Quebec Immigration Program

Immigration is an area of shared federal-provincial jurisdiction in Canada. The Constitution states that the federal government has more immigration authority than the provinces. As such, the federal government has played the lead role in welcoming and settling immigrants throughout Canada’s history.

Quebec, however, has more immigration authority than any other province. Quebec became more active in Canada’s immigration system when it launched its immigration ministry in 1968. At that time, Quebec recognized that welcoming more immigrants was key to maintaining its strong Francophone character.

Since then, the province has gradually obtained more immigration authority from the federal government. Today, it is responsible for selecting all skilled workers that wish to immigrate to Quebec. The federal government is responsible for admitting these immigrants.

In step one, Quebec selects immigrants according to its criteria and procedures. If Quebec selects you, you and your accompanying family will receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). This document is issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec and you can obtain it by applying for one of Quebec’s immigration programs.

Receiving your CSQ confirms that you have been selected for immigration to Quebec. Following this step, you can proceed to step two. This means that you can apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence and pass the medical, security, and criminality checks necessary to become a permanent resident in Canada.

To immigrate to Quebec, you and your family must meet the requirements of both levels of government.

Quebec is unique because it is the only province in Canada where French is the only official language. To protect this distinctive status, Quebec specializes in knowledge of French when selecting immigrants. While fluency in French improves one’s chances of immigrating to Quebec, it is possible to meet the requirements of Quebec’s immigration programs without speaking that language. Quebec selects skilled workers for immigration based on the demographic and economic needs of the province and specific annual admission targets. Foreign nationals interested in settling in Quebec may be invited to apply for a CSQ through one of the following economic immigration categories.

Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

Also known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, the QSW is an immigration program for skilled foreign workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada and reside in Quebec. For this program, you must be one of the selected individuals with training and professional skills to facilitate your integration into employment in Quebec. Language proficiency, age, and family situation are other factors that are considered in the selection process.

Quebec Experience Program – Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ)

The PEQ is a popular immigration option for international students who have obtained an eligible diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution and skilled workers with eligible work experience in the province.

Suppose you are 18 years old or older. Suppose you intend to stay in Quebec to hold a job and have a minimum of an advanced intermediate level of French language proficiency. In that case, you may be eligible to qualify for the PEQ.

The PEQ is popular because many students and workers already in Quebec want to remain permanent residents. The PEQ launched after extensive government research showing that those with Canadian work experience tend to integrate more quickly into the labour market once they transition to permanent resident status.

Quebec Permanent Immigration Pilot Programs

There are currently three permanent immigration pilot programs in Quebec, targeting workers in the food industry, orderlies, and the artificial intelligence, information technology, and visual effects sectors. These immigration pilots are designed to help Quebec meet the high demand for skilled workers in specific fields.

Under each pilot program, up to 550 principal applicants for ineligible occupations will be selected each year. Accompanying family members may also receive Quebec selection certificates under these pilot programs.

These pilot projects include French language requirements. In some cases, francization courses are offered to workers with the desired profile rather than requiring a thorough knowledge of the French language during the immigration process.

Quebec Business Immigration Programs

Foreign nationals who can prove they have the resources can apply for immigration to Quebec under three immigration programs for businesspeople. 

If you want to move to Quebec to start or acquire a business, you may be eligible for the entrepreneur program.

If you want to come to Quebec to invest, you may be eligible for the investor program. The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is Canada’s only passive investor program and one of the world’s most popular passive investor programs. Successful candidates only need to provide the Quebec government with an investment; they are not required to manage a business in Quebec.

If you are self-employed and are a professional or a tradesperson, you may be eligible for the self-employed program.

The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is a well-established permanent immigration program for skilled workers in Quebec.

Similar to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) under the Express Entry system, foreign nationals who wish to immigrate through the QSWP must first declare their interest in immigrating to Quebec by completing an expression of interest (EOI) form through an online portal. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) regularly selects people from the pool of candidates and invites them to apply for permanent selection.

