BetterArriving in a new country, learning French, having your background recognised or returning to school: each of those steps is a big thing. The good news is that in Quebec you do not have to work it all out alone, there are free welcome services, courses and support, made for exactly this. Let's look at where to start.
Newcomer: Accompagnement Québec gives you a free adviser for your paperwork. Learning French: courses are free through Francisation Québec (sometimes with financial support). Degree obtained elsewhere: request a comparative evaluation. Reading, writing or finishing school: adult education, free. 211 points you in the right direction, in over 200 languages.
Start hereWhat is your situation?
Choose the door that fits you best today.
ImmigrationNewcomers: where to start
The first weeks bring a thousand questions, housing, papers, school, work. You can get support, free of charge.
- Accompagnement Québecthe government's personalised welcome and support service: an adviser helps you free of charge with settling in, learning French and finding work.
- Organisations welcoming immigrants near you (211 tells you the nearest one, in several languages).
- The Comparative Evaluation for Studies Done Outside Québec: an official document comparing your foreign qualification with the Quebec system, useful for a job or an enrolment.
French coursesLearning French, free of charge
Learning French opens doors, at work, at school, in everyday life. And in Quebec it costs nothing.
- Francisation Québecthe government's single point of access for learning French. Courses are free, offered in person, remotely or online, full time or part time. Financial support may be available depending on the format chosen.
It is open to adults 16 and over living in Quebec (and even to those considering settling here). You progress at your own pace, from beginner level through to advanced.
EducationReading, writing or finishing your studies
There is no age limit for learning. Whether you want to learn to read and write, finish secondary school or obtain an equivalency, the public system is there.
- At adult education centres (through your school service centre), you can take literacy courses (learning to read and write), finish secondary school and obtain a diploma or an equivalency. It is free in the public system.
- Community literacy groups also offer help in a more flexible setting (211 can point you to one).
Going further. If you move on to a trade or higher education, student financial assistance may be available depending on your situation. Ask at the centre where you enrol, they will explain the options.
Without depending on anyoneWhat you can do yourself
While waiting for a course or an appointment, you can already move forward, every small step counts.
Moving forward one step at a time
- Practise French a little every day: label objects at home, listen to radio or TV in French, read aloud.
- Gather your important documents (diplomas, transcripts, identification) and make copies, useful for the evaluation of studies and for enrolments.
- Write down your goals (French, a trade, a diploma) and one first small step for each.
- Find a person or a group to speak French with: exchange makes you progress fast.
- Keep a notebook of new words and of questions to ask your adviser or your teacher.
- Explore your neighbourhood library: books, computers and often free help.
One last wordEvery step brings you closer
Starting over, learning a language, going back to school: these are proof of strength, not weakness. You do not have to succeed at everything today. Take one single step, an enrolment, a call to 211, one French word learned, and you will already be on your way. Your place here is one you are building.
Frequently askedYour questions
I have just arrived in Quebec, where do I start?
You can use Accompagnement Québec, the government's personalised welcome and support service: an adviser helps you free of charge with your steps (settling in, French, work). Organisations welcoming newcomers also exist near you, 211 can point you in the right direction.
Are French courses free?
Yes. French-language training goes through Francisation Québec, the government's single point of access. Courses are free, offered in person, remotely or online, full time or part time. Financial support may be available depending on the format chosen.
How do I get a degree obtained abroad recognised?
You can request a Comparative Evaluation for Studies Done Outside Québec. This official document compares your foreign studies with the Quebec system and helps get your background recognised by employers or institutions.
I want to learn to read and write, or finish secondary school, where do I go?
General adult education, offered at the centres of your school service centre, lets you learn to read and write (literacy), finish secondary school and obtain a diploma or an equivalency. It is free in the public system.
In what language can I be helped at the start?
211 offers information and referral free of charge in over 200 languages. It answers 24 hours a day in western Quebec; elsewhere, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It can point you to the right welcome, French-language and education services near you.
This may also helpOther needs
Do you need more help?
We are here to help you find the right door.
Sources
- Gouvernement du Québec, French-language learning services (Francisation Québec, in French)
- Gouvernement du Québec, Main MIFI services (welcome, integration, comparative evaluation, in French)
- Gouvernement du Québec, Vocational training and adult education (in French)
- 211 Québec, information and referral in over 200 languages
About this article. General information, accurate as of the date shown, this is not legal advice on your immigration status. Programs and criteria vary and can change; for your own situation, contact the official government services, and 211 can point you in the right direction in several languages. BetterWorld is a social-economy organisation, independent of the Government of Quebec.
Spotted an error or an out-of-date figure? Write to us: we will correct it and re-date the article. Our texts are written with the help of artificial intelligence and checked against official sources before publication, but an amount or a rule can change without us catching it. If anything here does not match what an official body tells you, they are right.