Register for health insurance

Settle in Québec

When you settle in Québec, your health insurance coverage starts after a waiting period of up to 3 months after you register. This applies even if you hold Canadian citizenship, but does not apply to children under age 18. For this reason, we advise you to take out private insurance within 5 days of your arrival in Québec to ensure your coverage during the waiting period.

The persons accompanying you (spouse and dependants) have the same obligations and must provide the same documents as you to register for health insurance.

If you are a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, you are exempt from the waiting period, as are the persons accompanying you, if you remained eligible for health insurance in your home province in Canada.

Registration procedure

Step 1

Gather the requested documents

You are required to have any documents in a language other than French or English translated at your cost.

Mandatory documents, depending on your situation:

If you are a Canadian citizen:
- Photocopy of a proof of Canadian citizenship (valid Canadian passport, birth certificate, copy of an act of birth or certificate of Canadian citizenship)
If you are a permanent resident:
- Photocopy of your permanent resident card or of any other document issued by the Canadian immigration authorities confirming your permanent resident status in Canada
- Photocopy of your Québec selection certificate, if applicable

If you are a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or if you are accompanying one, you must also provide a photocopy of the document proving the date of release from the CAF or the posting instructions in Québec.

Step 2

Contact us

Call us and we will mail you your personalized form.

To complete your registration, you must mail us your complete application, including your signed registration form and the required documents.

Processing your request

You will receive a letter after your application for registration has been processed. This letter confirms whether or not you are eligible for the Québec Health Insurance Plan and indicates the date from which you will be able to benefit from it, if applicable. If you are eligible, you will receive your Health Insurance Card in a separate mailing. There will be no photo or signature on this card.

Change of situation

If you receive new immigration documents, they may change your status or affect your eligibility for the Québec Health Insurance Plan. To find out more, contact us or refer to the webpage Know the eligibility conditions for health insurance.