In the past, applications under the QSWP were submitted in paper format and were subject to a quota. Quebec set a maximum number of applications it could receive for the year and a deadline for receiving applications. Quebec closed the program to new applications once the maximum number of applications reached. It’s a “first come, first served” selection system was deemed inefficient, and the large inventory of applications received at once resulted in endless backlogs.

In other words, under the old application model, the number of applications submitted was far greater than the number of spots available each year for skilled workers. As a result, the waiting time for successful candidates often spanned several years.

For this reason, in 2018, the Quebec Immigration Ministry proceeded with a sort of “reboot,” removing the “first come, first served” approach, backlogged applications, and introducing an online Expression of Interest (EOI) system hosted on a platform called “Arrima.”

The EOI system gives all potential candidates an equal opportunity for permanent selection. Anyone 18 or older who wishes to immigrate to Quebec can declare their interest at any time.

First, candidates must submit an expression of interest through the Arrima pool. Submitted profiles are scored based on age, education, language skills, and work experience. The top-scoring candidates in the pool may be invited to apply for permanent selection by the Government of Quebec in regularly held draws.

Candidates invited to apply to immigrate to Quebec under the QSWP will then use the Mon Projet Quebec portal to complete and submit an application form for permanent selection. The portal allows candidates to complete their application, make their payment online, track the status of their application, make changes to their application and access a personal email throughout the process.

Candidates who are successful under the QSWP are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and can then apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will conduct a medical and criminal background check as part of its approval process.

To be eligible for a CSQ under the QSWP, candidates must obtain sufficient points based on the Quebec Immigration selection grid.

This grid is composed of nine factors:

•    education

•    work experience

•    age

•    knowledge of French and English

•    stay and family in Quebec

•    validated job offer

•    spouse’s characteristics

•    presence of children

•    ability to be financially independent

 A single (unmarried) candidate must score at least 50 points based on this system, while a candidate with a spouse or common-law partner must score at least 59 points.

QSWP Selection Factors

The Quebec Immigration selection factors are as follows:

The documents required to apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program must be certified true copies.

Language test results must be submitted along with immigration applications to be awarded points for language proficiency.

•    For more information on approved French tests, see Proving French Language Ability (Quebec Skilled Worker Program).

•    For more information on the approved English test, see Proving English Language Ability – International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

QSWP Processing Fees

Processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program for effective January 1, 2022, are as follows:

Quebec’s EOI system is part of a modernization effort similar to the Express Entry system, which was introduced with the same goal in 2015. Like Canada with the Express Entry system, Quebec has implemented an online portal called Arrima to streamline the immigrant selection process and significantly speed up the processing of immigration applications, and better-aligning immigration with labour market needs.

The use of the EOI system allows the government of Quebec to build a pool of foreign nationals who wish to immigrate permanently to the province under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Foreign national who wish to apply for permanent selection under the QSWP must initiate this process by creating a profile through the Arrima portal and filling out an EOI. The EOI provides information on the socio-economic profile of the individual submitting it. Typically, eligible applicants answer a series of questions online and then submit their profile to the EOI pool. Once a candidate’s profile is submitted, they are assigned a score based on several factors related to human capital and labour market needs.

Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) administers Arrima and conducts regular rounds of invitations to select candidates from the pool based on their ranking score, target occupations or location of employment, among other factors. The frequency and the number of invitations issued to candidates are determined based on Quebec’s labour market needs, annual immigration targets as well as the processing capacity of the MIFI.

EOIs are completed online, free of charge, and no supporting documentation is required at this stage. There is also no limit to the number of interested individuals who can submit an EOI into the Arrima pool, and there is no deadline for submission.

EOIs are valid for one year from the submission date and can be updated at any time, even once submitted.

Any foreign national 18 years of age or older who intends to live and work in Quebec can submit an EOI to the province using the Arrima portal.

Candidates are scored using a point system divided into two categories of criteria, with points also being awarded for some of these criteria to the spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant.

