Welcoming and integration of the person you sponsor

As a sponsor, you must help the person you are sponsoring and the family members accompanying them to settle and integrate in Québec. 

In particular, you must provide them with help and support in: 

• Prepare for their arrival in Québec;
• Learn French;
• Access public services and resources available to facilitate their integration.

As of November 23, 2023, if the person you are sponsoring and the accompanying family members are between the ages of 18 and 55, you must complete and sign a welcome and integration plan in section 9 of the Undertaking form – Family Class (PDF 698 Kb) (in French only).

You must help the sponsored person with their efforts to settle and integrate in Québec. It's important to make them aware of the challenges they'll face and remind them that you will be there to help.

As mentioned above, a welcome and integration plan is now mandatory when sponsoring individuals between the ages of 18 and 55. In this plan, you must indicate the actions you are committed to take help them.

Some of these actions (for example, informing the sponsored person about the government's offer of French courses) can be undertaken well before the sponsored person's arrival in Québec.

If the person you are sponsoring is under the age of 18 or over 55, the welcome and integration plan may be a useful guide, although it is not compulsory for sponsoring people in these age groups.

You may also wish to consult the section Settle and integrate in Québec, which contains information and advice to facilitate settlement and successful integration in Québec. 

Accompagnement Québec

You can help the person you're sponsoring register for Accompagnement Québec . This free, personalized service helps immigrants settle and integrate in Québec. 

Sponsored individuals have access to this service as soon as they have one of the following documents: 

• Québec Selection certificate (CSQ); 
• An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) client number. 

Other integration steps 

Here are some steps the persons you sponsor may undertake once they obtain their Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ - Québec Selection Certificate):

• Improve their French by taking French courses offered by the Gouvernement du Québec;
• Register with the integration service for immigrants Accompagnement Québec;
• Register for the Objectif Intégration services session (only in French), if they speak French or after learning it;
• Register for an information session on First settlement steps;
• Find partner organizations of the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et l’Intégration in the region, who can support them in their settlement and integration.
• Take steps to obtain a job by using the services offered by the Centre local d’emploi (CLE) in your territory. You must enter the postal code and check off Services aux individus;
• Begin the steps to obtain recognition of their competencies acquired abroad.

Obtaining health insurance  

The person you are sponsoring may obtain a health insurance card from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) by presenting: 

• Their Certificat de sélection du Québec (Québec Selection Certificate - CSQ);
• If applicable, a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirming that the sponsored person's application for permanent residence is being processed in Canada (the sponsored person is already in Québec while his or her application for permanent residence is being processed).