Register for health insurance
Work in Québec
To be eligible for health insurance when you are a temporary worker in Québec, you have to be able to present a document (employer-specific work permit or work contract) that proves your intention to stay in Québec for more than 6 months. Otherwise, you are not eligible. To find out more, refer to the webpage Know the eligibility conditions for health insurance.
When you come to Québec to work, your health insurance coverage starts after a waiting period of up to 3 months after you register. This period also applies 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.
If you have applied to have your work permit renewed and have an acknowledgment of receipt confirming that you did so before the expiry of the previous permit (meaning you have implied legal status), you can renew your registration for health insurance. Please call us to obtain the required form. You must also contact us if you have obtained a new open work permit instead of an employer-specific permit.
Registration procedure
Step 1
Before you arrive in Québec: 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
If you do not hold a Canadian citizenship:
- Photocopy of the employer-specific work permit issued by the Canadian immigration authorities, valid for more than 6 months, specifying the following:
- Name of your employer au Québec
- Location of work au Québec
If you hold Canadian citizenship
- Photocopy of your work contract or of your letter from your employer confirming the employment start and end dates
- Photocopy of a proof of Canadian citizenship (valid Canadian passport, birth certificate, copy of an act of birth or certificate of Canadian citizenship)
Your spouse and dependent children also have to prove their intention to stay in Québec for more than 6 months to be eligible for Québec Health Insurance Plan. Persons age 18 and over will be subject to a waiting period pending eligibility before they are covered.
Documents to be provided for each of the persons accompanying you
- Photocopy 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
If your spouse or dependant does not hold Canadian citizenship:
- Photocopy of the authorization of stay issued by the Canadian immigration authorities
If your spouse or dependant holds Canadian citizenship:
- Photocopy of a proof of his/her Canadian citizenship (valid Canadian passport, birth certificate, copy of an act of birth or certificate of Canadian citizenship)
- Photocopy of a sworn statement stating that the planned duration of the stay in Québec is more than 6 months and specifying the dates of arrival and departure from Québec
Step 2
When you arrive in Québec: 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.