AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
The RAMQ says that for people settling in Quebec, coverage usually begins after a waiting period of up to 3 months that starts on the date you register, provided you are in Quebec and have all the required documents. Children under 18 do not wait, and some care is free during the wait: pregnancy-related care, care for victims of violence or sexual assault, and treatment of infectious diseases that affect public health.
Quebec runs its own health insurance plan through the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Its waiting period works differently from other provinces in one important way: the clock starts when you register, not when you arrive. For Nigerians moving to Montreal, Quebec City or Gatineau, registering in the first days is the single most useful thing you can do.
How the wait works
RAMQ's eligibility page says coverage usually begins after a maximum of 3 months from registration, and the waiting period "begins on the date of your registration" if you are in Quebec and have all required documents. It applies even to Canadian citizens moving to Quebec.
| Example | Registered | Coverage starts (up to) |
|---|---|---|
| Registers in week one | 5 September | About 5 December |
| Waits a month to register | 5 October | About 5 January |
The examples show the cost of delay: a month spent before registering is a month added to the time you are uninsured. RAMQ's registration page currently states a processing time of 60 working days, so your card may arrive later than you expect; the start of the wait is still tied to your registration date.
Who does not wait
- Children under 18.
- People arriving from a country with a social security agreement with Quebec. Check RAMQ's list; we did not see Nigeria named on the pages we read.
- Refugees and protected persons in Canada.
- Canadians repatriated by the government.
- Recipients of last-resort financial assistance.
- Certain fellowship recipients of Quebec's education ministries, and some seasonal agricultural workers from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador.
What is free during the wait
RAMQ limits free care during the waiting period to three situations: care for victims of violence or sexual assault, pregnancy-related care, and treatment of infectious diseases affecting public health. Everything else is at your cost or your private insurer's.
Who can register at all
| Situation | What RAMQ says |
|---|---|
| Permanent resident settling in Quebec | Eligible; waiting period applies unless exempt |
| Temporary worker | Eligible with an eligible work permit valid for more than 6 months, and no absence of more than 21 consecutive days |
| Open work permit holder | Ineligible, with some exceptions |
| Student | Eligible only if from a country with a social security agreement with Quebec |
| Asylum claimant | Ineligible; may be covered by the Interim Federal Health Program |
Spouses on an open work permit should check the exceptions carefully, since the general rule excludes them. Students from Nigeria should assume they need private or school insurance unless RAMQ confirms otherwise.
Steps on arrival
- Register with RAMQ as soon as you are in Quebec, using the form for your situation ("settling in or returning to Québec", or "in Québec temporarily to study, work or do an internship").
- Each family member completes their own form with their own documents.
- Keep proof of the date you registered.
- Buy private insurance to cover the wait; see private insurance for the waiting period.
- Once covered, look for a family doctor through RAMQ's finder.
Moving from another province
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident moving to Quebec from another province, RAMQ says the home province still covers you during the first waiting period of up to 3 months, under interprovincial agreements. People who come to work in Quebec for 12 months or less stay covered by their home province; if the contract is longer, they must register with RAMQ.
Keeping coverage once you have it
RAMQ's presence rule says people settled in Quebec must not be absent for 183 days or more, consecutive or not, in a calendar year. Departure and return days, and absences of 21 consecutive days or less, are not counted. If you break the rule, RAMQ says you lose eligibility for the whole year of absence and must repay services received that year. Exceptions may apply, so check before a long stay abroad.
If you are pregnant or arriving with a newborn
Because RAMQ treats pregnancy-related care as free during the waiting period and children under 18 do not wait, Quebec is more forgiving than many provinces for young families. Register every family member on arrival and keep proof of the dates; a baby born in Quebec still needs to be registered.
For the other early task on arrival, see the SAAQ licence rules. To compare provinces, read the B.C. MSP wait.
Where Pryme fits
If you spend part of the year in Nigeria, tracking days matters. The Pryme Personal Assistant can keep reminders for you, and your naira savings stay in the same app as your other currencies.
Questions people ask
How long is the RAMQ waiting period?
RAMQ says coverage usually begins after a maximum of 3 months from the date you register, if you are in Quebec and have all documents.
Do children wait for RAMQ coverage?
No. RAMQ says the waiting period does not apply to children under 18.
Is pregnancy covered during the RAMQ waiting period?
Yes. RAMQ lists pregnancy-related care among the services free during the waiting period.
Can a work permit holder get RAMQ?
Yes, with an eligible work permit valid for more than 6 months. Open work permit holders are generally ineligible, with exceptions.
Sources
- RAMQ: Know the eligibility conditions for health insurance · accessed Oct 2026
- RAMQ: Register for the Health Insurance Plan · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.