What is the Quebec Immigration Program?

Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with the Government of Canada, and has its own guidelines for choosing their immigrants.

To immigrate to Quebec, you must first apply directly to the province and receive a Quebec Selection Certificate. Once you receive the certificate, you can then apply to Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada (IRCC) for your immigration visa.

Quebec currently has 3 immigration streams: (a) Skilled Worker, (b) Investor, (c) Self-Employed, (d) Entrepreneur, and (e) Quebec Experience Program.

Who can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Programs?

You may qualify for the Quebec Skilled Worker – Regular Program if you:

• have a high school diploma
• have a valid job offer
• have 6 months’ qualified work experience in the last 5 years
• meet minimum requirements for French (CLB 7) and English (CLB 5) proficiency

You may qualify for the Quebec Skilled Worker – Foreign Students Program if you:

• have a valid study permit
• meet study requirements (secondary vocational program or post-secondary education)
• wish to enter the workforce without finishing your studies provided:
  • you finished 50% of a <18 months program
  • you are 12 months away from completing a 18+ months program

Who can apply for the Quebec Investor Program?

You may qualify for the Quebec Investor Program if you:

• have a worth of $2,000,000
• invest $1,200,000
• have 2 years’ relevant business experience in the last 5 years
• have at least 2 full-time staff or their equivalent

Who can apply for the Quebec Self-Employed Program?

You may qualify for the Quebec Self-Employed Program if you:

• intend to create your own job in Quebec
• have a net worth of $100,000
• provide a startup deposit of $25,000-%50,000, depending on your intended location
• have 2 years’ relevant experience in the last 5 years

Who can apply for the Quebec Entrepreneur Program?

You may qualify for the Quebec Entrepreneur Program if you have a service offer from a business accelerator, incubator, or university entrepreneurship centre to start a new business.

You may also qualify if you start or acquire an existing one which has been in operation for at least 5 years and you:

• have a net worth of $900,000
• provide a startup deposit of $200,000-$300,000, depending on location
• provide a guarantee deposit of $200,000
• own at least 25% of a new business or 51% of an acquired business

Who can apply for the Quebec Experience Program?

You may qualify for the Quebec Experience Program – Graduate Stream if you:

• received a recognized diploma in Quebec in the last 36 months
• meet minimum French language proficiency (CLB 7)

You may qualify for the Qeubec Experience Program – Temporary Worker Stream if you:

• worked full-time in Quebec for 12 months in the last 2 years
• worked in a qualified job
• meet minimum French language proficiency (CLB 7)

Can family members accompany the principal applicant?

Yes, you can bring family members that you declared in your Nova Scotia PNP (NS PNP) application. These include:

• your spouse or common-law partner
• your dependent child (<22 years old)
• your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child
• a dependent child of a dependent child

How long is the processing time and what are the processing fees?

The processing time for applications under the Quebec Immigration Program varies based on the volume of applications and the information being processed and verified.

The processing fee for the Quebec Immigration Program starts at $785 for skilled workers, $1,062 for entrepreneurs and self-employed persons, and $15,235 for investors.

What are the key considerations in submitting an application?

The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some key considerations when applying for the Quebec Immigration Program:

• Are you applying to the right immigration program?
• What submissions can you add to strengthen your application?
• How do you determine that you are correctly meeting the minimum requirements?