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Enquiries
+92 332 271 2158

Quebec Immigration

Quebec Immigration

The province of Quebec manages its own immigration programs, with distinct selection criteria compared to federal and other provincial immigration programs. The Quebec Ministry of Immigration (MIFI) selects candidates who are most likely to successfully settle in the French-speaking province. 

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

1. Selection by Quebec (MIFI)  

   Candidates must first be selected by Quebec’s immigration authority, the Ministere de I'Immigration, de la Francisation et de I'Inclusion (MIFI). Successful candidates receive a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ), an official document certifying that Quebec has selected the applicant. A CSQ is valid for 24 months or until Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes a decision on the permanent residency application. The CSQ is not a visa and cannot be used to enter Canada. 

2. Permanent Residency Application  

   After receiving a CSQ, candidates must apply for permanent residence with IRCC within 24 months. The federal government's role is mainly to assess the candidate's health and criminal background. This stage involves submitting police certificates and undergoing medical exams when requested. 

What are the programs administered by Quebec?   

Candidates who wish to settle in Quebec can apply for a CSQ through one of the following categories: 

Quebec Skilled Worker Program   

This program selects candidates likely to establish themselves economically in Quebec. It focuses on workers whose skills meet the province's labor market needs, making it easier for them to find employment. Selection is based on a points system that considers factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, age, children, spouse’s qualifications, and financial autonomy. 

Quebec Business Immigration   

Wealthy individuals may apply through Quebec’s business immigration streams, which include:

  • Investors  
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Self-employed individuals


Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)   

This program is available to candidates already living, working, or studying in Quebec. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) offers an accelerated process for obtaining a CSQ, with two available streams:

  • Quebec Graduate
  • Temporary Foreign Worker


Quebec Skilled Worker Immigration

The Province of Quebec manages its own immigration programs with distinct and more predictable selection criteria compared to federal and other provincial immigration programs.  

Foreign nationals looking to settle permanently in Quebec must follow a two-step immigration process: 

  1. Selection by the Ministere de I'Immigration, de la Diversite et de I'Inclusion (MIDI): Quebec’s immigration authority selects applicants who will then receive a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ).
  2. Application with Federal Authorities: After receiving the CSQ, the applicant must file an application with Canadian federal immigration authorities. The federal government primarily evaluates Quebec applications for permanent residence on health and criminality factors.


The Expression of Interest System 

In August 2018, MIDI introduced an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to simplify the application process. Candidates interested in immigrating to Quebec now submit an online profile to Quebec’s Expression of Interest Bank (EOIB). 

The Arrima Portal 

The new Arrima portal targets individuals interested in immigrating to Quebec under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). This portal replaces the “first come, first served” application process, remaining open year-round and allowing candidates to submit their EOI at any time, free of charge. Any individual aged 18 or older can submit an EOI profile online. 

MIDI selects candidates from the EOI bank based on three main criteria: 

  1. Human Capital: Factors such as age, French proficiency, education level, etc.
  2. Ability to Find Employment in Quebec: Considerations include having a validated job offer, earning a degree in Quebec, or temporary worker status with at least six months of work experience in Quebec.
  3. Labor Market Needs: Fields experiencing labor shortages are prioritized.

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program focuses on selecting candidates with the highest potential for economic success. Applicants outside Canada with no intermediate or advanced French skills have better chances of qualifying if their occupation is in high demand in Quebec. 

The Mon Project Quebec Portal 

Candidates invited to apply for a CSQ will use the Mon Projet Quebec portal, a secure platform where they can complete their application, pay processing fees, and track their application's progress. Candidates have 90 days to submit their application once invited. MIDI will provide a personalized checklist of required documents.


The Selection Grid 

Candidates must meet minimum scores on the selection grid to be eligible:

  • For a single candidate, the employability threshold is 43 points, which considers age, education, work experience, visits to Quebec, family in Quebec, language proficiency, and job offers.
  • Additional points can be earned for children and financial autonomy, with a total selection score of 50 points required.
  • For candidates with a spouse, certain spouse-related factors like age, education, and French proficiency are also assessed, raising the employability threshold to 52 points and the selection threshold to 59 points.


Document Submission 

Candidates must submit the required documents within 90 days of receiving the customized checklist. MIDI also imposes specific formatting requirements for these documents.


Processing Times 

Processing times for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program include two stages:

  1. The time needed to obtain a CSQ from Quebec’s immigration authorities.
  2. The time required to receive a permanent residence visa from the federal immigration authorities.


Application Fees 

As of 2018, processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program are:

  • $785 for the main applicant.
  • $168 for each accompanying dependent (spouse and children, if applicable).

For more details on Quebec immigration, you can contact us or complete a free online evaluation to check your eligibility for Canadian immigration.


Quebec Experience Class (PEQ)

The Quebec Government actively encourages international students and foreign workers in Quebec to remain in the province permanently. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) offers a simplified, expedited pathway to permanent residency for these two groups. This program allows temporary foreign workers and international students to apply for permanent residency after gaining relevant work experience or completing recognized studies in Quebec. 