The following is a summary of the criteria taken into account and the maximum number of points that can be obtained for each of them.

Human Capital (maximum of 580 points)

Quebec Labour Market Needs (maximum of 740 points)

Candidates and their spouses or common-law partners can accumulate up to 1,320 points based on human capital and Quebec labour market factors.

What Information Do I Need to Provide When Submitting an EOI?

When you file your EOI, you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Information about yourself ;
• Contact information
• Family status ;
• Quebec status;
• Education ;
• Work experience ;
• Information regarding a job offer validated by the MIFI;
• French and English language skills;
• Information about accompanying spouse and children, whether accompanying you or not.

The first step for foreign nationals interested in immigrating to Quebec under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is to submit an online expression of interest (EOI) through the Arrima portal.

The process of applying for immigration under the QSWP consists of five key steps:

• Foreign nationals submit an Expression of Interest profile through the Arrima Portal and enter into the Arrima pool of candidates.
• Quebec’s Immigration Ministry (MIFI) will issue invitations to apply to highest-ranking candidates. Invitations may reflect labour market needs in various regions of Quebec, among other criteria.
• Invited candidates may submit a complete application for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ) under the QSWP.
• Completed applications are reviewed and approved candidates are issued a CSQ.
• Once a CSQ is issued, candidates may apply for Canadian permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Once submitted the EOI remains valid for a year and candidates are able to update their profile during the entire validity period. For example, candidates can increase their chances of being invited by completing a language test.

The highest-scoring candidates or those who meet specific criteria such as having a job outside of major metropolitan areas in a targeted occupation will be invited to apply for a CSQ under the QSWP.  QSWP and EOI scores can be estimated using the CAN Pathways Skilled Worker Points Calculator or by using the self-assessment tool offered by the government of Quebec.

The Government of Quebec regularly issues invitations and you can access the most recent updates on our Arrima portal page.

If invited to apply for the QSWP, candidates will have 60 days to submit a complete application for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).

RSWP applications continue to be processed using the Mon Projet Québec application management system. Once the Ministry assesses the application, a complete list of required documents will be available to the candidate.

The application review process begins once all documents are provided by the applicant. Some applicants may be invited to attend an interview to verify the information provided in the application.

The Quebec government aims to process complete applications within 6 months. The processing time begins when MIFI receives:

• your application for permanent selection ;
• your supporting documents;
• the payment of your application processing fee.

Arrima is a free electronic system used to manage skilled worker applications in Quebec. It operates in a similar manner to the federal Express Entry system. Applicants for immigration to Quebec can create and submit profiles for consideration under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP or RSWP). Eligible applicants are assigned a score and ranked against others in the Arrima pool of candidates. This way of selecting immigration candidates is known as an Expression of Interest (EOI) system or, in French, “système de déclaration d’intéret (DI).”

In Quebec, the new EOI system, of which Arrima is the hub, went into effect in August 2018 following the coming into force of the Québec Immigration Act.

The purpose of the Arrima platform is to speed up the processing of immigration applications and to better match potential immigration candidates with the needs of the labour market. Prior to the introduction of Arrima, Quebec used a paper-based application system to select immigration candidates, which resulted in long processing times and did not allow to effectively match those interested in immigrating to the province with the most immediate labour market needs.

Today, Arrima is primarily used by the Quebec government as a platform to manage EOI submissions under the QSWP. The Arrima platform is also progressively being expanded to include application services related to other economic immigration programs, such as, for instance, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) for temporary workers and international students.

Many immigration procedures can be completed through Arrima. It all depends on the program you are applying for and the stage you are at in your immigration process.

