The Québec Entrepreneur Program is an immigration pathway of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), aimed at business-minded individuals who desire to establish or acquire a business within the province. This program is designed to attract entrepreneurs who can contribute to Quebec’s economic development through innovation, job creation, and sustainable business practices.
The guide will go through an overview of the program, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Québec Entrepreneur Program – Overview
The Québec Entrepreneur Program offers a targeted process for eligible business people to obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), a crucial step toward becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
The program is divided into three distinct streams, each catering to different entrepreneurial pursuits:
Stream 1 – Innovative Business
This stream is tailored for entrepreneurs aiming to launch an innovative business or undertake an innovative project in Quebec. Applicants must secure support from a recognized organization that will assist in the project’s development and implementation.Stream 2 – Business Start-Up
Designed for individuals intending to start a new business or manage an existing one they’ve already initiated in Quebec. This stream emphasizes the entrepreneur’s active involvement in the day-to-day operations and management of the business.Stream 3 – Business Takeover
This stream focuses on entrepreneurs who wish to acquire and manage an existing business in Quebec. It encourages the continuation and growth of established enterprises, ensuring their sustained contribution to the province’s economy.
This program is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry.
Québec Entrepreneur Program – Eligibility
You can apply to the Québec Entrepreneur Program if you satisfy to the requirements of one of the three streams, as well as the general requirements applicable to all three streams.
Stream 1 – Innovative Business
To immigrate to Québec as an entrepreneur under the Innovative Business stream, you must meet the general conditions of the program and the conditions of the profile under which you wish to apply:
- Start-up of an innovative company Profile: you would like to start up an innovative company in Québec, or
- Carrying out an innovative project Profile: you are in Québec, you have already started up an innovative company, and you would like to carry out an innovative project within that company.
Start-up of an innovative company Profile – Specific Requirements
Business Partners
You can start your innovative business alone or with a maximum of three people who also submit an application under the Entrepreneur Program.
Capital Contribution
Your contribution to the original capital of the business that you will create must correspond to at least 10% of the value of this business. You can hold it alone or with the spouse or common-law partner included in the application.
Organization Support
You must have received a service offer from an organization specialized in innovation that has committed to supporting you in carrying out your business project. The organization must be able to demonstrate that it can support you in your business project.
An organization specialized in innovation is an organization with an establishment in Québec whose main activity is to provide support services (training, mentoring, searching for financing) to people whose business project entails starting or growing an innovative business.
Business Plan
You must have a business plan outlining your business project to submit with your application.
Carrying out an innovative project Profile – Specific Requirements
Business Partners
You can carry out your innovative project alone or with a maximum of three people who also submit an application under the Entrepreneur Program. You are not required to have started this business with these people.
Capital Contribution
Your share in the paid-in capital of the business you have started must be at least 10% of the value of that capital. You may hold it alone or together with your spouse or common-law partner included in the application.
Organization Support
You must have received a service offer from an organization specialized in innovation that has committed to supporting you in carrying out your business project. The organization must be able to demonstrate that it can support you in your business project.
An organization specialized in innovation is an organization with an establishment in Québec whose main activity is to provide support services (training, mentoring, searching for financing) to people whose business project entails starting or growing an innovative business.
Business Plan
You must have a business plan outlining your business project to submit with your application.
Québec Residency
You must have been living in Québec for at least two years and be authorized to work in Québec.
You must also have honoured the conditions of your stay in Québec.
Stream 2 – Business Start-up
To immigrate to Québec as an entrepreneur under the Business Start-up stream, you must meet the general conditions of the program and the conditions of the profile under which you wish to apply:
- Business start-up Profile: you would like to start a business in Québec
- Started business Profile: you are in Québec and have started a company
Start-up business Profile – Specific Requirements
Work Experience
You must have at least two years of management experience in the five years preceding the date of submission of your application.
Your work experience cannot have been gained in one of the ineligible sectors:
- Payday loans, cheque cashing or pawnbroking, or
- Production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products, or services related to the sex industry, such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages.
Business Partners
You can start your business alone or with a maximum of three people who also submit an application under the Entrepreneur Program.
Business Plan
You must have a business plan outlining your business project to submit with your application.
