Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Montreal

Arrival at the airport and issuance of your IEC permit

The Montréal-Trudeau airport is an average size for an airport, so it’s difficult to get lost and everything is well signposted. After getting off the plane, if you’re here for an IEC work or study permit, your first step is to get the permit! We detail this process in The arrivals process and your first steps in Canada.

The time it takes depends on how long you have to wait for your turn at the automated kiosks, and then how long the queue is in the immigration office.

How to get from the airport to downtown Montreal

By taxi, it costs around CA$50 to get into the heart of Montreal. There are also rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, which serve the airport.

Public transport is the more economical option. The regular bus line 747 of the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) takes you between the airport, Lionel-Groulx and Berri-UQAM metro stations and the Gare d’Autocars de Montréal. This trip costs CA$11 for a 24-hour ticket.

If you pay on the bus, you have to pay in coins and have the exact fare; change will not be given. You can also pay for your ticket with your bank card at an STM ATM at the airport. If you plan to stay in Montreal for a while, you can buy a weekly or monthly pass on an OPUS card.

If Montreal is not your final destination and you have a bus connection, the bus station is at Berri-UQAM station.

Getting started in Montreal

In chronological order, here are the tasks you’ll want to complete before you can settle down in your new home:

1. Social Insurance Number (SIN)

We detail the procedure of how to obtain your SIN in Getting your Canadian Social Insurance Number. You will need a SIN before you can legally start working.

2. Open a bank account

With your SIN secured, you can now open a bank account. This will be necessary to make purchases with a local bank card and to be able to receive payments from any future employer!

In Quebec, Desjardins bank is present on almost every street corner. Take a look at our partnership with them, offering newcomers to Canada a free transaction plan for two years.

You may also want to open up a bank account before arriving in Canada. Pvtistes has a great deal with National Bank of Canada; open your account online and you’ll receive $100 cashback plus three years of no-fee banking.

Ultimately, there are many banks available and it’s up to you to choose the one that best suits your needs.

3. Buy a telephone plan

Once you have a bank account sorted, you’ll be able to buy a Canadian SIM or mobile phone plan and get your Canadian phone number. This Canadian number will be extremely important for applying for jobs, as most employers want to see evidence you are already in Canada.

4. Register at the consulate

Not obligatory but recommended! Many countries encourage their citizens to register with the local embassy or consulate abroad. This is a free service that can come in handy in case of emergency, at home or in Canada. Check whether you need to show up in person or complete the process online.

5. Sign up to language classes

Quebec is a French-speaking province! Montreal stands out a little from the rest of Quebec since it is more international, so English and other languages are more likely to be used as well.

Some jobs require you to have a good level of both English and French. If you need practice in either French or English, you may want to consider a language course to increase your chances of finding a job.