Legal Clinics
Centre de justice de proximité du Grand Montréal – CJP (514-227-3782, option 4)
Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9am–5pm
The CJP of Greater Montreal provides free legal information in English on general immigration law matters. The lawyers on staff only provide legal information, not specific advice. They are currently taking questions only by telephone or video calls.
Visit CJP website for more detailed information.
The CJP of Greater Montreal provides free legal information in English on general immigration law matters. The lawyers on staff only provide legal information, not specific advice. They are currently taking questions only by telephone or video calls.
Visit CJP website for more detailed information.
Head & Hands – H&H (514-481-0277)(info@headandhands.ca)
Opening Hours: Monday & Friday, 12–5pm; Wednesday & Thursday, 12–6pm
The H&H offers free legal advice in many areas, including immigration, for youth between 12 to 25 years old. Clients over the age of 25 are encouraged to make a $20 donation.
Visit the H&H website for more information on their Legal Programs and Services.
Legal Information Clinic at McGill – LICM (514-398-6792)
Opening Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 9am–5pm; Tuesday & Thursday 11am–7pm; Friday 9am–3pm
Operated by law students, this legal clinic can answer various questions on immigration procedures.
The Clinic provides the public with the option to register to attend Know Your Rights information sessions on many areas of law, including immigration (announcements made on their social media pages).
Visit the LICM website for more information.
Mile End Legal Clinic – MELC (514-507-3054)
Opening Hours: Wednesday, 4–7pm
The MELC offers free legal assistance in lots of areas, including immigration. First consultation is usually with a law student providing legal information.
Follow-up consultations may be with a volunteer lawyer who can give specific advice to the client, though the MELC does not represent clients at the TAL.
NOTE: the Park Extension Legal Clinic (open Monday, 3–6pm) and Tyndale St-Georges Legal Clinic (Monday, 6–7pm) are also affiliated with the MELC.
Visit the MELC website for more information.
Visit the MELC website for more information.
YWCA Legal Information Clinic - YLIC (514-866-9941, ext. 293)(infojuridique@ydesfemmesmtl.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm
The YLIC offers women legal information in various domains. They also can help in finding employment and long-term shelter for vulnerable women. They can also help with writing demand letters and filling out certain legal documents.
The Clinic offers each client three 30-minute sessions per year (either free or with a fee up to $20, depending on the client’s financial situation).
Visit the YLIC website for more information.
Immigration Centres & Organizations
Accueil Liaison pour arrivants – ALPA (514-255-3900)(info@alpaong.com)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday 8am–4pm
ALPA helps newcomers acquire important documents upon their arrival in Quebec (such as RAMQ, social insurance number, driver’s license, etc.) and can help them through several immigration processes, like family sponsorship or obtaining a work permit or permanent residency.
Since there are no lawyers who work on-site, ALPA cannot provide you with legal advice. They can help you in English, French and Spanish.
Visit their website for more information.
AGIR Montreal (514-255-3900)(soutien.support@agirmontreal.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday 10am–4pm (in-person meetings by appointment only)
Offers support services to LGBTQ+ migrants in Montreal. These services include social activities, group counselling, and accompaniment to help navigate language barriers when accessing government services. They can help you in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
Visit their website for more information.
Carrefour d’aide aux nouveaux arrivants – CANA (514-382-0735)(infocana@cana-montreal.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–12pm & 1–4:30pm (in-person and virtual appointments available)
CANA helps with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process, such as for work permits, family sponsorship and permanent residency.
As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice, but they can refer you to an immigration lawyer. Application costs will be charged to the client. Provides assistance in English, French and Spanish.
Visit their website for more information.
Hirondelle (514-281-2038)(communication@hirondelle.qc.ca)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (no in-person appointments due to COVID-19 except for exceptional circumstances)
Provides legal information and help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process. Focus their help mainly on newcomers who have been in Canada for less than five years and have already received the Quebec Selection Certificate.
As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice. The organization cannot assist refugee claimants. Provides assistance in English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Visit their website for more information.
Immigrant Workers Centre (514-342-2111)
Opening Hours: Monday 1–5pm; Tuesday 1–8pm; Wednesday 1–5pm; Thursday 1–8pm (In-person consultations by appointment only)
Provides legal information about employment and labour rights to immigrants and newly arrived individuals. Also offers occasional consultations with a lawyer through their referral service. Service offered in other languages besides French and English.
Visit their website for more information.
La Maisonnée aide aux immigrants – LMAI (514-271-3533)(info@lamaisonnee.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (in-person appointments available)
LMAI helps with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process, such as for study permits, refugee claims and permanent residency.
In addition, LMAI assists foreign students with have already obtained a CSQ, refugee claimants who have been in Quebec for less than one year, and permanent residency applicants who have been in Canada for less than five years. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Créole and Farsi.
Visit their website for more information (only available in French).
