Moving to Quebec from Australia: what changes in your file

Three things that change when you come from Australia

• Australians need an electronic travel authorisation by air; working requires a permit.
• French is the Quebec criterion, and English does not replace it.
• Canada and Australia have a social security agreement for pensions.

The real timeline, seen from Australia

• What takes longest: administrative steps and licence exchange — not documents, which you obtain quickly.
• The easier the paperwork, the easier it is to underestimate French: that is where Australian files most often stop.

Documents and how to get them recognised

• **Some official documents are hard to obtain or to legalise**: plan for months, and for alternatives such as attestations rather than a single path.
• **Legalisation or apostille applies per document**: verify each item, because the rule is not uniform.
• **Certified translations by a Quebec-recognised translator** are required for anything not in French or English.
• **Police certificates and civil records expire**: prepare them at filing time, not at the start.

The programmes that concern you

• **French is the Quebec criterion**: starting before departure also opens access to qualified work after arrival.
• **Humanitarian and sponsorship routes have their own channels and delays**: they are carried by an organisation, rarely by an individual alone.
• **Credentials are assessed before any order application**: equivalency, internship and exams, on the order's timeline.

The first six weeks after arrival

• **First documents of daily life**: social insurance number, bank account, health coverage according to status, transit.
• **Housing**: written lease, condition report, and refusal of any rental paid before a visit or a verification of the owner.
• **Children at school**: enrolment happens on arrival, even when school records are missing — ask in writing for a needs assessment.

The first 90 days: what unlocks the rest

• **Secure the identity documents file first**: nothing else moves without it, and reconstruction takes longer than expected.
• **Register for health coverage and open a bank account** in the same week, with private insurance covering the gap.
• **Contact a community organisation** in the first month: it knows which offices answer and which deadlines are real.

Cost of living, and what you will earn

• **The first quarter costs the most**: rent, deposit, furniture, transit and winter clothing, before any stable income.
• **Transfers to family abroad must be budgeted**, not discovered: fees and rates vary widely.
• **The first job may be below your qualification**: keep a reserve of several months while credentials are assessed.

Related pages

• Moving to Quebec: start here
• Moving to Quebec permanently
• Working in Quebec
• Studying in Quebec