Here are the main ways that Arrima can be used by Quebec immigration candidates:

• Create, submit, complete and update their expression of interest (EOI) for the QSWP;
• Access a self-assessment tool to estimate the score they could obtain by submitting an Expression of Interest and assess their chances of receiving an invitation to submit an Application for Permanent Selection;
• Apply for permanent selection, as well as submit documents and pay the required fees to immigrate to Quebec under the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ);
• Create an Arrima profile to apply for permanent selection, submit documents and pay the required fees under one of Quebec’s permanent immigration pilot programs;
• Apply for temporary selection for studies, create an Arrima profile to submit supporting documents as a foreign student;
• Obtain information and submit forms related to:
  • Financial aid for part-time French courses;
  • “Accompagnement Québec” programs;
  • The Program for Refugees Abroad (collective sponsorship).

Arrima can also be used by employers and businesses to:

• Obtain personalized support from the immigration ministry;
• Get in touch with foreign workers who match their labour needs and offer them a job in Quebec with the Employer Portal.

Interested candidates submit an online profile via Arrima, in order to be assessed for immigration through Quebec’s Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), based on a scoring system. The score is calculated by taking into account several specific factors, such as education, work experience, language skills, ties to the province, validated job offers in the province, among others. Eligible candidates are entered into the pool of candidates and then have a chance to be invited to apply for permanent selection.

Approximately once a month, the Government of Quebec selects the highest-scoring candidates from the Arrima pool and invites them to submit a full application for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which is the first step towards applying for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Here is a summary of the steps you will need to go through to be considered for immigration to Quebec:

1. Submit an expression of interest (EOI) in the Arrima pool of candidates;
2. Once you submit an EOI, you will receive a score based on predetermined criteria. A self-assessment tool (in French only) is available on the government page to estimate the score you might obtain when you submit an expression of interest.
3. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) will send out invitations to the highest scoring candidates in the Arrima pool and invite them to submit a full application for permanent selection;
4. Invited candidates have 60 days to complete the application and submit it to the MIFI;
5. The MIFI will review your complete application;
6. A decision on the application will be made and, if successful, you will receive a CSQ within a period of 6 months.
7. Once you receive a CSQ then you may apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

An expression of interest remains valid for a year and you will be able to update your profile during the entire validity period. For example, you may increase your chances of being invited by completing a language test or having a validated job offer in the province.

Anyone who meets the age requirement of 18 years may submit an expression of interest by completing an online profile via the Arrima portal. An expression of interest profile is assessed according to a scoring system totaling 1,320 points and is based on the following human capital and labour market needs criteria: Human Capital (maximum of 580 points)  

Quebec Labour Market Needs (maximum of 740 points)

The Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, or PEQ) provides a fast-track way for foreign graduates and individuals with work experience in Quebec to obtain a Quebec selection certificate — a mandatory step towards permanent residency that is granted by the federal government. Unlike other Canadian provinces, Quebec’s case is unique because of the Quebec-Canada Agreement, in effect since April 1991, which gives Quebec the authority to select its economic immigrants in the skilled worker category.

When the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) created the PEQ, its goal was to ensure that Quebec society could benefit from the contribution of people who had already been here for some time, who knew and shared Quebec’s values, and who were already well integrated. By making it easier for employers to hire young graduates of Quebec educational institutions and foreigners already in Quebec, the government seeks both to meet its immigration objectives and to improve Quebec’s difficult demographic situation.

From its launch year in 2010 through 2019, the program has issued more than 70,000 selection certificates to temporary residents. Due to the popularity of the program, which has resulted in 86 percent of Quebec selection certificates being issued to PEQ applicants, the Quebec government redesigned it in fall 2019. The purpose of the overhaul was to improve the distribution of applicants across immigration programs and to make the PEQ more responsive to labor market needs.

The PEQ is an ideal immigration option for individuals who are fluent in French and have legally acquired work experience in Quebec. The other major advantage of this program is that applications are processed within six months, which is significantly faster than other programs, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

The Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, or PEQ) provides a fast-track way for foreign graduates and individuals with work experience in Quebec to obtain a Quebec selection certificate — a mandatory step towards permanent residency that is granted by the federal government. Unlike other Canadian provinces, Quebec’s case is unique because of the Quebec-Canada Agreement, in effect since April 1991, which gives Quebec the authority to select its economic immigrants in the skilled worker category.

