After obtaining your authorizations to work temporarily in Québec

Once you have obtained all the authorizations to work temporarily in Québec, here are some steps to take before your arrival and once you are here.

Prepare your arrival in Québec

To prepare before your departure and know what awaits you once you are in Québec, you can consult the guide Settle and integrate in Québec.

You will find useful information on this page, particularly on:

  • Québec’s key values
  • Climate
  • Transportation
  • Education and childcare
  • Learning French
  • Employment
  • Opening a bank account
  • Health and emergency services

Documents to bring

Bring all the documents that could be useful for your settlement process in Québec.

The documents must be originals or certified true copies.

The documents must be in French or English. Documents in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a translation signed and authenticated by a professional translator.

List of documents to bring

Here are the documents that you and your family members must bring to Québec, if applicable. You may adapt this to each person's situation.

  • Letter of acceptation for the Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
  • Passport or other travel document
  • Other identity documents
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage contract, marriage certificate or cohabitation agreement for de facto spouses
  • Civil union contract or civil union certificate
  • Family record book
  • Valid driver's licence, international driver’s licence
  • Diplomas, certificates of studies and other attestations of schooling
  • Academic transcripts
  • Description of courses and internships taken, including the duration of each
  • Attestations of employment and work experience
  • Contract of employment with your Québec employer
  • Attestations of training sessions or refresher training
  • Attestations of continuing education activities
  • Letters of recommendation from former employers and current employers
  • Licence to practice a profession or a trade
  • Professional qualification certificates
  • Proofs of financial capacity (repayment of loans, bank references, bank statements)
  • Title of ownership or letter of recommendation from former owners
  • Up--to-date curriculum vitæ
  • Medical and dental records, vaccination booklet and proof of social security plan of your country of origin (for example: SE-401-Q-207 form for French citizens covered by a general social security plan)

Steps to follow upon your arrival

When you arrive in Québec, you have some steps to take.

Arrival at the airport

When you arrive at an airport or other border crossing, you must have in hand: 

  • Your passport
  • The letter of authorization that will have been given to you by the Canadian Embassy or the Canadian visa office that covers your country
  • Your temporary resident visa, if applicable
  • Your Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
  • Your health certificate, if you had to pass a medical examination before obtaining your work permit

You then will obtain your work permit upon your arrival at the point of entry in Québec. You must present the letter of authorization that will have been given to you by the Canadian Embassy or the Canadian visa office that covers your country

If you arrive in Québec through the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, the staff of the Reception Service of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration will greet you. Staff can sign you up for information sessions on Québec.

If you are arriving on an international flight

You must first go through Canadian customs. Then, you will be directed to the Reception Service of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration. Located on the 1st floor of international arrivals, in the room named “Immigration 2.” Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to midnight.

If you are arriving on a flight from another Canadian airport

Go to the Service d’accueil (Reception Service) of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration located in the national arrivals area. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

To get to your destination in Québec, various airport transportation services are available.

Personal effects

You may be asked to present for customs control a list of personal effects that you are carrying with you or that will be shipped to you later. For more information, see the Bringing goods to Canada This hyperlink will open in a new window. page.

If you intend to apply for a status other than temporary resident or if you are considering working in Canada for more than three years, you must notify the Canada Border Services Agency. Your import duties might no longer be the same.

Follow-up with the Canada Border Services Agency

Communicate with the Canada Border Services Agency:

  • to report a change of address
  • before returning to your country of residence

Settlement process

In the first days after your arrival in Québec, you must take certain steps and procure the documents necessary for your settlement. Some of these documents will be requested by your employer or, for example, on the occasion of a visit to a healthcare institution.

Finding housing

Consult the Housing section of the Settle and integrate in Québec This hyperlink will open in a new window. for advice for your housing search.

Obtaining your social insurance number

You must obtain a social insurance number (SIN) in the first few days after your arrival in Québec. To do this, you must:

  • Complete the form that was provided to you by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) agent.
  • Complete an online application This hyperlink will open in a new window. from the Government of Canada website.

After receiving the social insurance card, you must inform your employer of the number recorded on this card.

Obtaining a health insurance card

The health insurance card allows you to obtain free of charge the healthcare covered by the Québec health insurance plan. To obtain it, you generally must have a work permit for more than six months.

Health insurance does not cover your medical care during the first three months following your arrival in Québec.

You must register with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec This hyperlink will open in a new window. upon your arrival so as not to delay your eligibility.

The card is valid for the duration of your work permit. It must therefore be renewed if your work permit is extended.

If you are a seasonal agricultural worker, you are eligible for the health insurance plan regardless of the duration of your work permit. You will not have to wait three months before you can benefit from healthcare. 

If you wish to obtain private insurance, you must do so no later than the first five days after your arrival in Québec. After this period, it will become more difficult to insure yourself.

Obtaining a driver’s licence

The types of driver’s licences required to drive in Québec depend on the duration of your work permit.

  • If you have a work permit for six months to 12 months, you must have a driver’s licence from your country of origin and an international driver’s licence.
  • If you have a work permit for 12 months or more, you are eligible for the driver’s licence exchange process. Upon your arrival in the country, you may make an appointment with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) and begin your licence exchange process.
  • The international driving license is not compulsory for a stay of less than 12 months, but required if you do not want to do the license exchange process and continue driving beyond six months.

For any information on the Québec driver's licence and the international driver's licence, go to the SAAQ Tourists and Newcomers This hyperlink will open in a new window. page.

Enrolling children in school or a childcare service

Consult the Education and childcare section to enroll your children in school or a childcare service.

Integration process

To facilitate your integration in Québec, you can:

Learning French for an in-home caregiver

If you work as a personal care attendant, your employer must facilitate your access to French courses outside working hours. Your employer must support you in learning French by avoiding changes in your work schedule or adapting it to the course schedule. It is important that you discuss this question with your employer upon your arrival in Québec.


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Last update: December 11, 2023

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