Table of Contents
Introduction
- Neighbourhoods
- Best Montreal Neighbourhoods for Young Family
- Parks, Recreation and Culture
- What is going on in the city
Government Guide
Arriving at Montreal – Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Transporting Pets Health
- Private Health Insurance
- Quebec Health Insurance Plan
- Family Doctor and Dental Services
Accommodation
- Short Term Accommodation
- Long Term Accommodation
Cost of Living
Public Transportation
Important Documents and Banks Transferring Money Overseas Schools
Taxes Other Info
Introduction
Montreal is the most populous city in the province of Quebec and the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world. A place of exciting views and urban life. Urbanites will also like what happen underground. The winter does not stop the city. There is a series of interconnected tunnels – 32 Km of access to shopping malls, restaurants, stores, metro stations, museums, banks and so on.
Best Montreal Neighborhoods for Young Family
Government Guide
The following links give you access to the government guide on how to settle life in Montreal/Quebec.
Arriving at Montreal – Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
The link below directs you to information regarding ground transportation available at the Airport.
Transporting Pets
Cats and dogs will need a rabies vaccination and you have to bring them with the vaccination certificate. How the certificate should look like is under the following links, as well as container guidelines. Dogs Cats Other Animals
Health
After arrival, when you have your permit handy, you will be able to apply for the government health card. However, your coverage may start up to three months after your registration date. You should get private health care insurance while you wait.
Private Health Insurance
Option 1 – You can find an insurance company in your country and ask its representatives to quote the coverage for you.
Option 2 – You can get a quote from a company operating in Canada:
Examples: CAA Quebec, Blue Cross, Allianz
Quebec Health Insurance Plan
The registration has 4 steps:
- Fill out the registration form. The form can be obtained by phone or in person.
- Gather required documents
- Send in documents and have your photo taken
- Receiving a letter and your card (Note: As of 2012, Quebec does not issue photo ID for non-drivers. Residents can use their health insurance card as ID, once they contain photos).
Family Doctor
In Canada, there are walk-in clinics and hospitals in case of emergency. However, you and/or your family need to find a family doctor to be responsible for your care.
Registering with a family doctor in Quebec
Dental Services. Children under age 10 receive coverage from the government plan, and at hospitals there are services covered for everyone. Check it out.
Accommodation
In Canada, apartments for rent are usually available to move in on the 1st day of the month. My suggestion is to start looking for advertisements based on the date you will arrive. If you arrive past the 15th of the month, book visits to see places upon arrival.
Short Term Accommodation
Long Term Accommodation
Popular websites to find places to rent (Always book visits to check the place in person – Attention to scams):
Kangalou kijiji Craigslist padmapper rent faster
Rental Agency
RentItFurnished (furnished and unfurnished rentals)
Property Management
Cost of Living
The following links give access to simulation of cost of living by city:
numbeo expatistan government of canada
Public Transportation
On the Transit Society of Montreal (stm) website you will be able to plan your trip and explore Montreal aboard the bus and metro.
Important Documents and Banks
- SIN (Social Insurance Number) – The link SIN will help you to find the closest Service Canada Office. Required documents: passport and permit (original) + inform your address.
- Driver’s Licence.“Holders of a foreign licence are allowed to drive on Québec roads for 6 consecutive months. After that time, they must hold an international driver’s permit, or, if they take up residence in Québec, they must obtain a Québec licence. They may apply for a Québec licence as soon as they arrive in Québec”. Find out more about it.
- The 5 biggest Banks are TD, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Bank of Montreal (BMO), Scotiabank, and CIBC. They do offer packages for newcomers. (You can check the links below). Just keep in mind that you need to build a credit score in Canada if you want to buy a house or apply for a mortgage in the future, for example. The credit card is one
way of building the score and the banks’ representatives will be able to explain it in detail.
Transferring Money Overseas
Tips: Transferwise WesternUnion
Schools
Quebec Education Program (Preschool, Elementary and Secondary)
Registrations. Admission and enrolment form will be received and filled out at the school of choice as well as the Certificate of Eligibility (to register your child in an English school, he or she must have an Eligibility Certificate). For Kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old of age before September 30th. For Cycle 1 (Grade 1) the child must be 6 years of age before September 30th.
Schools will request the following documents’ copies:
-
- Your Work Permit
- Child’s long version birth certificate showing parents’ names (must be in English or French) and Immigration papers linking the whole family.
Taxes
Please, refer to the links below:
Other Info
Renting a home in Canada? Who is involved?
The following link explains general terms, how to find a place, moving in and signing a lease, paying the rent, rent increases and moving out.
My partner has a work permit. Can he or she study English/ French?
According to the CIC website, she can study without a study permit if the program of study is 6 months or less –
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=484&top=15
Language Classes Funded by the Government of Canada
Learn English, in addition to French, if it is a job requirement
10 (mostly) free ways to learn French in Montreal
Are there places where I can find my country’s food?
Probably The Best Cheap Ethnic Grocery Stores In Montreal
The 10 Best Montreal International Restaurants – TripAdvisor
7 diverse international cuisines in Montreal
My partner will look for jobs. Is there any support?
There are employment agencies in the city, events or meetups to build networking, and the option of interacting with local people through volunteering.
What are the emergency numbers in the city?
Emergency Services – Quebec
Non-Urgent Calls – SPVM (Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal)
What are the biggest cell phone and internet providers in Canada?
National Internet Providers – Telus, Bell and Rogers
VOIP Phones & Internet Service Providers
Mobile companies – Rogers, Bell, Telus, Fido, Virgin, Mobilicity/Chatr, Wind, Koodo and PC Mobile. The best, cheapest cell phone plans in Canada in 2018, according to Global News.
Special Internet offer for VanHack candidates
VanHack has teamed up with Bell, the fastest provider of Internet services in Canada, to provide a special custom offer for Internet and TV.
Activate your Bell Internet, TV or Home Phone products:
-Pre-approved offer and no deposit or down payment required to get service
Email [email protected] with the below form to schedule your live appointment.
- Name
- Available times
- Contact number
What are the Car Sharing Services in Canada?
In many canadian cities it is possible to find an alternative means of transportation, besides public transportation, bikes and taxis. They are the car sharing services, which require subscription fees and offer automobiles of different brands and sizes.