Net Worth
To be eligible, you must have a net worth of at least $600,000 CAD. You must demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of your net worth.
You can share this net worth with your spouse or common-law partner included in the application. You must also demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of their net worth, even if their assets are not needed to reach the minimum net worth.
Donations received in the six months preceding the date of submission of your application cannot be included in the your net worth.
Québec Residency & Business Start-up
This requirement does not need to be met before submitting your application to the MIFI.
After submitting your application and its approval in principle, a Notice of intent of being selected is issued by the MIFI. You will have to apply for a work permit with the Notice.
In the 2 years following the issuance of the work permit, you must have started a business in Québec.
In the context of starting your business, you must spend on the start-up or operations a minimum amount of:
- $300,000 CAD if your business is located inside the Montréal Metropolitan Area;
- $150,000 CAD if your business is located outside the Montréal Metropolitan Area.
Your contribution to the original capital of the business must correspond to at least 25% of the value of this business. You can hold it alone or with the spouse included in the application.
The business must have been registered for at least one year at the time you submit documentation to the MIFI justifying its start-up and request to obtain the Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ).
Started business Profile – Specific Requirements
Business Partners
You can start your business alone or with a maximum of three people who also submit an application under the Entrepreneur Program.
Capital Contribution
Your stake in the company’s paid-in capital must be at least 25% of its value. You may hold it alone or together with your spouse or common-law partner included in the application.
Business Plan
You must have a business plan outlining your business project to submit with your application.
Net Worth
To be eligible, you must have a net worth of at least $300,000 CAD. You must demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of your net worth.
You can share this net worth with your spouse or common-law partner included in the application. You must also demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of their net worth, even if their assets are not needed to reach the minimum net worth.
Donations received in the six months preceding the date of submission of your application cannot be included in the your net worth.
Québec Residency
You must have been living in Québec for at least two years and be authorized to work in Québec.
You must also have honoured the conditions of your stay in Québec.
Stream 3 – Business Takeover
To immigrate to Québec as an entrepreneur under the Business Takeover stream, you must meet the general conditions of the program and the conditions of the profile under which you wish to apply:
- Company in the process of acquisition Profile: you would like to take over a Québec company
- Acquired company Profile: you have taken over a Québec company
For both profiles, the business must not have been previously acquired in the five years preceding the application (i) by one or more people who were selected under the Entrepreneur Program, or (ii) by a group of people in which the person who holds control was selected under the Entrepreneur Program.
Company in the process of acquisition Profile – Specific Requirements
Business Partners
You must take over a business on your own or with your accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
If you have business partners, they cannot apply for permanent selection as an entrepreneur.
Capital Contribution
You must acquire control of the business you wish to take over alone or with the person included in the application as your spouse or common-law partner.
Succession Plan
You must have a takeover plan outlining your business project to submit with your application.
Organization Support
You must have received a service offer from an organization specialized in business takeovers that has committed to supporting you throughout the transfer process. The organization must be able to demonstrate that it can support you in your business project.
An organization specialized in business takeovers is an organization with an establishment in Québec whose main activity is to provide support services (training, mentoring, business transfer brokerage).
Net Worth
To be eligible, you must have a net worth of at least $600,000 CAD. You must demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of your net worth.
You can share this net worth with your spouse or common-law partner included in the application. You must also demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of their net worth, even if their assets are not needed to reach the minimum net worth.
Donations received in the six months preceding the date of submission of your application cannot be included in the your net worth.
Takeover Bid & Expenses
In the context of business takeover, you must make a takeover bid in accordance with the business project presented in the succession plan and service offer, and spend a minimum amount of:
- $300,000 CAD if your business is located inside the Montréal Metropolitan Area;
- $150,000 CAD if your business is located outside the Montréal Metropolitan Area.
This requirement does not need to be met before submitting your application to the MIFI.
If you submit your application without meeting this requirement, a Notice of intent of being selected is issued by the MIFI after the application’s approval in principle. You will have to apply for a work permit with the Notice.
In the 2 years following the submission of the application, you must meet this requirement to have your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) issued.
Acquired company Profile – Specific Requirements
Business Partners
You must have taken over the business on your own or with your accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
If you have business partners, they cannot apply for permanent selection as an entrepreneur.
