreal
Private non-subsidized daycare is refundable via the refundable tax credit for child-care expenses. Give your desired entry date accurately — it's that date, not the registration date, that determines how spots are assigned.
Estimate your net daycare cost after the tax credit with our child-care cost calculator.
| Type of care | Daily cost | Wait-list |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidized CPE | ~$8.85 | 12 to 36 months |
| RSGE (home-based) | ~$8.85 | Often shorter |
| Private non-subsidized daycare | $30 to $60 | Variable |
| Family member | ✅ Free | None |
5. First medical appointments
First medical appointments:
- 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months (then annual)
- Vaccines, growth follow-up, advice
- Without a pediatrician: family doctor or CLSC
6. Your action list
Follow these steps after the birth of a child. Check each box as you go: your progress is saved if you're signed in.
7. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions after a birth: deadline to declare, daycare while waiting for a subsidized spot, applying for baby's Canadian passport, baby born abroad, and RAMQ coverage during the waiting period.
How long do I have to declare the birth?
30 days from the date of birth.
The constat de naissance is signed at the hospital, then BOTH parents must sign the déclaration de naissance and send it to the Directeur de l'état civil. Late declarations are accepted but trigger fees of about $80 and slow every downstream registration (RAMQ, family allowance, NAS).
The hospital social worker can help with the forms before discharge.
What to do for daycare while waiting for a subsidized spot?
Subsidized CPE spots have wait-lists of 12 to 36 months in most regions. Common alternatives:
- RSGE (home-based licensed care): $8.85/day subsidized, often shorter wait-lists
- Private non-subsidized daycare: $30 to $60/day, refundable via the refundable tax credit for child-care expenses
- A family member during the parental-leave year
Register your child on the Childcare Registration Portal (formerly La Place 0-5) as soon as they're born — you can't register before birth, and spots are assigned by your desired entry date, not the registration date.
How do I get a passport for my newborn?
Apply first for the birth certificate (4 to 6 weeks after the declaration). Then file a child passport application:
- Form PPTC 042
- Two passport photos (yes, even for newborns — eyes open, face uncovered)
- Both parents' signatures (or a court order if one parent is absent)
- The birth certificate
Cost: $57. Processing: 4 to 6 weeks. Required for any international travel — newborns cannot travel on a parent's passport.
My baby was born abroad. What do I do in Canada?
If at least one parent is Canadian, request a certificate of citizenship (proof of Canadian citizenship) — it confirms the child is Canadian by descent.
Cost: $75, processing: 8 to 12 months. With that certificate, you can apply for a Canadian passport.
For RAMQ enrollment in Quebec, you also need this certificate plus proof of Quebec residency.
Most newcomer families need legal advice — citizenship by descent has first-generation limits since 2009.
Is my baby covered by RAMQ during the waiting period?
Yes — newborns born in Quebec are covered IMMEDIATELY at birth, no waiting period applies, regardless of parents' RAMQ status (provided they're legal residents).
This is one of the most generous benefits in Canada. Enroll the baby in RAMQ within 30 days of birth — the form goes through the birth declaration.
Hospital costs at birth are covered for ALL legal residents.
8. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Get your RAMQ health insurance card — to enroll the newborn in the public plan from birth.
- Family allowance in Quebec — the financial benefit that begins after birth registration.
- Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) — how to get the newborn's SIN.
- Subsidized Daycare in Quebec: How to Get a Spot — start the daycare search early, as waitlists are long once parental leave ends.
9. Official sources
Author's note: Do the paperwork in the first weeks. A delayed declaration = hundreds of dollars lost each month in allowances. Ask for help if needed.
