How to apply for EI in Quebec (2026 step-by-step)
Employment Insurance (EI) is federal — but in Quebec, several services route through Services Québec, and that confuses most first-time applicants. Here's the cleanest path.
Before you apply
You need: your SIN, your Record of Employment (ROE — your employer files this with Service Canada, you don't), banking info for direct deposit, and the dates and reasons for your separation.
You can apply as soon as you stop working — do not wait for the ROE. Service Canada accepts the claim and matches the ROE when it arrives.
Applying online
Apply at Canada.ca/EI. The form takes ~60 minutes. Use the official site only — third-party 'EI help' sites are a common scam.
If you've worked in Quebec exclusively, your premiums went to the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) for parental benefits but to federal EI for regular benefits. Regular EI claims always go through Service Canada.
How long until the first payment?
There's a mandatory 1-week waiting period (unpaid). After your claim is processed (typically 14–28 days), payments arrive every 2 weeks by direct deposit.
If you don't hear back in 28 days, call 1-800-206-7218 — wait times are long, call right when lines open at 8:30 AM ET.
While receiving EI
You must file bi-weekly reports confirming you're available for work and reporting any earnings. Miss a report and payments stop until you reach Service Canada.
You can earn up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings while on EI under the Working While on Claim rules — 50% of those earnings are clawed back.
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Check what you qualify forFrequently asked
Can I get EI if I was fired?
Yes, unless you were dismissed for serious misconduct. Quit-with-cause situations (harassment, unsafe work, major schedule change) typically qualify. Service Canada decides case by case.
How much will I get?
55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a 2026 maximum of about $695/week. Lower-income families with children may get up to 80%.
Do I need to be a Canadian citizen?
No — permanent residents and most work-permit holders qualify if they have enough insurable hours (typically 420–700 depending on regional unemployment).