Significant changes to the PEQ were introduced on July 22, 2020, along with transitional measures for certain candidates already in Quebec when the new regulations came into effect.

 Quebec Experience Program for Students: 

To qualify, students must have completed full-time studies in Quebec and earned one of the following diplomas:

  • Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) with 1,800 hours of study.
  • DVS followed by an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP), totaling 1,800 hours.
  • Diploma of College Studies in technical training (DEC technique).
  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • Master’s degree (including MBA).
  • Doctorate.

The degree or diploma must be issued by a Quebec-based university or public educational institution recognized by the government. Additionally, international students must have resided in Quebec for at least half of the duration of their study program.

Students are also required to obtain work experience as follows:

For holders of a technical college diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate:

  • At least 12 months of full-time work experience after completing the study program in a job classified under NOC level 0, A, or B.
  • Must be employed in a full-time job at NOC level 0, A, or B when applying.
  • Work experience gained through internships (full- or part-time) related to the course may count for up to three months.

For holders of a DVS, alone or with an ASP:

  • At least 18 months of full-time work experience after completing the study program in a job at NOC level 0, A, B, or C.
  • Must be employed full-time in a job at NOC level 0, A, B, or C when applying.
  • Work experience at NOC level 0, A, or B does not need to be linked to the study program, but experience at NOC level C must be related to the diploma earned in Quebec.
  • Internships (full- or part-time) related to the course may count for up to three months.

International students must also demonstrate intermediate-advanced proficiency in spoken French, which can be verified by:

  • Completing one of the aforementioned programs in French.
  • Attending a French-language institution for at least three years full-time at the secondary or post-secondary level.
  • Passing a recognized French test, such as the Test d'evaluation de francais (TEF) or others.
  • Meeting the language requirements of a professional order in Quebec.

Students can submit their application for permanent selection under the PEQ – Quebec Graduate stream either from Quebec or abroad after completing their study program.


Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Workers: 

Candidates must satisfy all the conditions of the Quebec Experience Program to be eligible. 

 

Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Foreign Workers: Eligibility Criteria:

  • A declared intention to live and work in Quebec.
  • Proof of legal residence and employment in Quebec.
  • Current legal status in Quebec as a temporary foreign worker or participant in a youth exchange program.
  • Full-time employment in a NOC level 0, A, or B job at the time of application submission.
  • At least 24 months of full-time work in a NOC level 0, A, or B job within the 36 months preceding the application.
  • Demonstrated oral proficiency in French, equivalent to level 7 on the Quebec scale of French language proficiency for adult immigrants.
  • A commitment to provide for their own basic needs and those of any accompanying family members for a minimum of three months.
  • Be at least 18 years old and possess a valid passport.
  • Successful completion of the Quebec values test for both the applicant and any family members aged 18 or older.


Priority Processing 

Applications under the PEQ program are processed based on the information and documents submitted, without a points system. The typical processing time is six months. After receiving the CSQ, the applicant applies for permanent residency with the federal government, which handles health and security checks.


Quebec Business Immigration

The Quebec government offers business people, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals the opportunity to become permanent residents of Canada and settle in Quebec. Successful applicants will be issued a Certificate of Selection of Quebec (CSQ) and can apply for permanent residency with the federal government. 

Eligible candidates can apply under one of three business immigration categories: 

 Quebec Immigrant Investor Program: 

Changes are expected to be made to the currently suspended Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. The key requirements for the previous program were: 

1. Proof of a personal net worth of at least $2 million legally obtained through business activities or a high-level management role in a private company, government, or NGO.

2. Evidence of either:

  • Ownership and management of a business for two years in the last five years, OR 
  • A high-level management position for two years in the last five years in a private company, government, or NGO.

3. An investment of $1.2 million in a passive, government-guaranteed investment for five years, with no interest. Applicants may finance this investment.


Quebec Immigrant Entrepreneur Program: 

The Quebec Entrepreneur Program aims to attract individuals with the experience and skills to operate a business in Quebec. 

 There are two streams: 

  1. First stream: Involves starting a business in Quebec with support from a business incubator, accelerator, or a university-based entrepreneurship center.
  2. Second stream: Involves starting or buying an existing business, where the entrepreneur must own at least 25% of a new business or 51% of an existing business.

Applicants must prove they legally acquired a net worth of $900,000, either individually or with their spouse.


Quebec Immigrant Self-Employed Program: 

To qualify under the Quebec Self-Employed Program, applicants must meet specific criteria different from the Quebec Skilled Worker Program:

  1. At least two years of self-employed experience in their intended occupation or trade in Quebec.
  2. A personal net worth of $100,000 CAD, either individually or with an accompanying spouse or partner.
  3. A start-up deposit of $50,000 if residing in the metropolitan area of Montreal, or $25,000 if outside Montreal.


Additional Requirements: 

Business immigration candidates are evaluated based on a variety of selection factors, such as education, work experience, age, language skills, business plan or investment, and ties to Quebec. They must also demonstrate an intent to live in Quebec. There are annual intake quotas, and for investors, territorial quotas apply. However, applicants with **intermediate-advanced French proficiency** (B2 level in speaking and listening) can apply at any time and are not subject to quotas.