The Quebec immigration programs allow the government of Quebec to nominate individuals to immigrate to the province.
Quebec has one of the most varied and dynamic immigration programs, with streams and categories designed to welcome skilled workers, graduates, and business immigrants.
Choosing Quebec Immigration
The Quebec province, located at the east of Ontario, is the second most populated province in Canada, with more than 23% of the Canadian population. The country’s second largest city, Montréal and eastern part of the national capital, Ottawa, are both located in the province.
Except for some federal programs, the immigration authorities of Quebec also propose some very specific pathways to the Canadian province, however, none of them are aligned with Express Entry, there is thus no need to be eligible for Express Entry and being in the pool.
The nomination certificate in Quebec is called “Certificat de Sélection du Québéc (CSQ)”. Only after receiving the CSQ that the federal government (IRCC) will process your application for permanent residence (processing times are longer than the 6-month processing time of Express Entry).
There are streams targeted at international graduates and temporary foreign workers who meet a set of conditions. Other streams are open for business people wishing to invest their money in the province to receive their nomination.
Overview of Quebec’s Immigration Programs
The following table shows the range of immigration streams and categories operated by the Quebec immigration authorities.
| Stream | Main Criteria (not exhaustive) | Job Offer Required | Aligned with Express Entry | Application Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category: Permanent Workers | ||||
| – Score a minimum of 50 points (single) or 59 points (with spouse) in the Selection Grid – To be invited to apply, the profile has to satisfy to the invitation criteria established by the immigration authorities of Quebec – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency | No | No | $895 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| – Have obtained a degree obtained in full-time studies in Quebec during the 36 months preceding the submission of your application: Bachelors, Masters, PhD, DEC, DEP (or DEP+ASP) with 1,800 hours or more of study – From November 23, 2024, the study program granting the degree must have been completed in French (at least 75% of courses in French), or otherwise, you must have successfully completed at least 3 years of secondary or post-secondary studies in French full-time in Quebec or abroad – Have lived in Quebec for at least half the duration of studies – Be legally in Quebec when submitting your application – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Have knowledge of written French that minimally corresponds to Level 5 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Spouse/partner has knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 4 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency | No | No | $895 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| – Have held a full-time job in Quebec, in the NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 category, for at least 24 of the 36 months preceding the submission of your application – Be legally in Québec as a temporary foreign worker or under the IEC program when submitting your application – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Spouse/partner has knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 4 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency | No | No | $895 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| – Have obtained a diploma minimally corresponding to a high school diploma or a Québec diploma of vocational studies, obtained in a study program of at least one year, full time – Hold an eligible job (eligible NOC codes: 94141, 95106, 95107, 65311, 94140, 85100, 94142) in an eligible sector (NAICS 311 – Food manufacturing or NAICS 3121 – Beverage manufacturing) in Québec – Have held an eligible job for a period of at least 24 months on a full-time basis in Québec in an eligible sector in the last 36 months – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency | No | No | $895 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| – Hold a job as an orderly (NOC code 33102) in Québec – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency Work stream: – Hold a diploma related to the occupation of orderly of at least one year on a full-time basis that minimally corresponds to a Québec diploma of vocational studies – Have acquired (i) at least 24 months as an orderly in Québec or (ii) at least 12 months in a health occupation related to basic personal care outside (eligible NOC codes: 31300, 31301, 31302, 32101) of Québec and at least 12 months as an orderly in Québec in the last 36 months Study-work stream: – Have obtained a Québec diploma of vocational studies leading to the occupation of orderly in the last 24 months – Have at least 12 months of work experience as an orderly in Québec obtained in the 24 months and after the completion date of the study program | No | No | $895 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français OR sign a francization agreement to support learning of French and your integration into Québec society – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency Artificial intelligence stream – Foreign Workers: – Have obtained a diploma that minimally corresponds to a Québec bachelor’s degree – Have acquired work experience in an NOC TEER 0, 1, or 2 category job on a full-time basis for a period of at least 24 months in the last 60 months OR have obtained a diploma that minimally corresponds to a Québec master’s or doctoral degree in the last 12 months – Hold or have accepted a job in Québec on a full-time basis in the artificial intelligence sector (with an official notice from the Comité sectoriel de main-d’oeuvre en technologies de l’information et des communications), and for which the gross annual salary is (i) at least $75,000 if the employer is established outside the territory of the Metropolitan