QUÉBEC PROGRAMS
Québec is the second-most populous province of Canada, after Ontario. Quebec immigration programs are popular but a bit different from federal programs. Quebec is the only one to have a predominantly French-speaking population, with French as the sole provincial official language. Due to its distinctive policies as related to selecting immigrants, Quebec always attracts numerous applicants through its skilled worker, investor, and student programs etc.
Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)
For this program, you must declare your interest to work in Québec, by completing an expression of interest in immigrating to Québec through the Arrima platform. If your profile matches the criteria needed in Québec, you will receive an invitation to submit an application for permanent selection.
Selection factors include, but are not limited to:
Criteria related to human capital:
- knowledge of French;
- combined knowledge of French and English;
- age;
- length of professional experience;
- level of education.
Criteria related to the needs of the labour market in Québec and government priorities:
- workforce diagnosis. This can be combined with the length of experience in the profession practised;
- field of training;
- Québec diploma;
- length of professional experience in Québec;
- length of professional experience in the rest of Canada;
- validated job offer. This can be combined with the place of employment, depending on whether it is located inside or outside the territory of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.
Criteria related to the spouse or de facto spouse (if applicable):
- knowledge of French;
- level of education.
- Québec diploma;
Other criteria such as:
- the destination region in Québec;
- profession practised.
There are monthly invitations to candidates. For instance, on November 23, 2023, 1220 individuals were invited to apply for permanent selection. Among them, trade workers needed a minimum of 465 points, and candidates in other occupations required 608 points.
Immigrate to Québec to do business (Business people)
Quebec Business People includes three programs:
- Entrepreneur Program
- Investor Program
- Self-Employed Worker Program
Stay in Québec to work temporarily (Temporary workers)
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, positions offered are classified according to the median hourly wage in Québec. You may qualify for one program:
- High-wage position
- Low-wage position
- Agricultural worker
- Caregiver Program
Sponsor a family member abroad (Family reunification)
Sponsor
You can sponsor a close relative if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Québec, are at least 18 years of age and meet the requirements.
The sponsorship covers a close relative and, where applicable, accompanying family members.
Sponsored person (close relative)
To be sponsored, your close relative must belong to the family class and meet specific requirements:
You can sponsor:
Your spouse, de facto spouse or conjugal partner – Specific requirements
Your dependent child
Your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother
Your orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson or granddaughter who is under 18 years of age and does not have a spouse or de facto spouse
A child you plan to adopt (international adoption)
Responsibilities and obligations
When initiating a sponsorship process, the sponsor and the sponsored person must be aware of their responsibilities and obligations toward each other and toward the Government of Québec.
Duration of sponsorship (or undertaking)
The duration of the undertaking you sign depends on the family relationship between you (the sponsor) and the sponsored person.
Learn more…
Sponsor a refugee (Humanitarian immigration)
A typical immigration process is proposed to facilitate your arrival or integration in Québec.
First, using the definitions below, choose the section that applies to you.
- Are you being assisted by the Government of Québec? Have you been recognized by Canada as a Convention refugee?
- Have you been recognized abroad as a Convention refugee outside Canada or as a person in the Country of Asylum Class? Has a group of individuals or an organization undertaken to sponsor you?
- Have you been recognized as a refugee or a person in need of protection as a result of a refugee claim made in Canada?
Are you interested in the collective sponsorship of a refugee?
If you belong to a group of individuals or an organization that wants to sponsor a refugee, find out about the conditions and steps involved in collective sponsorship.
Is your application for permanent residence being processed from within Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds?
An immigration application must normally be filed abroad. However, in exceptional circumstances, certain individuals are allowed to apply to immigrate from within Canada. These people are subject to the Québec selection process.