Capital Contribution
You must acquire control of the business you have taken over alone or with the person included in the application as your spouse or common-law partner.
Succession Plan
You must have a takeover plan outlining your business project to submit with your application.
Organization Support
You must have received a service offer from an organization specialized in business takeovers that has committed to supporting you throughout the transfer process. The organization must be able to demonstrate that it can support you in your business project.
An organization specialized in business takeovers is an organization with an establishment in Québec whose main activity is to provide support services (training, mentoring, business transfer brokerage).
Net Worth
To be eligible, you must have a net worth of at least $300,000 CAD. You must demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of your net worth.
You can share this net worth with your spouse or common-law partner included in the application. You must also demonstrate the legal origin and accumulation of their net worth, even if their assets are not needed to reach the minimum net worth.
Donations received in the six months preceding the date of submission of your application cannot be included in the your net worth.
Québec Residency
You must have been living in Québec for at least two years and be authorized to work in Québec.
You must also have honoured the conditions of your stay in Québec.
All Streams – General Requirements
Age
At the time your application is submitted, you must be at least 18 years old.
Language
You must demonstrate you have a knowledge of spoken French that corresponds to level 7 of the Québec scale of French proficiency levels.
There are two ways to demonstrate your knowledge of French:
Secondary (high) school diploma accepted by the MIFI:
- General, vocational and technological baccalaureates awarded by the French Department of Education,
- Certificate of higher secondary education (CESS) issued by the Government of the French Community of Belgium, or
- Maturité certificate awarded on completion of studies at a school located in a French-speaking canton of Switzerland.
- Language test results or diplomas accepted by the MIFI attesting to your knowledge of French.
Education
You must hold a diploma corresponding, minimally, in Québec, to a secondary school diploma, a vocational studies diploma, an attestation of vocational specialization or a certificate of college studies.
You do not need to provide an Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec (ECE – comparative evaluation of studies done outside Québec) of your diploma to submit your application.
You must have obtained your diploma before submitting your application.
Intention to Settle in Québec
You must intend to reside in Québec and operate a business that is not in one of the ineligible sectors:
- Payday loans, cheque cashing or pawnbroking.
- Production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products, or services related to the sex industry, such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages.
- Trading, leasing, brokerage, development or planning in the property sector.
Financial Self-Sufficiency
You must demonstrate the ability to support yourself and your immediate family members financially for the first three months upon obtaining permanent residence.
The minimum required funds are set below and depend on your family size.
| Number of Dependent Children | Situation 1: Principal applicant only |
Situation 2: Principal applicant & Spouse/Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 years old: 0 | $3,877 | $5,686 |
| Under 18 years old: 1 | $5,221 | $6,370 |
| Under 18 years old: 2 | $5,882 | $6,875 |
| Under 18 years old: 3 | $6,552 | $7,380 |
| Under 18 years old: 4 or more | For each, ADD $671 |
For each, ADD $505 |
| 18 years old and older: 1 or more | For each, ADD $1,808 |
For each, ADD $1,808 |
Québec Entrepreneur Program – Application Process
Direct to CSQ Stream Profiles Application Process
For a better understanding of the process, below are the main steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the following Streams and Profiles of the Québec Entrepreneur Program, i.e. Profiles requiring meeting all eligibility requirements before submitting an application:
- Stream 1 – Innovative Business | Start-up of an innovative company Profile.
- Stream 1 – Innovative Business | Carrying out an innovative project Profile.
- Stream 2 – Business Start-up | Started Business Profile
- Stream 3 – Business Takeover | Company on the process of acquisition Profile
- Stream 3 – Business Takeover | Acquired company Profile
Step 1 – Obtaining the Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ):
Candidates must qualify for the minimum eligibility requirements and apply by submitting their application to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) through the Arrima portal (filling in forms, uploading required documents and paying fees).
- While the application is processed, a request to obtain an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Québec values will be received via Arrima. The principal applicant and members of their family included in the application (spouse aged 16 and over and dependent children aged 18 and over) will then have 60 days to obtain the attestation, either via an online test or by attending an information session if eligible.
- While the application is processed, candidates may be required to complete an interview with an immigration agent of the MIFI to verify, for example, the accuracy of the information provided.