When the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) created the PEQ, its goal was to ensure that Quebec society could benefit from the contribution of people who had already been here for some time, who knew and shared Quebec’s values, and who were already well integrated. By making it easier for employers to hire young graduates of Quebec educational institutions and foreigners already in Quebec, the government seeks both to meet its immigration objectives and to improve Quebec’s difficult demographic situation.

From its launch year in 2010 through 2019, the program has issued more than 70,000 selection certificates to temporary residents. Due to the popularity of the program, which has resulted in 86 percent of Quebec selection certificates being issued to PEQ applicants, the Quebec government redesigned it in fall 2019. The purpose of the overhaul was to improve the distribution of applicants across immigration programs and to make the PEQ more responsive to labor market needs.

The PEQ is an ideal immigration option for individuals who are fluent in French and have legally acquired work experience in Quebec. The other major advantage of this program is that applications are processed within six months, which is significantly faster than other programs, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

How does the immigration process work with the PEQ?

Depending on your situation, you can apply for one of the two streams of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ):

• Temporary Foreign Workers
• Québec Graduates

As of January 2021, PEQ candidates must submit their applications, pay the required fee, and upload the required documents via the Arrima portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted. However, those who mailed in their application before January 26, 2021 will not be able to use Arrima to track their file or make changes to their application.

Here are the steps to follow to submit an application to the PEQ:

Step 1: Choose one of the two permanent selection application forms and fill out the one that fits your situation. 

Step 2: Prepare the supporting documents as listed in the application form. 

Step 3: Create your profile on the Arrima platform.

Step 4: Submit your complete application package for permanent selection through Arrima.

Step 5: Pay the fees for the processing of your application. 

The Ministère de l’Immigration du Québec will process complete applications within six months. This period begins upon receipt of the complete application, fees, and supporting documents.

Transitional measures related to changes in regulations introduced in 2020

New eligibility requirements went into effect on July 22, 2020. The following transitional measures may apply to you and allow you to apply under the selection requirements in effect before July 22, 2020, if:

• You obtained a degree eligible for the Quebec Experience Program (QEP) before December 31, 2020;
• You were in Quebec on July 21, 2020, as a temporary foreign worker with a valid work permit or were authorized to work under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations;
• If you had successfully completed, were in the process of completing, or were already enrolled in an Advanced Intermediate course on July 21, 2020, you may submit a certificate of completion of that course as proof of your French language proficiency. This transitional measure also applies to your common-law spouse or spouse included in your application;
• Common-law spouse or spouse included in your applications from individuals who fall under one of the two groups of people listed above will not be required to demonstrate French language proficiency.

All applications submitted before the effective date of the new regulations will be processed according to the selection conditions in effect before July 22, 2020.

Eligibility Criteria for Temporary Foreign Workers

Temporary Foreign Workers in Quebec may be eligible to apply for a CSQ under the PEQ if they:

• show an intention to settle in Quebec to hold a job;
• have stayed temporarily in Quebec for the purposes of work;
• have had full-time work experience in Quebec for at least 24 months of the 36 months preceding the submission of an application in a 0, A, or B level job;
• have legal status in Quebec as a temporary worker or as part of a youth exchange program, such as International Experience Canada (IEC) (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op Internship).
• are employed at the time of the application.

Language requirements

• prove French ability by way of a standardized language test recognized by the Government of Quebec; or
• show a final transcript attesting to the successful completion of at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary study completed entirely in French (including the master’s and doctoral theses, if applicable); or
• show that they have satisfied the French language requirements of the professional order governing their occupation in Quebec.
• Spouses of principal applicants under the PEQ need to demonstrate spoken knowledge of French.

Full-time work experience for the PEQ

The MIFI considers a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week as full-time employment. Full-time work experience acquired as an international student while on a Post-Graduation Work Permit or under a Youth Exchange/International Experience Canada (IEC) Program may be taken into account if the applicant meets all PEQ requirements. MIFI will not consider any period of part-time work, self-employment, or entrepreneurial work under the PEQ.