The Refugee Centre (514-846-0005)(info@therefugeecentre.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm
Offers a variety of support options and services for refugees and immigrants based in and around Montreal, including:
Business development;
Language classes;
Web development and coding courses;
Academic assistance;
Cultural and Social orientation;
Health and Wellness support; and
Legal aid services.
Language classes;
Web development and coding courses;
Academic assistance;
Cultural and Social orientation;
Health and Wellness support; and
Legal aid services.
The Refugee Centre can also help newcomers fill in documents needed to apply for a CSQ, or permanent residency. They also offer help to asylum seekers applying for refugee status, and in certain circumstances, can offer legal support when submitting applications to be Immigration and Refugee Board. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, among other languages.
Visit their website for more information and to book an appointment.
Services communautaires aux réfugiés et immigrants - CSRI (514-387-4477)(info@migrantmontreal.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (in-person appointments available)
CSRI provides help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process.
Though the organization has no lawyer on-site and cannot offer legal advice, CSRI personnel can refer you to an immigration or refugee lawyer. Provides assistance in English, French and Spanish.
Visit their website for more information.
YES Employment and Entrepreneurship (514-878-9788)(info@yesmontreal.ca)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
Provides guidance to help English-speaking newcomers aged between 18 to 40 find jobs in Quebec. Services include CV and Cover Letter translation, French-language courses, employment counselling and career mentorship, and other workshops. Most are completely free, while some have a nominal fee.
Visit their website for more information.
Help Lines
Emergency Lawyer Immigration (1-866-954-3525)
Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, every day of the week
Created by the Barreau du Québec, this telephone service can get into immediate contact with an immigration lawyer to assist you with any immigration-related emergencies.
Assistance for Ukrainians Newly Arrived in Quebec
The following organizations can help Ukrainian refugees or asylum seekers settle in Quebec. Among the guidance they provide, they can help with finding housing, obtaining a work permit, or helping to enroll your child in school (as well as determing if your child qualifies to attend English-language school under humanitarian grounds).
To enroll your child in school in Quebec, you will need to present proof of your CUAET (Canadian-Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel) to the local school board or school service centre. For more information, click here.
To enroll your child in school in Quebec, you will need to present proof of your CUAET (Canadian-Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel) to the local school board or school service centre. For more information, click here.
Hirondelle (514-281-2038)(communication@hirondelle.qc.ca)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (no in-person appointments due to COVID-19 except for exceptional circumstances)
Provides legal information and help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process. Focus their help mainly on newcomers who have been in Canada for less than five years and have already received the Quebec Selection Certificate. They also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds.
As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice. The organization cannot assist refugee claimants. Provides assistance in English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Visit their website for more information.
Provides legal information and help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process. Focus their help mainly on newcomers who have been in Canada for less than five years and have already received the Quebec Selection Certificate. They also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds.
As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice. The organization cannot assist refugee claimants. Provides assistance in English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Visit their website for more information.
Immigrant and Refugee Assistance Centre (514-856-3511)(info@caci-bc.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–9:30pm
This Montreal-based organization provides many support options and services for refugees and immigrants, including:
Finding housing and daycare;
Language and integration classes; and
Emplyment assistance.
Language and integration classes; and
Emplyment assistance.
They also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, among other languages.
Visit their website for more information.
The Refugee Centre (514-846-0005)(info@therefugeecentre.org)
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm
Offers a variety of support options and services for refugees and immigrants based in and around Montreal, including:
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm
Offers a variety of support options and services for refugees and immigrants based in and around Montreal, including:
Business development;
Language classes;
Web development and coding courses;
Academic assistance;
Cultural and Social orientation;
Health and Wellness support; and
Legal aid services.
Language classes;
Web development and coding courses;
Academic assistance;
Cultural and Social orientation;
Health and Wellness support; and
Legal aid services.
The Refugee Centre can also help newcomers fill in documents needed to apply for a CSQ, or permanent residency.
Business development;
Language classes;
Web development and coding courses;
Academic assistance;
Cultural and Social orientation;
Health and Wellness support; and
Legal aid services.
Language classes;
Web development and coding courses;
Academic assistance;
Cultural and Social orientation;
Health and Wellness support; and
Legal aid services.
The Refugee Centre can also help newcomers fill in documents needed to apply for a CSQ, or permanent residency. They also offer help to asylum seekers applying for refugee status, and in certain circumstances, can offer legal support when submitting applications to be Immigration and Refugee Board.
As part of their orientation services, they also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, among other languages.
Visit their website for more information and to book an appointment.
Éducaloi
This neutral non-profit provides information on a wide variety of legal topics, including the rights and responsibilities of newcomers.
Its printable guide, Immigration Status and Social Services, has information for newcomers about public services available to them.
Éducaloi's website also has a page devoted to the rights of LGBTQ+ newcomers.
Its printable guide, Immigration Status and Social Services, has information for newcomers about public services available to them.
Éducaloi's website also has a page devoted to the rights of LGBTQ+ newcomers.
