A province in Canada, Quebec is widely known for its rich history, culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. It offers a distinctive blend of French and Canadian heritage and has a unique status in Canada. With its immigration process, various programs, and selection criteria, you can immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker.
Quebec is the largest of the ten provinces in Canada and as such, it has specific provisions and powers to protect and enhance its distinct culture and French language. This comprehensive guide will provide you with information on how to immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker. As well as an overview of the process of obtaining a visa for Quebec.
Interestingly, Quebec has more immigration authority compared to any other province in Canada. In 1968, Quebec launched its immigration ministry and has become more active in Canada’s immigration system. Meanwhile, Quebec acknowledged that welcoming more immigrants at that time was essential to maintain its strong Francophone personality.
Ever since then, the province has constantly gained more immigration authority from the federal government. As such, the province can now authorize foreigners to immigrate to Quebec as skilled workers. The federal government is responsible for admitting these immigrants.
In this article, we’ll discuss at length the various Quebec’s economic immigration programs, as well as the validated job offer. Let’s dive in!
Quebec’s Economic Immigration Programs
In Canada, Quebec happens to be the only province where French is the sole official language. Isn’t that unique? It is. Meanwhile, Quebec has made knowledge of French mandatory when selecting immigrants, to protect its distinctive status. Recently, more emphasis has been placed on the French language in all of Quebec’s economic programs.
There are also more requirements for sponsored spouses to have a level of spoken French that’s equivalent to a level 4 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency. We recommend that you follow each program’s dedicated webpage to get more information. This province doesn’t just select skilled workers for immigration but is based on its demographic and economic needs.
The selection is also based on specific yearly admission targets. If you want to immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker, you may be invited to apply for a CSQ. And it would be through one of the following economic immigration categories. Scroll down to know more!
1. Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
The QSWP is an immigration program designed to suit foreign skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada and live in Quebec. However, to be eligible for this program, you must be one of the selected individuals. And also obtain training and professional skills that will make your integration into employment in Quebec easy and smooth.
Meanwhile, other factors that are being considered in the selection process include language proficiency, age, and family situation. Remember that by November 2024, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program will be replaced by the Qualified Skilled Worker Selection Program. It’s also one of Quebec’s immigration pathways to permanent residence.
For the skilled worker program, all applicants must prove some certain level of skilled work experience. Furthermore, the QSWP is a points-based immigration program, which implies that applicants must meet a minimum score on a points assessment grid to qualify. It does not require that an applicant must be proficient in French to apply.
However, if you’re proficient in the French language, it may lead to an increase in your score on the points assessment grid. Candidates who are eligible for the program must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the online Arrima portal to be considered.
2. Quebec Experience Program – Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ)
The PEQ is a popular immigration option for international students. These international students must have obtained an eligible diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution. The PEQ is also for skilled workers who have obtained eligible work experience in the province.
Are you 18 years or older? Do you wish to reside in Quebec, work, and have a minimum of an advanced intermediate level of French language proficiency? If yes, then you may be eligible for the PEQ. Interestingly, this program is famous because of the large number of students and workers who are already in Quebec and want to remain as permanent residents.
After extensive research, the government realized that people with Canadian work experience tend to integrate more quickly into the labor market once they transition to permanent resident status. Therefore, the PEQ was launched to address this. Another additional eligibility requirement is that the applicant must be legally living in Quebec at the time the application is submitted and processed.
3. Quebec Permanent Immigration Pilot Programs
Currently, this immigration pilot program in Quebec is of three categories. Meanwhile, it targets workers in the food industry, orderlies, artificial intelligence, information technology, and visual effects sectors. These immigration pilots are created to allow Quebec to meet the high demand for skilled workers in certain fields.
Between November 2023 and December 2024, these immigration pilot programs will start accepting applications. Furthermore, they will be selecting close to 600-700 principal applicants
in eligible occupations each year under each pilot program. This pilot program also allows your family members to accompany you.
As an accompanying family member, you may also receive Quebec selection certificates under these pilot programs. Fortunately for all, these programs are set to run until January 2026, but with applications opening and closing at intervals. In addition, the pilot projects include French language requirements, in some cases, francization courses are offered to workers with the desired profile. Instead of obtaining a thorough knowledge of the French language during the immigration process.
4. Quebec Business Immigration Programs
As a foreign citizen, if you can demonstrate that you have the resources, you can apply for immigration to Quebec under three immigration programs for business people. Recently, changes have been made to these streams, where strong French proficiency is now mandatory for all applicants. As well as in addition to other requirements.