Eligibility Criteria for Quebec Graduates

Foreign students who have studied in Quebec may be eligible to apply for a CSQ under the PEQ if they:

• show an intention to settle in Quebec to hold a job;
• have stayed temporarily in Quebec for the purposes of study;
• have obtained an eligible degree or diploma from an educational institution recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Education within the past 36 months;
• have studied in Quebec for at least 1,800 hours (two years)
• hold a Masters, Bachelors or DEC diploma and have 12 months of work experience in a 0, A, B level job and to hold such a job at the time of application
• hold a DEP and have 18 months of work experience in a 0, A, B or C level job and required to hold such a job at the time of application. Please note that C-level work must be related to the degree.

NOTE: Work experience acquired during mandatory internships will be taken into account up to a maximum of 3 months.

Language requirements

• show a final transcript attesting to the successful completion of at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary study completed entirely in French (including the master’s and doctoral theses, if applicable); or
• a final transcript attesting to the successful completion of a study program in Québec completed entirely in French (including the master’s and doctoral theses, if applicable); or
• prove French ability by way of a standardized language test recognized by the Government of Quebec; or
• show that they have satisfied the French language requirements of the professional order governing their occupation in Quebec.
• Spouses of principal applicants under the PEQ need to demonstrate spoken knowledge of French.

The Government of Quebec will not issue a CSQ until the applicant submits a complete transcript and an attestation of successful completion of the diploma.

Quebec’s pilot programs were developed to help the province find the talent it needs in several sectors that are currently experiencing labour shortages. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) plans to issue Quebec Selection Certificates (QSC) to up to 600 principal applicants plus their family members annually under each of the three pilot programs.

All three pilot programs will be in effect until January 1, 2026.

Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Food Processing

This pilot program offers a pathway to permanent immigration for temporary foreign workers who hold jobs that are admissible in the food processing sector.

The application intake period is from November 3, 2021 to December 31, 2022, or until the maximum number of applications to receive has been reached.

General Requirements

• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Intend to settle in Quebec to work;
• Have met the conditions of your stay in Quebec;
• Be able to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least the first three months following arrival in Quebec.

Education Requirements

• Hold a diploma corresponding to at least a high school diploma or a Quebec vocational diploma in a full-time program of study of at least one year.

Work Experience Requirements

• Hold a full-time job in an eligible sector in Quebec; or
• Have worked in an eligible, full-time, paid job for a period of at least 24 months in Quebec in an eligible sector during the 36 months preceding the date of application;
• The work experience or job must be in one of two eligible sectors under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) of the Government of Canada:
  • NAICS 311 – Food manufacturing; or
  • NAICS 3121 – Beverage manufacturing

Language Requirements

• Demonstrate knowledge of French corresponding to level 7 (advanced intermediate) on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, or equivalent.

Targeted Occupations

The work experience or currently held job must correspond to one of the following occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

• NOC 6732 – Specialized cleaner
• NOC 8431 – General farm worker, but only in the position of chicken catcher
• NOC 9461 – Process control and machine operator, food and beverage processing
• NOC 9462 – Industrial butcher and meat cutter, poultry preparer and related worker
• NOC 9463 – Fish and seafood plant worker
• NOC 9617 – Labourer in food and beverage processing
• NOC 9618 – Labourer in fish and seafood

Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Orderlies 

This pilot program offers a pathway to Canadian permanent resident status to those already residing in Quebec and working as orderlies, nurses aides or as patient service associates. This program is divided into the following two streams:

• Work
• Work-Study

The application intake period is from November 3, 2021 to December 31, 2022, or until the maximum number of applications to receive has been reached.

General Requirements for Both Streams

• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Intend to settle in Quebec to work;
• Have met the conditions of your stay in Quebec;
• Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least the first three months following your arrival in Quebec.
• Demonstrate knowledge of French corresponding to level 7 (advanced intermediate) on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, or equivalent.

