Immigration to Quebec

The Province of Quebec runs its own immigration programs with selection criteria that differ from those of federal immigration programs and other provincial immigration programs.

The Quebec Department of Immigration (MIDI) selects the candidates who are most likely to successfully settle in Quebec.

Foreign nationals who wish to permanently settle in Quebec must undergo a two-step immigration process:

  1. They must be selected by Ministère de l’immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) which is the Immigration Authority of Quebec.

Selected applicants will receive a Certificate of Quebec Selection (CSQ). This is an official document issued by the Immigration Authorities of Quebec to prove that the candidate has been selected by the province. But it is not a visa, so it cannot be used to enter Canada.

According to the regulations of August 2, 2018, CSQ is valid for a period of 24 months or until a decision is made by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding the application for a permanent residence visa.

  1. An accredited CSQ holder must submit a permanent residence application to IRCC within 24 months since the date the CSQ was issued.

The federal government’s role in assessing Quebec’s application for permanent residency is mainly limited to health and criminality issues.

At this point, an application will be submitted to IRCC, including police certificates and medical exams, upon request.

What programs does Quebec run?

Currently, candidates who wish to settle in Quebec can apply for the CSQ in one of the following categories:

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Quebec Skilled Worker Program

This program identifies and selects candidates who are likely to prove themselves economically in the province of Quebec. These are workers whose skills respond to the needs of the special district market and make it easy for them to find work.

Quebec bases its selection on a network of factors, for which points are awarded, namely education, work experience, knowledge of language, age, children, spouse characteristics and financial independence.

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Business immigration to Quebec

Wealthy individuals can think of any business program in Quebec, and they are: investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed people.

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Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

Another program available for those candidates who already live, work or study in Quebec is called the Quebec Experience Program – PEQ. Eligible candidates can apply for the CSQ under an expedited process. There are two streams available: Quebec graduate and Temporary Foreign Worker.

Quebec Business immigration

The government of Quebec chooses wealthy individuals and business-persons who wish to obtain permanent residency in Canada and settle in the province.

After their application is accepted, successful candidates will receive a Certificate of Selection of Quebec (CSQ) and be able to submit a permanent residence application to the federal government.

Candidates may be eligible to apply within one of the three business immigration categories:

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Quebec Immigrant Investor Program

1- Proof of a personal net worth of no less than $ 2 million that was obtained legally through conducting business or holding a high-level management position in a private company, government, or non-governmental organization.

2- Proof of the following:

A) Owned and operating a company for two years in the previous five years, or
B) Held a high-level management position for two years in the last five years in a private company, government or NGO.
C) Invest $ 1.2 million in passive investment guaranteed by the government for a period of five years and get no interest. Applicants may finance their investment.

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Quebec Immigrant Business and Entrepreneur Program

This program aims to recruit individuals who have the skills and experience necessary to run a business in a province. The program was renewed in 2018 and now operates in two streams:

1) The first stream is the creation of a company in Quebec with support from a business accelerator, incubator, or entrepreneurship centre at the university.

2) The second current is represented in establishing or buying an existing company, which the businessman must control by at least 25% if it is a new establishment, or at least 51% from a company that has been acquired.

Under the second stream, the nominated businessman must invest $ 200,000 starting funds for a business outside the Montreal metropolitan area, or $ 300,000 for a business located in the Montreal metropolitan area. A security deposit of a minimum of $ 200,000 is also required, which can be refunded upon realization of the project.

The candidate must prove that he / she has earned net worth of CAD $ 900,000, legally, alone or with his / her spouse if applicable.

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Quebec Self-Employed Program for Immigrants

To qualify under the Quebec Self-Employed Program, applicants must meet the following conditions that distinguish them from the Quebec Skilled Worker Program:

  1. Two years’ experience in self-employment, in the profession or trade they intend to do in Quebec.
  2. Possessing a net worth of CAD 100,000 in person, either alone or with an accompanying spouse or partner under common law.
  3. To register a start-up deposit of no less than $50,000 if the self-employed candidate is located in the Montreal metropolitan area and $25,000 if the candidate is located outside of Montreal.

