Moving to Montreal Checklist: What to Do in Your First 30 Days
Landing in a new city is a sequencing problem. Do things in the wrong order and you'll find yourself unable to open a bank account because you have no address, unable to sign a lease because you have no bank account, and unable to get a phone plan because you have neither. Here is the order that actually works for Montreal, week by week — plus the September timing note that matters if you're arriving for the school year.
Solve step one before you fly: a furnished all-inclusive room from C$160/week at Coliville gives you an address on day one, with no Canadian credit history required — which unlocks everything else on this list.
Before You Arrive
1. Lock your housing. This is the keystone. An address unlocks banking, health coverage, and phone plans. Book something for at least your first month before you land — hunting for an apartment while jet-lagged and homeless is how people end up signing bad leases. Our Montreal housing guide covers all the options.
2. Gather documents. Passport, visa/permit, acceptance or job offer letter, birth certificate, and — if you have one — an international driver's licence. Keep digital copies in cloud storage.
3. Book a landing buffer. If your housing starts a few days after arrival, book a short stay rather than compressing everything into day one.
Week 1: The Foundations
Get a SIN (Social Insurance Number). Free, and you cannot legally work without it. Apply online through Service Canada or in person at a Service Canada Centre — bring your passport and permit. Turnaround is usually immediate in person.
Open a bank account. Big five (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC) plus Desjardins, which is the Quebec institution and often the smoothest locally. Newcomer packages typically waive fees for the first year. Bring passport, permit, and proof of address.
Get a phone plan. Canadian mobile pricing is genuinely bad; Fizz (Quebec-based) and Public Mobile are the budget escapes at $25–$40/month. Most require a credit check or a prepaid option — prepaid first, postpaid later once you have credit.
Start your health coverage. Register for RAMQ (Quebec health insurance) immediately — there's a waiting period of up to three months for many newcomers, so the clock starts when you register, not when you arrive. International students are usually covered through their university plan instead; check which applies to you.
Week 2: Settling In
Get an OPUS card. The transit card for the STM. Monthly pass is $102.50, or $58.75 reduced for students under 25. Load it at any metro station. If you're arriving April–November, a BIXI seasonal pass ($99) is the best value in the city.
Learn your neighborhood. Find your closest metro station, grocery store, pharmacy, and — this is Montreal — your café. Our best neighborhoods guide helps if you're still choosing.
Register with your consulate if your country recommends it.
Start building Canadian credit — today. Get a secured credit card from your new bank, use it for small purchases, pay it in full monthly. In 6–12 months you'll have a usable score, which removes the single biggest obstacle to renting a conventional apartment later. Our no-credit renting guide explains why this matters so much.
Week 3–4: Making It Real
Sort out longer-term housing — if your first month was a landing pad, you now know the city well enough to choose properly. Or extend where you are if it's working.
Explore beyond your neighborhood. Jean-Talon and Atwater markets, the Plateau, Old Montreal, Mount Royal. The city rewards wandering.
Meet people. This is the part nobody puts on a checklist and everybody struggles with. Housemates are the easiest default social circle in a new city — one underrated argument for shared housing over a solo studio in your first year.
French. You'll manage in English in most central neighborhoods, but even basic French changes how the city treats you. Free courses are available through the Quebec government (Francisation) for permanent residents and some temporary residents.
The Order Matters — Here's Why
| Step | Unlocked by | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | (book from abroad) | Address → everything else |
| SIN | Passport + permit | Legal work, banking |
| Bank account | Address + SIN | Phone postpaid, rent payments |
| Phone | Bank/credit | Everything practical |
| RAMQ | Address | Health coverage (after waiting period) |
| Credit card | Bank account | Future apartment applications |
The dependency chain always starts with an address. That's why "book housing before you fly" is the first line of this guide and not the last.
The September Timing Note
If you're arriving for the fall semester or a September start, August is the tight window. Montreal's rental market is picked over after the July 1 Moving Day, and student demand peaks right now. Two implications:
- Don't wait until you land to find housing — book from abroad.
- Flexible furnished rooms are the realistic option this late in the season; conventional leases have largely been claimed. Our student housing guide covers university-specific timing.
What to Budget for Month One
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| First month's rent (no deposit — illegal in Quebec) | $693–$1,000 |
| Groceries + eating out | $400–$500 |
| OPUS pass | $59–$103 |
| Phone setup | $40–$60 |
| Winter gear (if arriving Sept–Nov) | $300–$500 one-time |
| Buffer | $500 |
Full ongoing numbers are in our cost of living guide.
FAQ
What's the first thing to do when moving to Montreal? Secure housing — ideally before you arrive. Everything else in the setup chain requires an address.
Do I need a Canadian bank account before I arrive? No, but you'll want one within your first week. Some banks let you start the application from abroad.
Is a security deposit required to rent in Montreal? No — security deposits are illegal in Quebec. Only the first month's rent can be collected in advance. Anyone demanding a deposit is breaking the law or scamming you.
How long does RAMQ take? Up to three months' waiting period for many newcomers. Register the week you arrive and consider private coverage for the gap.
The Bottom Line
Moving to Montreal is straightforward if you respect the sequence: housing first, then SIN, then bank, then everything else. Book your room before you fly, register for RAMQ the week you land, and start building credit immediately. The city is genuinely one of the best places in North America to be new — the setup just needs to happen in the right order.
Start with step one: Coliville — furnished rooms from C$160/week, everything included, no Canadian credit, bookable before you land.