Obtain a new Health Insurance Card

Your card will soon no longer be valid? The immigration documents justifying your presence in Québec have changed? You are returning to Québec after a prolonged absence? Let us guide you to the right steps to obtain your card, update your file or extend your health insurance coverage.

Situations of card renewal and re-registration for health insurance

Select the situation that applies to you.

I have received a renewal notice

Persons who have always lived in Québec and those who have settled here permanently for more than one year (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee) usually receive a renewal notice for their Health Insurance Card. This notice is mailed to them 3 months before their card expires.

Persons temporarily staying in Québec, such as foreign students and temporary workers, cannot renew their card. They must re-register for health insurance if their immigration status has changed or if their card is no longer valid.

I hold a valid immigration document (for example, study or work permit) and my Health Insurance Card has expired or is about to expire

If your immigration document allows you to temporarily stay in Québec, you must re-register for health insurance when your card expires.

This includes the following situations:

• I hold a temporary immigration document (study or work permit) that is still valid, my status has not changed, but my Health Insurance Card has expired.
• I am a foreign student considered a dependant and my Health Insurance Card has expired.
• I am a foreign national awaiting permanent residence in Canada and my Health Insurance Card has expired.

Follow the procedure to re-register for health insurance by selecting the situation that applies to you based on your most recent immigration document.

My immigration document is about to expire (for example, study or work permit), I have received a new immigration document or my immigration status has changed

If your immigration document allows you to temporarily stay in Québec, you must re-register for health insurance when this document expires or your situation changes.

This includes the following situations:

• My study or work permit has expired and I have obtained a new one.
• I was eligible for health insurance as a student and I have obtained a work permit.
• I held a work permit and I have become a permanent resident.
• I last applied for a Health Insurance Card as a foreign national authorized to file an application for permanent residence in Canada. I became a permanent resident.

Follow the procedure to re-register for health insurance by selecting the situation that applies to you based on your most recent immigration document.

I am back in Québec after a prolonged absence

To remain eligible for health insurance, you must comply with the rules concerning your presence in Québec as they apply to your situation. In general, you may lose your eligibility if you are outside Québec for 183 days or more in the same calendar year. The number of days of absence varies if you are a newcomer, a worker or a student temporarily staying in Québec.

If your absence was temporary (studies, work, holidays, 7-year provision), you must renew your card even if you lost your eligibility during this period. You will receive a renewal notice to the address on file for you at RAMQ.

If you have settled outside Québec, you must re-register for health insurance.

To check the duration of your absence from Québec and the possible consequences on your eligibility, use the Absence from Québec calculation tool.