Work Stream – Specific Conditions

Education Requirements

• Hold a diploma related to the occupation of orderly obtained after completing a full-time program of study of at least one year;
• The diploma must correspond to a diploma of vocational studies (DEP) in Quebec.

Work Experience Requirements

• At least 24 months of work experience as orderly in Quebec in the 36 months preceding the date of application; or
• At least 12 months in a health occupation related to basic personal care outside Quebec and at least 12 months as orderly in Quebec during the 36 months preceding the date of application;
• Work experience must have been legally acquired, paid and full-time.

Targeted Occupations

The work experience or currently held job must correspond to the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) code:

• NOC 3413 – Nurse aide, orderly and patient service associate.

Alternatively, the work experience may have been acquired outside of Québec in an occupation other than the one cited above, it must correspond to one of the following NOC codes:

• NOC 3011 – Nursing coordinator and supervisor
• NOC 3012 – Registered nurse and registered psychiatric nurse
• NOC 3124 – Allied primary health practitioner
• NOC 3233 – Licensed practical nurse
• NOC 4412 – Home support worker, housekeeper and related occupations

Work-Study Stream- Specific Conditions

Education Requirement

• Have obtained a Quebec diploma of vocational studies (DEP) leading to the practice of the orderly occupation during the 24 months preceding the date of submission of the application;
• To be eligible for the work-study program, applicants must have successfully completed the Institutional and Home Care Assistance Program and have a secondary diploma of vocational studies.

Work Experience Requirement

• Have at least 12 months of work experience as an orderly in Quebec, accumulated in the 24 months preceding the date of application and after the date of completion of the program of study;
• Work experience must have been legally acquired, paid and full-time;
• After completing their program of study, applicants must be hired by a Quebec employer and obtain a work permit.

Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in the Artificial Intelligence, Information Technologies and Visual Effects Sectors 

This permanent immigration pilot program aims to attract and retain Quebec graduates in artificial intelligence as well as international talent working in the technology industry in Quebec or who have a job offer from a Quebec employer.

The program is divided into two streams:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Information technology and Visual Effects (IT/VE)

This program aims to select 300 Quebec graduates and temporary workers in the AI sector and 300 foreign workers in the IT/VE sector.

The application intake period is from November 3, 2021 to December 31, 2022, or until the maximum number of applications to receive has been reached.

General Requirements for Both Streams

• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Intend to settle in Quebec to work;
• Have met the conditions of your stay in Quebec, if applicable;
• Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least the first three months following your arrival in Quebec.

Language Requirements for Both Streams

Both streams in this program include a French-speaker and a non French-speaker profile.

• Those selected under the French-speaker profile must demonstrate knowledge of French corresponding to level 7 (advanced intermediate) on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, or equivalent.
• Those selected under the Non French-Speaker profile will automatically be enrolled in a free, personalized program called “Accompagnement Québec” designed to facilitate the process of integration into Quebec society and support in learning French.

Artificial Intelligence Stream – Specific Conditions

Foreign Workers

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• Have a diploma equivalent to a Quebec bachelor’s degree and have acquired two years of full-time work experience in level 0, A, or B jobs according to the National Occupational Classification; or
• Have obtained a diploma equivalent to a Quebec master’s or PhD in the last year before submitting the application and hold or have accepted a job in Québec in the AI sector. The gross annual salary for the job must be at least $75,000 if the employer is located outside of the Metropolitan Montréal Community or at least $100,000 if located in the Metropolitan Montréal Community.

Quebec Graduates

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• Have a higher specialized studies (DESS) diploma, a master’s or a PhD from a Quebec educational institution issued in the last 24 months;
• Hold or have accepted a full-time job in Québec in the AI sector;
• Applicants who hold a diploma of higher specialized studies (DESS) must have held a full time job in a level 0, A or B according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for a least 6 months after completing their studies;
• Have lived in Quebec as a student for a least half of the study program.

