Quebec Immigration Requirements 2022

Quebec is one of the thirteen regions in Canada. It is the second biggest region in Canada after Nunavut region, and the second-most populous region in Canada after Ontario. Québec has 17 administrative regions. Each administrative region is beautiful and has various assets. The regions don’t have their own government, but they organize the provision of provincial government services. Quebec’s economy is modern, diversified and high-powered.

Quebec’s official language is French. For proper integration into the Quebec community, it is essential you have an idea of the official language. If you are a non-French speaker, there is a way you can learn the language. You can learn French through the courses offered by “The Gouvernement du Québec” which translates to “Government of Quebec” in English. Financial assistance is available for the courses under certain conditions.

Quebec is a beautiful place. It is multicultural. It is a terrific place to immigrate to. In Quebec, there are five rules that make the region distinct. If you are planning on immigrating to Quebec, you have to know and abide by those 5 rules, and blend them into your daily life.

What are Quebec rules?

• Québec is a French-speaking society. 
• Québec is a democratic society. 
• Equality between women and men. 
• The rights and responsibilities of Quebecers. 
• Québec is a secular society.

What is Quebec Immigration all about?

Quebec Immigration is a government-grant assessment based immigration. The federal government granted the Quebec region more autonomy in immigration policies and procedures; the reason Quebec’s immigration programs are distinct from other provinces.

The Quebec region manages its own immigration programs with selection criteria. Immigrants are assessed, and only the eligible ones are invited to settle in the Quebec region. If you want to become a permanent resident, you are required to procure a CSQ (Certificat de sélection du Québec[Quebec Selection Certificate]) and then apply to become a Canadian permanent resident. 

What are Quebec Immigration rules and procedures?

• As an immigrant, your selection is done by the Ministère de l’immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Inclusion (MIFI) (Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration) and Quebec’s immigration authority. 
• After being selected, you will receive an official document “(Certificat de sélection du Québec[Quebec Selection Certificate]) ” by Quebec Immigration authorities to prove that you were selected by the province.

Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) and Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ)

Quebec immigration applications are approved through two separate processes: selection and admission. Selection occurs at the provincial level, while admission occurs at the federal level. To immigrate to Quebec, you must meet the requirements for both selection and admission. In the selection stage, a foreign national must obtain approval from the province of Quebec itself.  The CSQ document is issued by the provincial immigration authorities following a successful application through one of Quebec’s immigration programs.

In the acceptance stage, lots of Quebec’s temporary resident programs require a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) (Quebec Acceptance Certificate), to authorize temporary stay in Quebec. A CAQ authorizes temporary stay in Quebec region, while CSQ authorizes permanent stay in the region.

Kindly note the following:

• The CSQ is not a visa, so you can’t use it as a pass into Canada.
• The CSQ is valid for 24 months or until a decision has been rendered by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with respect to the permanent resident visa application.
• As a CSQ holder, you must file a permanent residence application with IRCC within 24 months from the date the CSQ was issued. 
• The federal government has a limited role to issues of health and criminality in evaluating a Quebec application for permanent residence. An application will have to be submitted to IRCC, including police certificates and medical exams, when requested.

Why immigrate to Quebec?

• The cost of living is reasonable compared to other regions in Canada. 
• With the Quebec Investor Program offered to immigrants, you can invest in the economy as an entrepreneur or investor, in return offering them benefits and citizenship provided they are eligible.
• The health care is affordable, equitable; they are quick to respond to patients. 
• Quebec has a good transit system.
• There are beautiful landscapes suitable for sight-seeing

What immigration options exist for settling in Quebec?

• Immigrate to Québec to work (Permanent workers)
• Immigrate to Québec to do business (Business people)
• Stay in Québec to work temporarily (Temporary workers)
• Stay in Québec to study (Foreign students)
• Sponsor a family member abroad (Family reunification)

What are the available immigration programs administered by Quebec?

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program
• Quebec Business Immigration
• Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
• Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)
• (PEQ – Québec experience program)
• Permanent immigration pilot programs
• Investors program
• Self-employed workers program
• Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective sponsorship)

Quebec Skilled Worker Program Requirement

• Prove that you are able to establish yourself economically in Quebec province.
• You are to prove that your skills respond to a particular provincial market need in Quebec, and the skill will make it easy for you to get a job.
• Your education, work experience, language knowledge, age, children, spouse’s characteristics and financial autonomy will be considered when awarding points before your selection.
• French proficiency isn’t required, but it will increase your score on the points assessment grid.
• You are to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the online Arrima portal to be considered for this program.

Quebec Business Immigration Requirements

• Best for you if you are an investor or entrepreneur or self-employed.
•  Find out about the environment and know about its most promising economic sectors, competitive operating costs, business taxation system, quality labour force and open and stimulating business environment.
• You have to include your business plan; a well prepared business plan will give you an edge while applying as an entrepreneur.
• You are required to have at least  two years of self-employed experience, in the profession or trade you intend to practice in Quebec.
• You are to possess a personal net worth of $100,000 CAD, alone or with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.

Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) Requirements

• This is for you if you wish to immigrate to Québec permanently to work.
• You are required to declare your interest in immigrating to Québec to work.
• You will receive an invitation to submit an application for permanent selection, if your profile matches the criteria needed in Québec.
• It is pivotal you have training and professional skills that will facilitate your job integration in Québec.
• Factors like Language proficiency, age, the characteristics of your spouse, the presence of children will be taken into consideration.
• You are required to submit your application via email to the Ministère the form Déclaration du candidat à l’immigration.

PEQ – Québec experience program Requirement

• You can submit an application under the Temporary Foreign Worker category of the Programme de l’expérience québéboise (PEQ – Québec experience program).
• You can submit an application under the Québec Graduate stream of the Programme de l’expérience québéboise (PEQ – Québec experience program)
• You are required to have an experience in Quebec region.
• You are required to prove your French Proficiency
• You are required to be legally residing in Quebec at the time the application is submitted and processed.

Permanent immigration pilot programs Requirements

• You are required to submit your application on the Arrima platform as of the beginning of the application intake period.
• You can settle in Québec permanently if you are a temporary foreign worker in the food processing sector.
• You can settle in Québec permanently if you are a temporary foreign worker who is working as an orderly in Québec.
• You can settle in Québec permanently if you are a temporary foreign worker or a Québec graduate.

Investors program Requirements

This program is currently being reviewed. It was suspended from November 1, 2019 to April 1, 2023. View the previous requirements below-

• You are required to have a personal net worth of at least $2 million, prove it was legally acquired through conducting business or holding a high-level management position in a private company, government or NGO.
• You are required to show your ability to invest at least $1.2 million in a passive government guaranteed investment for a period of five years and receive no interest. 
• You must have been running a business for two years in the previous five years, or occupy a high-level management position for two years in the previous five years in a private company, government or NGO.

Entrepreneurs program Requirements

This program comes in two (2) streams

Stream 1:  Only 25 people were selected from November 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021. However, if you are French proficient, that is, level 7 or 8 of the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes or its equivalent, you are not subject to the rule on the maximum number of applications. Hence, application is still open to you till October 31, 2021.

• You can create a business in Quebec with support from a business accelerator, a business incubator or a university entrepreneurship center. 

Stream 2: Receipt of applications for permanent selection under Stream 2 of the program has been suspended until November 1, 2021.

• You can create or buy an existing business; you must control at least 25% if it’s a new enterprise or at least 51% of an acquired enterprise.
• You are to prove that you have legally acquired a net worth of $900,000, alone or with your spouse if applicable.

Kindly note this:

• You are required to have the financial capacity along with the experience and intention to manage a business project in Quebec or to acquire a business in Quebec.

• You are to submit proof of French proficiency, this should be submitted with the permanent selection application as an entrepreneur.
• You are required to send your applications by courier to Direction de l’enregistrement et de l’évaluation comparative, in Montréal. The envelope in which the application is sent must indicate the program under which the application is submitted.

Self-employed workers program Requirements

• Only 50 people were selected from November 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021. However, if you are French proficient, that is, level 7 or 8 of the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes or its equivalent, you are not subject to the rule on the maximum number of applications. Hence, application is still open to you till October 31, 2021.
• You are to send your applications by courier to Direction de l’enregistrement et de l’évaluation comparative, in Montréal. The envelope in which the application is sent must indicate the program under which the application is submitted.
• You can start your own job.
• You are required to have at least  two years of self-employed experience, in the profession or trade you intend to practice in Quebec.
• You are to possess a personal net worth of $100,000 CAD, alone or with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
• You are required to register a start-up deposit of at least $50,000 if based in the metropolitan area of Montreal, and $25,000 if located outside of Montreal.

Quebec Immigration Application Fees

The fees required must be paid in full, in Canadian currency only, by you or a third party when the application is dropped off or mailed. These required fees are not refundable, even if your application is refused. You can pay using the following acceptable  payment methods: Canada Post money order, bank draft drawn on a Canadian bank.

The processing fees are indexed every year.

FAQ

What to do after arriving in Quebec?

• You can get temporary housing for the first week or month of your stay at Quebec. To find housing, you can walk the streets or check social media for houses available for rent.
• You are to visit a Service Canada office to request your Social Insurance Number (SIN).  SIN is a nine-digit number you should memorize. It is needed to get a job, open a bank account, and benefit from the programs and financial assistance offered by the government.
• You are to apply to the federal government for your permanent resident card. It is a proof that you have resident or permanent resident status in Canada. If you leave Canada, you will need to present this card in order to return.