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Additional Requirements

All job candidates are also evaluated according to different selection factors and should receive minimum points based on their education, work experience, age, language proficiency, business plan and / or investment, relations with Quebec, etc.

Candidates must also demonstrate intent to reside in Quebec.

Annual intake periods and numerical quotas are imposed by immigration authorities. In the case of investors, the regional quotas are also applicable.

However, candidates who demonstrate that they have advanced intermediate knowledge of French (by submitting the results of the French language test for B2 level in speaking and listening) can apply at any time and are not subject to any cap.

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Owner - Operator instructions

Foreign investors – business owners, who want to move to Canada, should consider obtaining a well-established business in Canada, and apply for a work visa as an administrative employee. The federal policies governing new employers under the temporary foreign workers program are receiving much attention.

Skilled Worker Immigration to Quebec

The Province of Quebec operates its own immigration programs with selection criteria that are distinct and more predictable than those of federal and other provincial immigration programs.

Foreign nationals wishing to settle permanently in Quebec must undergo a two-step immigration process:

1- They must be selected by the Department of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI) which is the Immigration Authority of Quebec. Selected applicants will receive a Certificate of Quebec Selection (CSQ).

2- The approved CSQ holder must submit an application to the Canadian Federal Immigration Authorities. The federal government’s role in assessing Quebec’s application for permanent residency is mainly limited to health and criminality issues.

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Expression of Interest

As of August 2018, MIDI implemented the Express of Interest (EOI) system, in an effort to simplify their application process.

Interested candidates are now invited to declare their interest in immigration to Quebec by submitting an online profile to the Expression of Interest Bank of Quebec (EOIB).

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Arrima Portal

The new system, the Arrima portal, is intended for individuals interested in immigrating to Quebec under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and has effectively terminated the application process under the “first come first served” principle.

The Arrima portal remains open throughout the year and candidates can submit an EOI at any time for free.

Anyone who meets the age requirement, and is 18, can submit an EOI Profile online.

According to MIDI, the selection of candidates from EOI Bank will be based on criteria that define a person’s profile in terms of employability and contribution to the vitality of the French language.

More specifically, the invitations are based on 3 main categories:

1- Human capital (age, French language proficiency, level of education, etc.)

2- Ability to find a job in Quebec (obtain a verified job offer, obtain a degree in Quebec, or obtain temporary worker status with at least 6 months work experience in Quebec)

3- Changing the needs of the labor market (training areas related to areas suffering from shortage of labor)

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program aims to select the candidates with the highest likelihood of a successful economic settlement.

Applicants from outside Canada, who do not have advanced intermediate French ability, have the best chances to qualify under Quebec laws if their profession is in great demand in Quebec.

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Mon Projet Quebec portal

Candidates invited to apply for the CSQ will be directed to a secure space in the Mon Projet Quebec portal.

They will be able to complete and submit their application and pay the required processing fee within 90 days. Candidates can also track the status of their applications.

When MIDI is ready to process the application, it will issue a custom document checklist.

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Network check

At this stage, applicants must ensure they meet the pass scores within the selection network.

For one candidate, the recruitment limit is 43 points. Here, the credentials considered such as age, education, work experience, visits, family in Quebec, language proficiency, and a job offer.

Then bonus points are awarded for the presence of children and financial independence. A selective score of 50 points is required to qualify under the QSWP.

When a candidate has a husband / wife, some of his / her credentials are also taken into account: age, education, and French proficiency. Cut scores are also higher, 52 points below the employment limit and 59 points below the selection limit.

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Submitting Documents

The required documents must be submitted within 90 days of receiving the custom checklist.

MIDI imposes certain formatting requirements in relation to the documents they require from candidates.

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Processing times

The processing times for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program are divided into two periods: the time required to obtain a CSQ from the Quebec immigration authorities and the time required to obtain a permanent resident visa from the federal immigration authorities.