Step 2 – Obtaining Permanent Residence:
Candidates apply for permanent residence to federal government (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC) after receiving the Québec Selection Certificate (after Québec processes their application). Candidates need to apply online, and include the nomination documentation received from Québec.
- Candidates might be able to get a work permit after obtaining the Québec Selection Certificate, either:
- If living outside Québec or outside Canada, candidates can apply for an Open Work Permit under the International Mobility Program Plus (IMP+) if yearly cap has not been reached, or
- If living and working in Québec, and having applied for permanent residence and obtained an acknowledgment of receipt, candidates can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit, or
- If living and working in Québec, and not having yet applied for permanent residence, candidates can apply for an LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permit.
Intent of being selected to CSQ Stream Profiles Application Process
For a better understanding of the process, below are the main steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the following Streams and Profiles of the Québec Entrepreneur Program, i.e. Profiles that do not require meeting all eligibility requirements before submitting an application:
- Stream 2 – Business Start-up | Start-up business Profile
- Stream 3 – Business Takeover | Company on the process of acquisition Profile
Step 1 – Obtaining the notice of intent of being selected:
Candidates must qualify for the minimum eligibility requirements, except the Québec Residency & Business Start-up or Takeover Bid & Expenses requirements.
Candidates can then apply by mailing their application to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), including filled forms, attached supporting documentation, and fee payment.
- While the application is processed, a request to obtain an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Québec values will be received via Arrima. The principal applicant and members of their family included in the application (spouse aged 16 and over and dependent children aged 18 and over) will then have 60 days to obtain the attestation, either via an online test or by attending an information session if eligible.
- While the application is processed, candidates may be required to complete an interview with an immigration agent of the MIFI to verify, for example, the accuracy of the information provided.
Step 2 – Obtaining the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ):
After the MIFI accepts the application, candidates are issued an Notice of intent of being selected to apply within 6 months for a Temporary Work Permit to the federal government (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC).
Candidates will have 2 years to satisfy to the remaining requirement and submit proof of this to the MIFI to receive the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
- For Stream 2 (Business Start-up), 2 years from the date of issuance of the work permit.
- For Stream 3 (Business Takeover), 2 years from the application submission.
Step 3 – Obtaining Permanent Residence:
Candidates apply for permanent residence to federal government (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC) after receiving the Québec Selection Certificate (after Québec processes their application). Candidates need to apply online, and include the nomination documentation received from Québec.
- Candidates might be able to get a work permit after obtaining the Québec Selection Certificate, either:
If living outside Québec or outside Canada, candidates can apply for a Work Permit under the International Mobility Program with a letter of support for early entry issued by the MIFI, or
- If living and working in Québec, and having applied for permanent residence and obtained an acknowledgment of receipt, candidates can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit, or
- If living and working in Québec, and not having yet applied for permanent residence, candidates can apply for an LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permit.
Québec Entrepreneur Program – Application Fees
Quebec application fees (to MIFI)
- For 2026, the fees for the Québec Entrepreneur Program are set by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) at:
- $1,272 CAD for the principal applicant,
- $201 CAD for the spouse/partner, if applicable, and
- $201 CAD for each dependent child, if applicable.
Federal application fees (to IRCC)
- The fees to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are only paid after receipt of the Quebec Selection Certificate and submission of the permanent residence application to IRCC:
- Processing fee:
- $1,810 CAD for the principal applicant,
- $950 CAD for the spouse/partner, if applicable, and
- $260 CAD for each dependent child, if applicable.
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF):
- $575 CAD for the principal applicant, and
- $575 CAD for the spouse/partner, if applicable.
- Biometrics fee:
- $85 CAD for one person, or maximum $170 CAD for a family of more than two – You can find more information on Biometrics in this page.
- Processing fee:
Québec Entrepreneur Program – Processing Times
Quebec processing times (by MIFI)
- Most applications for permanent selection under the Québec Entrepreneur Program are processed by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) of Québec within 6 months.
Federal processing times (by IRCC)
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not have a target service standard for the Québec Entrepreneur Program.
- You can check the current processing times here. You need to select “Economic immigration”, then “Quebec Business Class”.
Québec Entrepreneur Program – Latest News & Data
Québec Entrepreneur Program – In-Demand Occupations?
You can find out about the other provinces’ in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