Montréal Community (MMM) or (ii) at least $100,000 if it is established inside the MMM Artificial intelligence stream – Quebec graduates: – Have lived in Québec for at least half of your study program – Have obtained a university diploma issued by a Québec educational institution in the last 24 months for completion of higher specialized studies (DESS), a master’s program or a doctoral program. If the case of a DESS, also hold a job in Québec at NOC TEER 0, 1, or 2 category on a full-time basis and for a period of at least 6 months during the 12 months following the date of the end of the study program – Hold or have accepted a job in Québec on a full-time basis in the artificial intelligence sector (with an official notice from the Comité sectoriel de main-d’oeuvre en technologies de l’information et des communications) Information technologies and visual effects stream: – Hold a diploma that minimally corresponds to a Québec diploma of college studies or a Québec bachelor’s degree – Have held an eligible job on a full-time basis for a period of at least 24 months in the last 60 months – Hold or have accepted an eligible job (eligible NOC codes: 21223, 21233, 52120, 21232, 21230, 21234, 20012, 21231, 21310, 51120, 41200, 21211, 21220, 21222, 21221, 52113, 52111, 22220, 22310) in Québec on a full-time basis and for which the hourly wage is equivalent to the maximum wage of the average occupation salary | No | No | $895 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| Category: Business People | ||||
| – Have obtained a diploma minimally corresponding to a high school diploma – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency Stream #1 – Innovative business: Starting an innovative business Profile: – Settle in Québec to create and operate an innovative business for which appropriate support services from an organization specializing in innovation are obtained – Hold at least 10% of the company Carrying out an innovative project Profile: – Have started an innovative business with at least 10% – Have the intention of carrying out an innovative project as part of the operation of the innovative business, for which appropriate support services from an organization specializing in innovation are obtained – Have stayed in Quebec for at least 2 years with an open work permit Stream #2 – Business start-up: Start-up Profile: – Min net worth of $600,000 – Min investment of $300,000 if within the territory of the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) or $150,000 if outside the CMM – Acquire a company for at least 25% ownership – Have 2 years of experience in business management Started business Profile: – Min net worth of $300,000 – Have started a business with at least 25% ownership for at least one year – Have stayed in Quebec for at least 2 years with an open work permit Stream #3 – Business takeover: Business in the process of acquisition Profile: – Min net worth of $600,000 – Intend to acquire control of a business in operation for at least 5 years for a minimum investment of $300,000 if within the territory of the Metropolitan Community of Montreal (CMM) or $150,000 if outside of the CMM – Have obtained appropriate support services from an organization specializing in takeover Acquired business Profile: – Min net worth of $300,000 – Have acquired control of a business in operation for at least 5 years – Have obtained appropriate support services from an organization specializing in takeover – Have stayed in Quebec for at least 2 years with a work permit | No | No | $1,211 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
| – Min net worth of $2,000,000 and min investment of $1,200,000 – Residing in Quebec for at least 1 year out of the two years following the granting of the work permit – Have 2 years of management experience – Have obtained a diploma minimally corresponding to a high school diploma – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency | No | No | $17,380 | |
| – Min net worth of $100,000 and min investment of $25,000 – Come to Québec to create own self-employed job by practising a profession or business activity – Min two years of self-employment experience in the profession or trade you intend to practise in Québec – Have knowledge of oral French that minimally corresponds to Level 7 on Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français – Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency | No | No | $1,211 +$192 for spouse +$192 per dependent | |
Quebec Immigration Processing Times
Skilled Workers (you need to add the Quebec AND the Federal processing times)
- CSQ processing times (by Quebec immigration authorities):
- A Skilled Worker Program (Arrima) application will be processed within six months from submitting the application.
- A PEQ Québec Graduate application will be generally processed within 20 working days, if they do not require an audit interview.
- A PEQ Temporary Foreign Workers application will be generally processed within 20 working days, if they do no require an audit interview.
- Federal processing times (by IRCC):
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a target service standard of processing 80% of Quebec-selected skilled worker applications within 11 months.
From April 2022 to March 2023, IRCC processed 48% of applications within the 11-month standard. - You can check the current processing times here. You need to select “Economic immigration”, then “Skilled Workers (Quebec)”.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a target service standard of processing 80% of Quebec-selected skilled worker applications within 11 months.
Business People (you need to add the Quebec AND the Federal processing times)
- CSQ processing times (by Quebec immigration authorities):
- Processing times for Business People programs are not disclosed.
- Federal processing times (by IRCC):
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not have a target service standard of processing for Quebec Business People applications.
- You can check the current processing times here. You need to select “Economic immigration”, then “Business Class (Quebec)”.
