La carte soleil — votre preuve d'assurance maladie au Québec.
RAMQ is Quebec's public health insurance. If you're a permanent resident or citizen (and present in Quebec at least 183 days a year), register online or by phone as soon as you arrive — the 3-month waiting period before coverage starts counts from the day you register, not the day you arrive. Children under 18 are covered right away.
1. What is RAMQ?
The RAMQ is the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec. Once registered, you receive a health insurance card — also called the carte soleil. This card gives you access to medical care in Quebec.
2. Are you eligible?
If you are a permanent resident, a Canadian citizen, or hold another status recognized by RAMQ, you are eligible. You must also be present in Quebec at least 183 days per calendar year.
3. The 3-month waiting period
The clock starts the day you REGISTER, not the day you arrive (RAMQ) — every week you delay filing is a week of coverage lost. And it does not apply to children under 18, who are covered right away. For most new permanent residents, there is a waiting period of up to 3 months before RAMQ covers your medical care.
Some people are exempt from the waiting period: refugees, people coming from a country with a social security agreement with Quebec, and — far more narrowly than people assume — workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program or the primary agricultural stream, from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras or Salvador only. An ordinary work permit gives no exemption.
During the waiting period, some care remains free: pregnancy-related care, care for victims of domestic violence, and treatment of infectious diseases that affect public health.
4. Documents to prepare
Before starting, prepare:
- Your Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
- Your Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), if you have one
- Proof of address in Quebec (lease, Hydro-Québec bill, rental contract)
- If applicable, your social security coverage certificate from your home country (to be obtained before leaving)
5. How to register: online or by phone
Registering with RAMQ takes 5 steps:
- Get private insurance to cover the 3-month waiting period.
- Gather your documents: PR card (or COPR), CSQ if applicable, proof of a Quebec address.
- Fill out the online form on the RAMQ website — or call 1-800-561-9749.
- Keep the reference number you receive by email.
- Receive your carte soleil by mail and activate it.
In most cases, you can register directly online on the RAMQ website. You fill out the form, upload your documents as PDFs or photos, and submit your application.
If your situation is more complex (a special status, or a family with mixed statuses), you can call RAMQ at 1-800-561-9749.
6. After your registration
After submitting the form:
- You receive a confirmation email with a reference number. Keep it to register other family members.
- You then receive your eligibility letter by mail.
- Your health insurance card (carte soleil) arrives separately at your Quebec address.
7. Your action list
Follow these steps to get your carte soleil. Check each box as you go — your progress is saved if you're signed in.
8. Public coverage vs private insurance
RAMQ covers medically necessary care, but several services remain outside its coverage. Here's the direct comparison between the public plan and typical private insurance.
Most Quebec employers offer group insurance that covers most non-RAMQ items — check your plan at hire before buying individual private insurance.
| Type of care | RAMQ (public) | Private insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Family doctor consultation | ✅ Covered | — |
| Hospital emergency visit | ✅ Covered | — |
| Medically necessary surgery | ✅ Covered | — |
| Prescription drugs | ⚠️ RAMQ public plan — annual premium $0 to $789 based on net family income, monthly deductible $21.25, co-insurance 30%, maximum $1,263/year | ✅ Complementary coverage (mandatory if your employer offers one) |
| Dental care (adult) | ❌ Not covered | ✅ 50–80% reimbursed |
| Glasses and eye exam (adult) | ❌ Not covered | ✅ Annual cap |
| Physiotherapy, chiropractic | ❌ Not covered | ✅ Depending on contract |
| Out-of-RAMQ private clinic care | ❌ Not covered | ✅ Depending on contract |
| Care outside Quebec | ⚠️ Partially | ✅ Travel insurance |
9. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about RAMQ: how much the carte soleil costs, what to do during the waiting period, which countries are exempt, eligibility for international students and temporary workers, card renewal, how to replace a lost card, and out-of-province coverage.
How much does the carte soleil cost?
The health insurance card is free. You pay nothing to obtain it or renew it. The system is funded by Quebec taxes.
What if I get sick during the 3-month waiting period?
Get private health insurance before you arrive, or within your first days in Quebec. An emergency room visit without coverage can cost over $1,000, and a hospital stay tens of thousands.
Some care remains free during the waiting period: pregnancy-related care, care for victims of domestic violence, and treatment of infectious diseases.
Which countries are exempt from the waiting period?
Quebec has signed social security agreements with several countries — notably France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.
If you come from one of these countries, request the social security certificate in your home country before leaving — it's very difficult to obtain once you're here.
What if I lose my carte soleil?
Report the loss to RAMQ online or by phone at 1-800-561-9749. The replacement costs $15 online ($25 by mail) and is free for people 65 and over and recipients of last-resort financial assistance with a claim slip. Allow about 7 working days online, not several weeks.
In the meantime, you can use your eligibility letter with a photo ID to access care.
Does RAMQ cover care received outside Quebec?
Partially. RAMQ reimburses urgent care received in other Canadian provinces at its own rates, which are often below actual costs.
Abroad, reimbursement is very limited. For any travel outside Quebec, private travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Are international students covered by RAMQ?
Only if you come from a country with a social security agreement with Quebec and hold a study permit. In that case, the certificate of coverage from your home country is mandatory and must be obtained before you leave. Otherwise, you are not eligible for RAMQ and must take out private or school health insurance.
Are temporary workers (work permit holders) eligible?
Yes, if you hold an eligible work permit valid for more than 6 months. Register online as soon as you arrive. Note: an ordinary work permit does not exempt you from the 3-month waiting period (see section 3).
How do I renew the carte soleil, and what if it expires?
If you are a permanent resident or citizen, RAMQ sends a renewal notice to the address on file — so keep your address up to date. People staying temporarily (students, temporary workers) do not renew their card: they must re-register if their immigration status changes or the card is no longer valid.
10. See also
These related guides may help you complete your first steps in Quebec:
- Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) — another essential document to obtain in your first weeks.
- Consulting a doctor in Quebec — how to find a family doctor and use the public network once your RAMQ card arrives.
- Pharmacies and prescriptions — how Quebec's drug insurance plan works, complementing RAMQ coverage.
- Health Care for Asylum Seekers and Uninsured People in Quebec — how to get care while you wait for your RAMQ card or if you have no coverage at all.
- Drug Insurance in Quebec: Public RAMQ Plan or Private — how prescription drug coverage works alongside your RAMQ card, and when private insurance applies.
11. Official sources
For official, up-to-date information:
You can also call RAMQ at 1-800-561-9749, toll-free in Quebec.
Author's Note: The health insurance card is one of the first documents to request. It is free, but the waiting period can be long — start early and plan your private coverage for the first few months.
