Immigrating to Quebec: 5 things you need to know to settle in successfully

Aurelie Massard
Jan 29
2 min read

Preparing to immigrate to Quebec:

Moving to Quebec is an exciting prospect for young professionals, couples, families, and international students, but it requires careful preparation. Expatriation is exciting, a real adventure... but it also involves a series of surprises, procedures, and realities that are sometimes discovered a little too late.

Services Immiquébec supports future and new arrivals in Quebec in making this transition with full awareness, providing practical tools, personal advice, and expertise based on day-to-day experience in the field.

Here is a useful and clever summary of what we would like to tell you before you buy your plane ticket to your new life!

🌨️ 1. Winter is harsh... but also magical!

Yes, it's cold. Very cold. For a long time. More than 6 months of the year. But you get used to it, you get equipped, you discover the joys of cocooning, snow, sugar shacks, and breathtaking landscapes.

👉 Prepare yourself mentally and financially (thanks to boots that cost over $200) and take the time to familiarize yourself with the wind chill factor (hint: “-15, feels like -27” is not a bug in your thermometer).

💼 2. Your degree doesn't always open the doors you initially imagined

You may arrive with an impressive resume. You may have worked your entire life in the same field... And yet, you'll have to adapt your resume, learn to network, and (re)start with a temporary job or one outside your field.

🧾 3. The process doesn't end at the airport

Between the SIN, RAMQ, bank, insurance, housing, work or study permit... you'll quickly realize that the administration here has its own pace and customs.

Don't panic: with information, a good action plan, and clear guidance, you'll avoid costly oversights and mistakes.

💸 4. Prices are displayed before taxes and tips

See an item priced at $14.99? Add 15% tax. Going to a restaurant? Add a 15% tip. Mental arithmetic becomes a superpower, and your monthly budget deserves to be well prepared in advance.

⚠️ 5. The most common mistakes? We'll share them with you!

Believing that “everything is simple” because you speak English.
Arriving without a clear plan or a safety net budget.
Not researching the job market or the school system.
Thinking you'll find housing quickly, without laying the groundwork in advance.
Isolating yourself because you think you have to manage everything on your own.

These mistakes lead to initial difficulties that anyone who decides to settle in a new country will experience. They may then experience multiple forms of distress if the resources to overcome these obstacles are slow to come their way. This is especially true since this period also corresponds to culture shock and its disconcerting effects on the mind of a newcomer.

🧭 Prepare your project with clarity!

The success of your installation depends greatly on your preparation. That's why we've designed a simple, free, and practical guide to help you lay the right foundations for your project.

🎁 Download it here → https://forms.gle/2ho4Q6G6t2xPpVZ87

And if you want personal, step-by-step support, come and discover our personalized services.

📬 To be continued...

Want practical advice, up-to-date resources, and tips from the field?

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➡️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/106272867

➡️ Website: www.immiquebec.ca