Information Technology and Visual Effects Stream – Specific Conditions

Education Requirement

• Have a diploma equivalent to a Québec diploma of college studies – technical training, or a Québec bachelor’s degree.

Work Experience Requirement

• Have held an eligible full-time job for at least 2 years; and
• have or accept a full-time eligible job with an hourly wage equivalent to the maximum wage of the average wage of your occupation as specified on the Emploi-Québec website.

Targeted Occupations

The work experience or currently held job must correspond to one of the following occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

• NOC 0213 – Computer and information systems manager
• NOC 2133 – Electrical and electronics engineer
• NOC 2171 – Information systems analyst and consultant
• NOC 2173 – Software engineer and designer
• NOC 2174 – Computer programmer and interactive media developer
• NOC 2241 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologist and technician
• NOC 2281 – Computer network technician
• NOC 5131 – Producer, director, choreographer and related occupations,
• NOC 5225 – Audio and video recording technician,
• NOC 5241 – Graphic designer and illustrator

If you would like to immigrate to Québec under one of the three permanent immigration pilot programs, you must submit your application on Quebec’s online immigration platform Arrima.

Applications for Canadian permanent residence under Quebec programs follow a two-step process. First, applicants must submit an application to the Quebec government in order to obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). After having obtained the CSQ, applicants can submit an application for permanent residence to the federal government.

Under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord, the Government of Quebec is responsible for selecting immigrants to the province. The selection process is managed by Quebec’s Immigration Ministry, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).

The Quebec Selection Certificate, or Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) is a document issued by the MIFI that proves to Canada’s federal government that an applicant has been selected for immigration to Quebec. Immigration candidates who are issued a CSQ can then apply for permanent resident status with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Quebec Immigration ministry:

• assesses foreign nationals’ eligibility for a CSQ under Quebec’s various economic immigration, business immigration, refugee and humanitarian categories; and
• issues CSQs to applicants who meet the criteria for immigration to Quebec.

The Government of Canada continues to oversee the following:

• security, criminal and medical background checks that determine the admissibility of new immigrants to Canada; and
• creation of categories and classes of immigration, allocating and enforcing annual immigration levels while taking into consideration the number of immigrants the Government of Quebec wishes to welcome in any given year.

What are Quebec’s Economic Immigration Programs? 

Foreign nationals who are interested in settling in Quebec can apply for a CSQ in one of the following economic immigration categories:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), also known as the Regular Skilled Worker Program: This is Quebec’s key immigration pathway for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada, and reside in Quebec. Under this program, the Quebec government uses an expression of interest system that relies on a unique point system to prioritize potential CSQ candidates. Points are awarded on the basis of “human capital factors” which include, but are not limited to, education and training, qualified work experience, and proficiency in English or French.
• Quebec Experience Class, Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ): The PEQ is a popular immigration option for international students who have obtained an eligible diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution, and skilled workers with eligible work experience in the province.
• Quebec Business Immigration: Foreign nationals who can prove they have the resources can apply for immigration to Quebec under a wide range of business immigration programs for investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals.

As part of the Quebec Immigration Plan 2022, the province has set a target of 24,500 to 30,000 admissions in the categories that fall under its selection authority. These targets include between 18,000 and 22,000 skilled workers, between 1,500 and 2,300 business immigrants as well as between 5,000 and 5,700 candidates in other economic immigration programs. Economic immigrants are expected to represent 65 per cent of the overall target for total admissions to Quebec in 2022.

Furthermore, the province intends to receive additional immigrants in 2022 to make up for a significant shortfall in admissions over the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 18,000 admissions could be processed in 2022, in addition to the planned maximum of 52,500, bringing the total admissions to 70,000.

The table below shows the total number of selections in each immigration category for 2022. The table also highlights the percentage and proportion represented by economic immigration relative to all other immigration categories for the year 2022.

Quebec Overall Immigration Plan for 2022