Life in Quebec for newcomers: free French classes, health insurance, schools, immigration programs and family benefits
Quebec isn't just "another Canadian province" with slightly different rules. It has its own immigration system, a single language of government, schools with strict language rules, and family benefits and subsidized child care you won't find anywhere else in Canada. Here's what you need to know in your first year.
The Quebec government offers free French classes to anyone aged 16 or older living in Quebec, and full-time students may receive a participation allowance of $230 a week. On the other hand, RAMQ health insurance doesn't cover newcomers for their first three months, and your children will attend a French-language school except in specific cases. In 2026 you have two paths to permanent residence from within Quebec: the PSTQ, and the PEQ, which has been temporarily reopened. Quebec also pays a family allowance of up to $3,068 a year per child, and subsidized child care costs $9.65 a day.
Free French classes through Francisation Québec
The government describes Francisation Québec as the single government point of access for adults living in Quebec who want to learn French. Classes are free for anyone aged 16 or older who lives in Quebec and is no longer required to attend school, and they come in four formats:
| Format | Hours | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | 25 to 30 hours a week, usually in 10-week sessions | People who haven't started work yet and want to learn the language quickly |
| Part time | 6 to 20 hours a week, in 10- to 11-week sessions | People who are working or caring for children |
| Online | At your own pace | Intermediate and advanced levels |
| In the workplace | During paid working hours | If your employer offers it |
Who can take full-time classes, and what allowances are there?
There are three admission conditions for immigrants in full-time classes: you were born outside Canada, you're 16 or older, and you live in Quebec. Temporary workers and students can register, but they must respect the conditions of their permit so they don't put their status at risk.
- Participation allowance: $230 a week for full-time students; it isn't available for part-time study.
- Child care allowance: $25 per day of class for each child.
- Transportation allowance: $25 a week, which can't be combined with the $230 allowance.
Refugee claimants in Canada aren't eligible for these allowances. The participation allowance is also withheld from people receiving other income, such as Employment Insurance (EI), social assistance or parental insurance. If you're receiving EI, read our guide to Employment Insurance before you register.
Quebec's French language law (Bill 96): what changes in your daily life
Bill 96 amended the Charter of the French Language and confirmed that French is Quebec's only official language and the common language of Quebec society. For a newcomer, it has a direct effect in two areas.
Dealing with government departments
As a rule, Quebec government bodies communicate in French only. But the Charter makes exceptions, including:
- Immigrants during their first six months in Quebec, when government bodies may deal with them in another language.
- People who have been issued a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English.
- People who were dealing with the government in English only before 13 May 2021.
- Indigenous people.
In practice: get your most important paperwork done in your first six months. After that, rely on French, or on a certified translator for official documents.
Schools: French is the language of instruction
French is the language of instruction in kindergarten, elementary and secondary school, except where the Charter provides otherwise. Children of permanent residents usually attend French-language schools, and a child is only eligible for instruction in English in certain cases, including:
- The child received most of their elementary or secondary education in English in Canada, or a brother or sister did.
- One of the parents is a Canadian citizen who received their elementary education in English in Canada.
- The child of workers or students staying temporarily on valid permits, who receive temporary authorization.
- The child has serious learning difficulties, or there are serious family or humanitarian reasons.
Each case has detailed conditions, in some cases including that one parent be a Canadian citizen, so read the official eligibility page before you base a decision on it.
The school applies to the Ministry of Education for eligibility on your behalf. Keeping up your home language is up to you; you'll find Arabic-language schools in our directory.
RAMQ health insurance and the waiting period
Quebec's health insurance plan doesn't cover newcomers during their first three months after arrival, so the government strongly recommends buying private insurance as soon as you arrive. People coming from countries that have signed social security agreements with Quebec are exempt from the wait, provided they show proof that they were covered by their home country's health plan.
Register with the RAMQ as early as possible so the waiting period starts, and keep the bills for any treatment during it. Once your coverage begins, you must be present in Quebec for at least 183 days a year to remain eligible. Details on travel are in our guide to health coverage by province.
