To settle in smoothly in Quebec, follow this sequence: register for Accompagnement Québec at the airport or before leaving, get your SIN to work and open an interest-bearing bank account, book temporary housing, set up your mobile plan and transit card, register online with RAMQ to start the waiting period, and sign up for free French classes. Tackling one task per day protects you from burnout.
1. At the airport and before arrival: Accompagnement Québec
The Quebec government offers a free integration service to newcomers: Accompagnement Québec. At Montréal-Trudeau airport, staff from the MIFI welcome desk greet you from Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., to guide your first steps. As soon as you receive your Quebec selection document or federal file number, you can register for this service. An integration advisor assesses your needs and prepares a personalized action plan with you covering housing, French courses, employment and community life:
- Prepare your departure and your first settlement steps;
- Discover your host region and community life;
- Access French courses and get your skills recognized;
- Connect with community organizations in your neighbourhood.
2. Apply for your SIN as soon as possible
The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the first mandatory step. Without a SIN, you cannot work legally or open a bank account that earns interest. Walk into a Service Canada centre with your passport and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence or work permit. The service is entirely free and you walk away the same day with your 9-digit number. Our guide Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) explains each situation in detail.
3. Get temporary housing
Book temporary housing for two to four weeks when you land. That gives you time to explore neighbourhoods and visit apartments in person without rushing. Never sign a twelve-month lease remotely before seeing the place. Before choosing an area, compare prices with our cost of living by city tool and our budget planner. Our guide Where to live in Quebec presents practical housing options to get started.
4. Open a bank account
Make an appointment at a bank branch during your first few days. Bring your documents in person. Major Canadian financial institutions offer free newcomer packages for the first year, including a debit card and often a first credit card with no previous Canadian credit history. Our guide Open a bank account in Quebec details all accepted documents:
- Your valid passport;
- Your Confirmation of Permanent Residence or stay permit;
- Your SIN;
- A proof of address, even a temporary one.
5. Get a cell phone plan
A Canadian phone number is essential from day two to follow up on administrative steps, contact landlords and receive bank security codes. Many carriers offer no-contract plans when you bring your own device. Compare network coverage and promotions with our guide Choosing a mobile plan in Quebec.
6. Transit: OPUS card and getting around
To get around without stress, pick up a transit card as soon as you arrive. In Montreal, the OPUS smart card can be purchased in metro stations and lets you ride buses and trains across the metropolitan network. In other cities like Quebec City, Gatineau, Laval or Longueuil, local networks offer equivalent smart cards. See our guide Public transit in Quebec to choose the right transit pass.
7. Register with RAMQ without delay
The RAMQ administers Quebec's public health insurance plan. Register online on their official website during your first week. A waiting period of up to three months applies starting from the date you register if you are in Quebec and have provided all required documents. Children under 18 and pregnant women are covered immediately without this waiting period. To cover any medical fees during those three months, purchase temporary private health insurance. Our guide Get your RAMQ health insurance card walks you through the steps.
8. Register for free French classes
French is the official and common language of Quebec. The government portal Francisation Québec offers completely free French courses, from beginner to advanced levels. Classes are available full-time, part-time or online. Financial assistance for participation, transit and childcare can also be granted under certain conditions. Our guide Learning French free with Francisation Québec guides you step by step.
9. Take the Objectif Intégration session ($230 allowance)
The Objectif Intégration session is a free 24-hour training session offered across Quebec by the MIFI. Designed for newcomers, it covers democratic and Quebec values, workplace cultural codes and the legal employment framework. Completing the full session grants you an official attestation of learning Quebec values, plus a $230 financial allowance. Our guide on Quebec's key values gives you an initial overview:
- Democratic values and Quebec values expressed by the Charter of human rights and freedoms;
- Cultural codes and day-to-day practices in the Quebec job market;
- The legal framework of employment and workers' rights.
10. And after the first week? Your first-month roadmap
Once your first seven urgent tasks are launched, your first month shifts toward permanent settlement. For permanent housing, always visit apartments in person before you sign a lease in Quebec, keeping in mind that landlords cannot demand security deposits. For your children, register them on Place 0-5 for a subsidized daycare and with your local school service centre for the Quebec school system. Regarding driving, your original licence remains valid for 6 months before requiring an exchange for your first driver's licence in Quebec via the SAAQ (winter tires mandatory from December 1 to March 15). Finally, create your tax accounts to receive the family allowance:
- Permanent housing: visit in person before you sign a lease in Quebec, and remember a landlord cannot demand a security deposit;
- Children and childcare: register your little ones on Place 0-5 for a subsidized daycare and contact your local school service centre to register children aged 6 to 16 in the Quebec school system;
- Driver's licence: your original licence remains valid for 6 months, after which you must get your first driver's licence in Quebec through the SAAQ (winter tires mandatory from December 1 to March 15);
- Taxes and family benefits: set up your tax accounts to claim the family allowance and tax credits during your first year.