We recommend that you follow each stream’s dedicated web page to have more knowledge and understanding. Do you wish to immigrate to Quebec and start or acquire a business? You may qualify for the entrepreneur program. However, if you want to immigrate to Quebec for an investment purpose, you may qualify for the investor program.
5. Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is Canada’s sole passive investor program. It’s also one of the world’s most famous passive investor programs. To be a successful candidate, you only need to offer an investment to the Quebec government. However, you are not required to manage a business in Quebec.
If you are a self-employed, professional, or tradesperson, you may be eligible for the
self-employed program. Furthermore, to apply to the Quebec Investor Program, you must have net assets in total of at least $2 million. As well as the ability to invest at least $1.2 million with a Quebec financial intermediary. If you fit these criteria, then you may qualify to obtain permanent residence in Canada through the Quebec Investor Program.
6. Quebec Entrepreneur Program
The Quebec Entrepreneur Program will need potential applicants to possess the financial capacity. As well as have the experience and intention to manage a business project in Quebec or to acquire a business in Quebec.
7. Quebec Self-Employed
The Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program offers immigration to Quebec opportunities for some self-employed individuals and create their jobs. Meanwhile, to be eligible for this program, applicants must have net assets of at least $100,000. And also have two years of work experience as a self-employed worker in the field they wish to specialize in Quebec.
Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ)
Several of Quebec’s temporary resident programs require a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) to temporarily stay in Quebec. The majority of study programs for international students are also included here.
NOTE: A CAQ permits a temporary stay in Quebec, it shouldn’t be confused with a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which permits a permanent stay in the province.
Validated Job Offer
If a Quebec employer wants to employ a foreign national, they can give the foreign national a job offer that has been officially validated by MIDI. If you have a validated job offer, it’s a strong advantage in the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program. It provides the holder with either 8 points (if the job is located in the Montreal region) or 10 points (if the position is located outside the Montreal region).
Furthermore, if you obtain a validated job offer, you are exempted from the quota requirement for QSW applications. This implies that they can apply for a CSQ at any time. In addition, if you want to validate the job offer and the position, there are certain requirements you must meet.
Job Position Requirements
- It must be for a permanent, full-time position at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, B, or
- It must not have a negative effect but rather a positive or neutral impact on the local labor
- Also, it must be provided in writing, by a Quebec employer who has been in operation for at least one
- Lastly, appropriate recruitment efforts must have been made to employ Canadian citizens or permanent residents for the
Foreign National Requirements
- Copies of identification documents, educational documents, and curriculum vitae must be As well as a written copy of the employment offer.
- Must obtain a license or certificate to practice in the profession, if it’s a regulated profession in
- If the foreign national has already started working for the employer, they must submit a copy of their work permit together with three recent
If a Quebec employer has already hired a foreign national to work on a temporary work permit, then such an employer does not need to prove that they attempted to recruit a Canadian/permanent resident for the job. On the other hand, the employer must show proof of recruitment efforts.
Simply put, employers must make great efforts to hire a Canadian or permanent resident to fill the job position before hiring a foreign national. If they meet all the requirements for the validated job offer, the employer may put forward an application for validation to MIDI.
Conclusion
Quebec is a welcoming country with a whole lot of opportunities to offer foreign nationals. There are a variety of pathways to immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker. However, you will need to understand the best pathway that suits your situation. We hope your find this comprehensive guide on how to immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker, informative. All the best as you begin your immigration journey!
FAQs
1. How Do I Immigrate To Quebec
There are numerous ways a foreign national can immigrate to Quebec. These include the skilled worker pathways, family sponsorship, and the business route. To find out which pathway is right for your particular situation, delve into the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to understand better.
2. How Do I Permanently Immigrate To Quebec
Quebec and the Government of Canada have a special agreement in terms of immigration. This province has its features for choosing immigrants who will adapt well to life in Quebec. Since it’s the only province in Canada that speaks French as its official language.
However, if you want to immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker permanently, you must apply in two stages stated below.
- Apply to the Government of Quebec for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). The province will cross-check you by using its
- If the province picks you, then you’ll be issued a CSQ and be able to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency
3. In-Demand Jobs In Quebec
Quebec has one of the most rapidly aging populations in the country, therefore, there will be numerous in-demand Jobs here. Furthermore, employment is highly sought after in a wide range of fields like information and communications technology, health, and transportation. As well as finance, professional services, agriculture, and education.
In Quebec, there’s a list of jobs that are highly sought after in the province. Periodically, this list is being updated and indicates which occupations are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers in the labor market.
In addition, Quebec has recently introduced three pilot projects in the health, food processing, and information technology sectors to manage the labor shortages in these areas.