Quebec has a distinct real estate closing process from the rest of Canada — notaries instead of lawyers, welcome tax instead of land transfer tax, and certificates of location instead of surveys. Here is everything you need to budget for.
Quebec welcome tax (droits de mutation)
The welcome tax is Quebec’s equivalent of land transfer tax, paid on every property purchase. The base provincial scale (2026, indexed annually) has three tiers, and the 1.5% top rate continues indefinitely unless the local municipality has separately passed a bylaw adding higher marginal rates above $500,000:
| Property Value Portion | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| First $62,900 | 0.50% |
| $62,901 to $315,000 | 1.00% |
| Over $315,000 (standard, most municipalities) | 1.50% |
Municipalities may pass a bylaw charging a higher marginal rate (up to 3%) on the portion above $500,000; Montreal is exempt from that 3% cap and uses its own multi-tier schedule below.
Welcome tax examples (base rate — most municipalities)
| Purchase Price | Welcome Tax Calculation | Total Welcome Tax |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | ($62.9K × 0.5%) + ($237.1K × 1.0%) | $2,686 |
| $400,000 | ($62.9K × 0.5%) + ($252.1K × 1.0%) + ($85K × 1.5%) | $4,111 |
| $500,000 | ($62.9K × 0.5%) + ($252.1K × 1.0%) + ($185K × 1.5%) | $5,611 |
| $600,000 | Above + ($100K × 1.5%) | $7,111 |
| $700,000 | Above + ($100K × 1.5%) | $8,611 |
| $1,000,000 | Above + ($300K × 1.5%) | $13,111 |
These figures assume the base rate. If your municipality has adopted a supplementary bylaw rate above $500,000 (common in larger cities), your tax on higher-value homes will be more — confirm the local rate with your notary or municipality.
Montreal’s rate schedule (2026)
Montreal is the only municipality permitted to exceed the 3% cap that applies to other municipalities charging above the base rate. Its full 2026 schedule:
| Property Value Portion | Montreal Rate |
|---|---|
| First $62,900 | 0.50% |
| $62,901 to $315,000 | 1.00% |
| $315,001 to $552,300 | 1.50% |
| $552,301 to $1,104,700 | 2.00% |
| $1,104,701 to $2,136,500 | 2.50% |
| $2,136,501 to $3,113,000 | 3.50% |
| Over $3,113,000 | 4.00% |
Quebec-specific closing costs
Quebec has several costs that differ from the rest of Canada:
Notary fees (instead of lawyer fees)
In Quebec, notaries handle real estate closings — not lawyers. Notary fees cover:
- Title examination (no title insurance used in Quebec)
- Deed of sale preparation and registration
- Mortgage deed preparation (hypothec)
- Publication of rights at the Land Registry
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Notary fees (purchase) | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Notary fees (mortgage — hypothec) | $500–$1,000 |
| Land Registry publication fees | $200–$400 |
| Total notarial costs | $2,200–$3,900 |
Certificate of location
A certificate of location is Quebec’s equivalent of a survey. It includes a plan of the property showing boundaries, buildings, easements, and encroachments.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who provides it | Seller (typically) |
| Cost if seller needs a new one | $1,500–$2,000 |
| Validity | Must be less than 10 years old AND reflect current state of property |
| If no valid certificate exists | Buyer can negotiate who pays for a new one, or accept cost |
QST on CMHC insurance
Quebec charges 9% QST on CMHC insurance premiums (a specific insurance-premium tax rate, not the general 9.975% QST rate) — the highest provincial tax rate on mortgage insurance:
| Mortgage Amount | CMHC Premium (5% down) | QST (9%) | Total Insurance Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $380,000 | $15,200 | $1,368 | $16,568 |
| $475,000 | $19,000 | $1,710 | $20,710 |
| $570,000 | $22,800 | $2,052 | $24,852 |
QST must be paid in cash at closing — it cannot be added to the mortgage.
Complete Quebec closing cost estimate
Scenario 1: $450,000 home in Montreal (first-time buyer, 10% down)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Welcome tax | $4,861 |
| First-time buyer welcome tax credit (2026, full reimbursement since under $5,000) | –$4,861 |
| Notary fees (purchase + mortgage) | $2,500 |
| Land Registry publication | $300 |
| Certificate of location (if seller provides) | $0 |
| Home inspection | $500 |
| Property tax adjustment | $1,500 |
| QST on CMHC premium (9% × $12,555) | $1,130 |
| Home insurance | $1,800 |
| Moving costs | $2,000 |
| Total closing costs | $9,730 |
Scenario 2: $350,000 condo in Quebec City (first-time buyer, 5% down)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Welcome tax | $3,361 |
| First-time buyer welcome tax credit (2026, full reimbursement since under $5,000) | –$3,361 |
| Notary fees | $2,000 |
| Land Registry publication | $250 |
| Home inspection | $400 |
| Condo contingency fund certificate | $100 |
| Property tax adjustment | $1,000 |
| QST on CMHC premium (9% × $13,300) | $1,197 |
| Home insurance | $1,200 |
| Moving costs | $1,500 |
| Total closing costs | $7,647 |
Scenario 3: $700,000 home in Laval (repeat buyer, 20% down)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Welcome tax | $8,611 (base rate; Laval may charge more if it has a supplementary bylaw above $500K — confirm with your notary) |
| Notary fees | $2,800 |
| Land Registry publication | $350 |
| Home inspection | $550 |
| Certificate of location review | $0 (seller provides) |
| Property tax adjustment | $2,000 |
| QST on CMHC | $0 (20% down) |
| Home insurance | $2,400 |
| Moving costs | $3,000 |
| Total closing costs | $19,711 |
Quebec vs Ontario closing cost comparison
| Cost ($500K Home) | Quebec | Ontario | Ontario + Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | $5,611 | $6,475 | $12,950 |
| First-time buyer savings (2026) | ~$5,153 | $4,000 | $8,475 |
| Legal/notary | $2,500 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Title insurance | N/A (not used) | $400 | $400 |
| PST/QST on CMHC (10% down) | $1,256 | $1,116 | $1,116 |
| Total (first-time, 10% down) | ~$9,150 | ~$11,500 | ~$14,500 |
| Total (repeat buyer, 20%) | ~$12,900 | ~$14,500 | ~$21,000 |
Since Quebec introduced its own first-time buyer welcome tax credit in April 2026, Quebec is now cheaper than both Ontario and Toronto for eligible first-time buyers at this price point, in addition to already being cheaper than Toronto for repeat buyers. Ontario’s rebate is a flat $4,000 regardless of price, while Quebec’s credit (up to $5,875) scales with the welcome tax owed up to that cap, so the comparison shifts at different price points – run the numbers for your specific purchase price.