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First Steps in Quebec

Your first steps after arrival — housing, SIN, banking, phone.

37 guides

First Steps in Quebec

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Open a Bank Account in QuebecGuides provinciaux
Services

Open a Bank Account in Quebec

Comparison of major banks and the steps to open your first account.

Choosing a Phone Plan in QuebecGuides provinciaux
Services

Choosing a Phone Plan in Quebec

Carrier comparison and tips to save on your phone plan.

7 Things to Do in Your First Week in QuebecGuides provinciaux
Services

7 Things to Do in Your First Week in Quebec

The essential checklist to start your life in Quebec without stress.

Guides specific to your city

34 local guides across 17 cities — pick yours:

Bécancour2Chicoutimi2Drummondville2Gatineau2Jonquière2La Baie2Laval2Lévis2Longueuil2Magog2Montréal2Repentigny2Saguenay2Sherbrooke2Terrebonne2Trois-Rivières2Ville de Québec2Browse by region
▾ Show all 34 guides
Finding Housing in BécancourBécancour
Housing

Finding Housing in Bécancour

Bécancour's rental market and the standard Quebec lease.

First Steps in BécancourBécancour
First steps

First Steps in Bécancour

Settling in Bécancour, industrial and residential city facing Trois-Rivières.

Finding Housing in ChicoutimiChicoutimi
Housing

Finding Housing in Chicoutimi

Chicoutimi rental market: students, families, and neighbourhood options.

First Steps in ChicoutimiChicoutimi
First steps

First Steps in Chicoutimi

Settling in the central, university borough of Saguenay.

Finding Housing in DrummondvilleDrummondville
Housing

Finding Housing in Drummondville

Drummondville's rental market: affordable, growing, well-located.

First Steps in DrummondvilleDrummondville
First steps

First Steps in Drummondville

Settling in the Centre-du-Québec hub city, halfway between Montréal and Québec.

Finding Housing in GatineauGatineau
Housing

Finding Housing in Gatineau

Gatineau's sectors, the rental market, and the Quebec-vs-Ontario decision for Ottawa commuters.

First Steps in GatineauGatineau
First steps

First Steps in Gatineau

Settling in Gatineau, bilingual city facing Ottawa: city services and local particulars.

Finding Housing in JonquièreJonquière
Housing

Finding Housing in Jonquière

Jonquière rental market — apartments, homes, and neighbourhood options.

First Steps in JonquièreJonquière
First steps

First Steps in Jonquière

Settling in the industrial and commercial borough of Saguenay.

Finding Housing in La BaieLa Baie
Housing

Finding Housing in La Baie

La Baie's rental market: affordable homes and fjord-side living.

First Steps in La BaieLa Baie
First steps

First Steps in La Baie

Settling in Saguenay's maritime borough, on the fjord.

Finding Housing in LavalLaval
Housing

Finding Housing in Laval

Laval's neighbourhoods, rental market, and what to know before signing a lease in Quebec's second-largest city.

First Steps in LavalLaval
First steps

First Steps in Laval

Everything you need to start life in Laval: city services, essential errands, neighbourhood landmarks.

Finding Housing in LévisLévis
Housing

Finding Housing in Lévis

Lévis's boroughs, the rental market, and the standard Quebec lease.

First Steps in LévisLévis
First steps

First Steps in Lévis

City services and landmarks for settling in Lévis, on the south shore of Quebec City.

Finding Housing in LongueuilLongueuil
Housing

Finding Housing in Longueuil

Longueuil's boroughs, the rental market, and what to know before signing a lease.

First Steps in LongueuilLongueuil
First steps

First Steps in Longueuil

City services, essential errands and neighbourhood landmarks for starting life in Longueuil.

Finding Housing in MagogMagog
Housing

Finding Housing in Magog

Magog's rental market, vacation-rental considerations, and the standard Quebec lease.

First Steps in MagogMagog
First steps

First Steps in Magog

Settling in Magog, on the shores of Lake Memphrémagog in the Eastern Townships.

Finding Housing in Quebec CityVille de Québec
Housing

Finding Housing in Quebec City

Quebec City's boroughs, the rental market, and what to know before signing a lease.

First Steps in Quebec CityVille de Québec
First steps

First Steps in Quebec City

City services, essentials and landmarks for settling in the capital, Quebec City.

Finding Housing in RepentignyRepentigny
Housing

Finding Housing in Repentigny

Repentigny's sectors, the rental market, and the standard Quebec lease.

First Steps in RepentignyRepentigny
First steps

First Steps in Repentigny

City services, essentials and landmarks for settling in Repentigny.

Finding Housing in SaguenaySaguenay
Housing

Finding Housing in Saguenay

Saguenay's rental market and the standard Quebec lease — choosing between Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie.

First Steps in SaguenaySaguenay
First steps

First Steps in Saguenay

Settling in the merged city of Saguenay: Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie.

Finding Housing in SherbrookeSherbrooke
Housing

Finding Housing in Sherbrooke

Sherbrooke's rental market, the student effect, and the standard Quebec lease.

Finding Housing in TerrebonneTerrebonne
Housing

Finding Housing in Terrebonne

Terrebonne's sectors, the rental market, and the standard Quebec lease.

First Steps in TerrebonneTerrebonne
First steps

First Steps in Terrebonne

City services, essentials and landmarks for settling in Terrebonne.

Finding Housing in Trois-RivièresTrois-Rivières
Housing

Finding Housing in Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières's accessible rental market and the standard Quebec lease.

First Steps in Trois-RivièresTrois-Rivières
First steps

First Steps in Trois-Rivières

Settling in Trois-Rivières, historic city between Montreal and Quebec City.

Welcome to SherbrookeSherbrooke
First steps

Welcome to Sherbrooke

An introduction to Sherbrooke, capital of the Eastern Townships: student city, neighborhoods, and settlement services.

Finding Housing in MontrealMontréal
Housing

Finding Housing in Montreal

How to search for an apartment, read a lease, and avoid scams.

Your First 48 Hours in MontrealMontréal
Services

Your First 48 Hours in Montreal

The essential first steps as soon as you arrive: SIN, housing, banking, transit.

About this section

Arriving in Quebec means a chain of tasks where order matters: the [Social Insurance Number (SIN)](/guides/provincial/nas-numero-assurance-sociale) unlocks work and a bank account, the bank account lets you [sign a lease](/guides/provincial/signer-bail-quebec), and a permanent address opens access to the [RAMQ health card](/guides/provincial/ramq). This section gathers the guides for a newcomer's first weeks — getting the SIN, [opening a bank account](/guides/provincial/ouvrir-compte-bancaire), finding housing, choosing a [phone plan](/guides/provincial/plan-cellulaire) and getting oriented in your new city. Each guide is bilingual and walks through the process step by step, with the documents to prepare and the common pitfalls to avoid. If you've just arrived or are preparing your move, start here: it's the foundation every other step rests on.