Québec

Register with the RAMQ as soon as you arrive

People newly settling in Québec can wait up to three months after applying before the health insurance plan covers them: the délai de carence. There are exceptions; pregnancy is one of them.

Source: Government of Québec · Equality in health services: the waiting period · Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec · Registering for health insurance · checked Oct 21, 2026

Pregnant in Québec: covered during the waiting period

During the délai de carence, pregnant women are entitled to the medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services they need. Ask the RAMQ about it when you register: do not delay your pregnancy follow-up while you wait for the card.

Source: Government of Québec · Equality in health services: the waiting period · Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec · Registering for health insurance · checked Oct 21, 2026

Moving provinces: keep your old health card for now

Your new province or territory can make you wait up to three months before its plan covers you. During that wait, your former province must keep paying for insured care. Apply for the new card as soon as you settle.

Source: Government of Canada · Canada Health Act, section 11: portability · checked Oct 21, 2026

Asylum claimants and refugees: federal coverage until your province takes over

The Interim Federal Health Program covers asylum claimants, resettled refugees and protected persons until they qualify for provincial or territorial health insurance. Most people do not need to apply: it follows from your immigration status.

Source: Government of Canada · Interim Federal Health Program · checked Oct 21, 2026

Arriving from abroad: plan for the gap

Where a waiting period applies to someone arriving from outside Canada, no public plan covers that time and care is billed at full cost. Private insurance bought before you arrive covers the gap.

Source: Government of British Columbia · MSP coverage wait period · Government of New Brunswick · Applying for a Medicare card · checked Oct 21, 2026

Join the family doctor waiting list (GAMF)

Without a family doctor, register on the GAMF. Keep your file up to date, contact details and changes in health, to keep your place.

Source: Government of Québec · Family doctor waiting list (GAMF) · checked Oct 21, 2026

Québec’s family allowance comes from Retraite Québec

The Allocation famille is paid by Retraite Québec, not the Canada Revenue Agency. For a child born in Québec there is nothing to do: the Directeur de l’état civil informs Retraite Québec. Otherwise (arriving with children, for example) apply to Retraite Québec directly.

Source: Government of Canada · T4114: Canada child benefit and related provincial and territorial programs · Retraite Québec · Forms concerning the family allowance · checked Oct 22, 2026

In Québec, parental benefits come from the RQAP

Québec residents receive maternity, paternity and parental benefits from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan, not from federal EI. It replaces income, so it depends on your insurable earnings.

Source: Government of Québec · Québec Parental Insurance Plan (RQAP) · Government of Canada · EI digest, ch. 12: Québec residents are covered by the QPIP · checked Oct 21, 2026

Get your Social Insurance Number

You need a SIN to work in Canada and to receive government benefits, including the Canada child benefit.

Source: Government of Canada · Social Insurance Number · checked Oct 21, 2026

Apply for the Canada child benefit

A tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. After a birth, or on arrival with children, apply; newcomers use form RC66, usually with its schedule RC66SCH.

Source: Government of Canada · Canada child benefit · Government of Canada · Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application · checked Oct 21, 2026

Register on the child care portal: after the birth

The Portail d’inscription aux services de garde replaced La Place 0-5. A child cannot be registered before birth, so do it in the first weeks.

Source: Government of Québec · Child care registration portal (formerly La Place 0-5) · checked Oct 21, 2026

Routine vaccines start at 2 months

In most provinces and territories the first routine vaccines are given at 2 months, then at 4, 6 and 18 months. Schedules differ: check yours.

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada · Provincial and territorial routine and catch-up vaccination schedules for infants and children · checked Oct 21, 2026

Bring your children’s vaccination records

Each province and territory has its own schedule, with catch-up programs for children who started elsewhere. Their records let a nurse see what is missing.

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada · Provincial and territorial routine and catch-up vaccination schedules for infants and children · checked Oct 21, 2026