Quebec immigration programs in 2026: the PSTQ and the temporary return of the PEQ
Quebec selects its own economic immigrants. It first issues you a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), and you then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
| Program | Status in 2026 | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| PSTQ (Skilled Worker Selection Program) | Open, and the only permanent selection pathway; 14,615 invitations issued since December 2025 | Skilled workers in or outside Quebec, through four streams |
| PEQ (Quebec Experience Program) | Abolished on 19 November 2025, then temporarily reopened from 2 July 2026 to 2 July 2028 | Quebec graduates and temporary workers with qualifying experience |
What you need to know about the current PEQ window
- The first intake period through the Arrima platform runs from 2 July to 31 October 2026.
- It's aimed at people who obtained a qualifying Quebec diploma, or accumulated two years of experience in TEER categories 0 to 3, before 19 November 2025.
- The requirement to have studied in French has been dropped, but the required French level is 7 for speaking and 5 for writing.
- There's no cap on the number of applications, and only forms dated June 2026 are accepted.
- PSTQ invitations are being reduced until November 2026, and will then be adjusted according to the volume of PEQ applications.
For the PSTQ, you first submit an expression of interest, then wait for an invitation, then submit a selection application. This guide doesn't assess your eligibility and isn't a substitute for professional advice. For borderline cases, consult an immigration lawyer or a licensed immigration consultant.
The family allowance from Retraite Québec
Retraite Québec pays the family allowance (Allocation famille) for each child under 18 who lives with you. It isn't taxable, and it's paid on top of the federal child benefit, not instead of it. The amount depends on the family income reported on your Quebec tax return.
| Item (2026) | Maximum per year | Minimum per year |
|---|---|---|
| Per child | $3,068 | $1,221 |
| Single-parent family supplement | $1,077 | $430 |
| School supplies supplement, per child | $127 for the 2026–2027 school year | |
The amounts are indexed every January; the indexation rate for 2026 was 2.05%. Your own amount is recalculated every July based on the tax return filed by 30 April. If you file late, the allowance can only be paid retroactively for up to three years. So file your return even if your income is zero: the return is what the allowance is calculated on.
Subsidized child care: $9.65 a day, but with a waiting list
In subsidized child care, families pay a reduced contribution of $9.65 a day in 2026, indexed every 1 January. Both parents must live in Quebec and have a recognized status, such as citizenship, permanent residence, a valid work permit or refugee status. Families receiving social assistance may be exempt from the contribution altogether.
Registration goes through the Childcare Services Registration Portal, formerly called La Place 0-5, which child care services are required to use for admissions. It's no longer possible to register a child before birth. Non-subsidized daycares set their own fees, and a Quebec income-based tax credit covers part of the cost. For a comparison with the other provinces, see our guide to child care in Canada.
What this guide doesn't do
This guide is general information, not legal advice or an assessment of your immigration file. We can't promise you a child care spot, a doctor's appointment or acceptance into any program. Quebec's immigration rules change often, as with the PEQ, which was abolished and then reopened about seven months later, so check the official page before you take any step.
Frequently asked questions
Are French classes free for my spouse if they're not working?
Yes. Classes are free for anyone aged 16 or older who lives in Quebec. If your spouse studies full time and isn't receiving excluded income such as social assistance, they may get $230 a week, plus $25 a day for each child who needs care during class.
Can my children go to school in English in Quebec?
If you're permanent residents, French-language school is the rule unless one of the exceptions applies to you, for example if the child received most of their education in English in Canada. Children of parents on temporary work or study permits usually receive a temporary authorization.
What do I do if I get sick in my first three months?
The RAMQ won't reimburse you for treatment before your eligibility start date, so buy private insurance from the day you arrive. For health advice by phone, there's the Info-Santé 811 line.
Is the PEQ still open to me?
Only if you obtained your Quebec diploma or completed your qualifying experience before 19 November 2025, and you apply between 2 July and 31 October 2026 with the required French level. Otherwise, your pathway is the PSTQ.
Can I get both the Quebec family allowance and the federal CCB?
Yes. They're two separate programs: the first is paid by Retraite Québec and the second by the Canada Revenue Agency. Details of the federal benefit are in our guide to the Canada Child Benefit.
For a step-by-step plan for your first year, start with our Quebec page, and you'll find settlement organizations that help newcomers for free in our directory.