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Application fee

The Quebec Worker Program 2018 processing fee is:

$785 for the main applicant

$168 for each accompanying dependent (husband / wife and children, if applicable)

Contact us for more information on the immigration of skilled workers to Quebec.

Find out if you qualify to enter Canada by completing our free online assessment. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

Quebec Experience Program – (PEQ)

The Government of Quebec encourages foreign workers employed in Quebec and international students who complete a post-secondary studies program in Quebec, to stay permanently in the province.

The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) is a fast, streamlined process that leads to permanent residency for both categories of applicants. The program allows international students and temporary foreign workers to apply for permanent residency from within Quebec, after completing a period of qualified work or approved studies.

A series of changes to PEQ requirements were made on July 22, 2020. There is also a series of transitional measures in place for some candidates who were already in Quebec when the requirements were changed.

Quebec Experience Program for Students:

To be eligible, students must have studied in Quebec full-time and have completed one of the following types of diplomas:

  • Diploma in Professional Studies (Diplôme d’Études Professionelles), which includes 1800 credit hours.
  • DVS followed by a professional specialization certificate (Attestation de spécialisation professionnelle), with a total of 1800 credit hours.
  • University Studies Diploma, Technical Training (Diplôme d’Études Collégiales technology).
  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • Master’s degree (and Master of Business Administration). Or,
  • PhD.

The diploma or degree must be awarded by a university or public educational institution located in Quebec and recognized by the government. Also, the international student must have lived in Quebec for at least half of the duration of the study program.

In addition, the student must have obtained the following work experience:
Holders of a technical college diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate:

  • Minimum of 12 months’ full-time work experience after the end of the course in a position at NOC level 0, A, or B level.
  • Hold a full-time position at NOC level 0, A, or B at the time of application.
  • Work experience gained through full-time or part-time training may be recognized as part of the course with a maximum of three months.

Holders of a professional studies diploma only or with a professional specialty certificate:

  • At least 18 months full-time work experience after the completion of the course in a position at NOC level 0, A, B, or C.
  • Hold a full-time position at NOC level 0, A, B, or C at the time of application.
  • Work experience at NOC 0, A, or B level does not have to be associated with the program of study.
  • Work experience at NOC C level must be related to the diploma obtained in Quebec.
  • Work experience gained through full-time or part-time training may be recognized as part of the course with a maximum of three months.

In addition, the international student must possess intermediate and advanced knowledge of oral French. The student can prove his knowledge of French through one of the following procedures:

  • He must have completed one of the above-mentioned programs in the French language.
  • He must have studied the French language on a full-time basis for at least three years in a secondary or post-secondary educational institution.
  • He must have passed a recognized French test, such as Test d’évaluation de français, among others.
  • He must have fulfilled the language requirements of a professional order system in Quebec.

Students may submit their applications for permanent selection under the PEQ – Quebec alumni stream, from within Quebec or from abroad, upon completion of their program of study.

Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Workers:

Candidates must meet all of the Quebec Experience Program requirements when applying

Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Foreign Workers:

Requirements

  • Intention to settle and work in Quebec.
  • Live and work legally in Quebec.
  • Be a legal temporary foreign worker in Quebec or as part of a youth exchange program.
  • Hold a full-time position at NOC level 0, A, or B upon application.
  • Have held a full-time position at NOC level 0, A, or B for at least 24 of the 36 months prior to application.
  • Demonstrate oral knowledge of the French language with at least 7 of the “Quebec Levels of French Language Proficiency Scale for Adult Immigrants” or its equivalent.
  • Commitment to meet the basic needs and, when necessary, the needs of the spouse or partner and dependent children mentioned in the application, for a period of not less than 3 months.
  • Be at least 18 years old and have a valid passport
  • Passing the Quebec Values ​​Test within the specified deadlines (including spouse and children of 18 years or over).

Processing priority

Under the PEQ program, selection decisions are made only from the information and documentary evidence presented in the file, and this is not a point-based program.

The target processing time for the program is 6 months.

Once the CSQ is issued, the applicant will apply for permanent residency to the federal government to conclude health, security, and related matters.

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