11. Recap: your sample schedule
Check off each step as you move forward to track your progress:
Your action list
0 of 9 done
12. Comparing the steps at a glance
Summary table of the key steps with required documents and typical delays. The SIN and bank account are completed the same day in person. RAMQ takes up to three months of waiting period before the card arrives. The Objectif Intégration session lasts 24 hours and provides a $230 allowance:
| Step | Documents to bring | Typical delay |
|---|---|---|
| Accompagnement Québec | CSQ, CAQ or IRCC file number | Same day or within 1 week |
| SIN — Service Canada | Passport, PR document or permit | Same day |
| Temporary housing | Credit card, ID | Immediate online |
| Bank account | Passport, PR document, SIN, address | Same day |
| Mobile phone plan | ID, Canadian payment method | Same day |
| Transit card | ID | Immediate at station |
| RAMQ health registration | PR document, address proof, passport | Up to 3 months waiting period |
| Francisation Québec | ID, immigration status document | A few weeks |
| Session Objectif Intégration | Quebec selection certificate, ID | 24-hour course ($230 paid) |
13. Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions about the first week in Quebec: sequence of steps, RAMQ without permanent housing, temporary private insurance, non-French speakers, registration for Objectif Intégration and connecting with Accompagnement Québec.
In what exact order should you complete these steps?
The logical sequence is:
- SIN first at Service Canada, because employers and banks require it for interest-bearing accounts;
- Bank account second, which provides a Canadian debit card and account statement;
- Mobile plan third, since local carriers often require a Canadian payment method;
- RAMQ registration immediately online, even with a temporary address, so that the waiting period starts right away.
French classes, apartment visits and transit cards can then be handled in parallel without stress.
Can you register with RAMQ before securing permanent housing?
Yes. The RAMQ accepts a temporary address such as a hotel, an Airbnb or staying with family for your initial registration. What matters is registering as soon as you arrive in Quebec with all required documents, because the waiting period of up to three months begins on your registration date. Once you sign your permanent lease, you can easily update your address online or by phone.
How should you protect yourself medically during the 3-month RAMQ waiting period?
Subscribe to temporary private health insurance (often marketed as visitor to Canada or newcomer insurance) starting on the day of your arrival. It covers unexpected emergencies, hospitalization and medical consultations. If you arrive with an employer group plan, check whether coverage starts on your first working day.
What should you do if you do not speak French yet upon arrival?
Do not let language barriers hold you back. Federal agencies like Service Canada, major banks and phone carriers can serve you in English. Provincial offices like the RAMQ operate primarily in French, but agents can assist or you can use translation tools. Above all, register immediately for Francisation Québec to gain language independence quickly.
Who can register for the Objectif Intégration session and receive the $230?
The session is open to immigrants aged 18 and older selected by Quebec, holding a CSQ, a CAQ, a work permit or permanent residence. To receive the $230 financial allowance, you must attend the full 24-hour session. You will also receive an official attestation of learning Quebec values, which is valuable for permanent residency requirements.
Is Accompagnement Québec free and how do you sign up?
Yes, Accompagnement Québec is a completely free service offered by the MIFI. You can sign up online directly via Québec.ca as soon as you have your CSQ, your CAQ or your federal IRCC application number, or visit the MIFI airport welcome desk at Montréal-Trudeau airport upon arrival.
14. See also
These related guides complete your settlement roadmap in Quebec:
- Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) — essential first-days step before starting work.
- Open a bank account in Quebec — to secure your money and receive deposits.
- Get your RAMQ health insurance card — to access public health coverage.
- Where to live in Quebec — finding temporary housing and choosing the right neighbourhood.
- Signing a lease in Quebec — tenant rights, obligations and deposit regulations.
- Quebec's key values explained simply — understanding the social and legal principles of Quebec.
- Family allowance in Quebec — financial support for families with children.
- First driver's licence in Quebec — driving rules and exchanging foreign licences with the SAAQ.
15. Official sources
Author's Note: Keep this roadmap handy and check off each step as you go. The first days come with their share of unknowns, but taking on one step per day is more than enough to settle in successfully without getting exhausted. Welcome to Quebec!
