Registration
To register
Upon arriving in Québec, you must register for the Health Insurance Plan, even if you were registered for the plan in the past. It is very important to call the Régie or visit an office of the Régie upon your arrival to obtain a registration form and submit your application as soon as possible. This will avoid delaying the effective date of your coverage. However, if you are returning to Québec after a temporary absence during which you remained covered by the plan, you are not required to re-register.
If you have taken up residence in Québec and adopted a child, you must take steps to register your child for the Health Insurance Plan.
However, parents who have taken up residence in Québec or who are registered for the Health Insurance Plan as persons staying in Québec temporarily don't need to take any steps with the Régie to register their child born in Québec. If this is your case, all you need to do is register your child with the Directeur de l'état civil
, using the form obtained from the hospital or given by the midwife. The information needed for registering the child for the Health Insurance Plan and, where applicable, for the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan will be sent to the Régie automatically.
Step 1: Fill out the registration form
First, you need to obtain the registration form from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec by calling or by going to one of its office during office hours. Registration cannot take place online. Please note that we are unable to send you the form before your arrival in Québec.
If you call, we recommend that you have your proof-of-identity documents, or those of the child you wish to register, handy. If you come to an office of the Régie, you can submit your application for registration at the office, as long as you have all the required documents with you. You will need to provide the requested information, check the information appearing on the form and make corrections if necessary. Be sure to sign the form.
For seasonal agriculture workers, the employer must fill out the form entitled Préinscription d’un travailleur agricole saisonnier au régime d’assurance maladie du Québec (French only).
Step 2: Attach the required documents
You must attach certain documents to your registration form.
If, as part of the registration process, you go to a service point (usually a CLSC) to be authenticated (see step 3), bring the required original documents, along with legible photocopies of both sides of each document. An agent will check the originals and hand them back to you afterwards. The photocopies will be forwarded to RAMQ, together with the form.
If you go to one of the RAMQ reception desks, only the original documents are required. An agent will check them and hand them back to you afterwards.
If you are one of those people who doesn't need to have their photo taken and you mail your form and required documents, you must send the originals. After duplicating them, RAMQ will return them to you within 30 days, but you won't receive them at the same time as your Health Insurance Card.
Instead of original documents, you may submit certified true copies Certified true copy
A copy of an original document that is certified true by a competent authority. Not just a photocopy. Only true certified copies from the organization that issued the original document are accepted by RAMQ.
Foreign language documents
Documents written in a language other than French or English must be translated into French (at your expense). RAMQ accepts translations done by members of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec or by members of companies or organizations recognized by the Conseil des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes du Canada. RAMQ also accepts translations done by staff members of foreign states' consulates or embassies.
The type of document you need to attach to your form depends on your situation:
Permanent resident
The originals of all the following documents:
- Permanent resident card, or any other document issued by the Canadian immigration authorities attesting your permanent resident status in Canada, along with your visa
- Québec selection certificate, in most cases
Indian recognized by the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
If you are an Indian born outside Canada, you must attach to your form:
- the original of your Indian status certificate issued by the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- the original of your birth certificate
Foreign national taking up residence in Québec according to
certain conditions
(Conditions)
- the originals of the documents issued by the Canadian and Québec immigration authorities
Foreign national taking up residence in Québec as a
temporary worker
Foreign national in Québec as a temporary worker
- the original of an employment authorization issued by the Canadian immigration authorities allowing you to work in Québec. The authorization must indicate the employer's name and the place of employment
Foreign national taking up residence in Québec temporarily as a
seasonal agriculture worker
- the original of an employment authorization issued by the Canadian immigration authorities
- a copy of the document entitled Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
Foreign national taking up residence in Québec temporarily to hold a
liturgical office
- the original of the document issued by the Canadian immigration authorities allowing you to be in Canada for more than 6 months and a document proving that you hold a liturgical office
Recipient of study or training scholarship
- the original of your attestation of stay in Québec as a scholar (document issued by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur)
Spouse accompanying a worker or scholar
- Spouse Spouse
Two persons (of the opposite sex or the same sex) are considered spouses if they are: (1) married and have entered into a civil union (2) have been living together for 12 months (separations of less than 90 days do not interrupt the 12-month period) (3) are living together (regardless of for how long) and together have had or have adopted a child. who is a foreign national:
- the original of the document issued by the Canadian immigration authorities allowing you to be in Canada for more than 6 months
- the original of your marriage certificate or of your certificate of civil union, or a sworn statement Sworn statement
A statement made under oath and signed before a commissioner for oaths. made before a commissioner for oaths, attesting that you are living in a de facto union or in a civil union with the person you are accompanying or else that you are married to that person
- Spouse Spouse
Two persons (of the opposite sex or the same sex) are considered spouses if they are: (1) married and have entered into a civil union (2) have been living together for 12 months (separations of less than 90 days do not interrupt the 12-month period) (3) are living together (regardless of for how long) and together have had or have adopted a child. who is a Canadian citizen:
- the original of one of the pieces of ID required of a Canadian citizen
- the original of your marriage certificate or of your certificate of civil union, or a sworn statement made before a commissioner for oaths, attesting that you are living in a de facto union or in a civil union with the person you are accompanying or else that you are married to that person
- a sworn statement confirming that the duration of your stay in Québec is more than 6 months
Dependant accompanying a worker or scholar
- Dependant who is a foreign national:
- the original of the document issued by the Canadian immigration authorities allowing you to be in Canada for more than 6 months
- if you are age 18 or over, proof of school attendance or a medical certificate attesting that you have a functional impairment
- Dependant who is a Canadian citizen:
- the original of one of the pieces of ID required of a Canadian citizen
- a sworn statement made before a commissioner for oaths, confirming that the duration of your stay in Québec is more than 6 months
- if you are age 18 or over, proof of school attendance or a medical certificate attesting that you have a functional impairment
Adopted child
Please contact the Régie.
Proof of residence in Québec
If you have taken up residence in Québec after coming from another country or province, in addition to the proof-of-identity documents, you must attach proof of residence in Québec to your registration application form. A single proof of residence can be used for a family, if all family members living at the same address register simultaneously.
Step 3: Send in the documents and have your photo taken
To obtain a Health Insurance Card, you must in most cases provide your signature and a photo meeting the specifications established by the government. The section on photo and signature explains who must have their photo taken and what the procedure is.
If you are not required to provide your photo and signature, mail your form and the required documents to the Régie or bring them to one of the Régie's reception desks.
Prescription drug insurance
Agreements with other countries
If you are arriving from a country that has signed a social security agreement with Québec, you could be registered for the Health Insurance Plan under that agreement. For details about how to register for the Health Insurance Plan, consult the page on social security agreements.
Receiving your Health Insurance Card
The Régie will process your application and, if you fulfill the eligibility requirements, will send you a letter indicating when your coverage under the Health Insurance Plan takes effect. You will receive your Health Insurance Card within 2 weeks after that date.
Apart from certain exceptions, the Régie does not reimburse the cost of the healthcare received during the waiting period. During this period, to save you from having to pay for any healthcare services that you or your family members might need, the Régie strongly recommends that you take out private insurance within 5 days following your arrival in Québec. Thereafter, coverage is more difficult to obtain. For information about private insurance, contact the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI).