Immigration Options

Quebec Skilled Worker Program

Developed by the Government of Quebec and the Canadian Federal Government, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) enables highly educated and trained foreign nationals to immigrate to Quebec as skilled workers. Prospective immigrants who apply to the Skilled Worker Quebec Program are evaluated according to a selection grid of factors, and applicants who score enough points are given a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) which they can then use to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

Quebec Skilled Worker Eligibility

Eligibility for the Quebec Immigration Skilled Worker Program is determined by nine selection factors. Quebec Skilled Worker Program points are awarded according to these Immigration Quebec selection criteria in order to identify which possible immigrants are most likely to flourish economically once in Quebec. To qualify for immigration to Canada as a Quebec-selected skilled worker, a solo applicant must score at least 50 points. Potential immigrants who apply with a spouse or a common-law partner must score at least 59 pointsin order to be eligible for the QSW Program. We have outlined each of the skilled worker immigration Quebec requirements in detail below.

Selection Grid for the Regular Skilled Worker Program Regulation of August 2, 2018

			MAX. POINTS 103/120
TRAINING			(26 max.)
Cutoff score: 2 points for the Level of Education criterion	Level of education	General high school	2
		Vocational high school	6
		General postsecondary 2 years	4
		Technical postsecondary 1 year or 2 years	6
		Technical postsecondary 3 years	8
		University, undergraduate, 1 year	4
		University, undergraduate, 2 years	6
		University, undergraduate , 3 years or +	10
		University, master’s, 1 year or +	12
		University, doctorate	14
	Area of training	Points in Part I (foreign diploma) or in Part II (diploma from Québec or equivalent) of the list	0, 2, 6, 9, or 12
EXPERIENCE			(8 max.)
	Work experience of skilled worker	Less than 6 months	0
		6 months to 11 months	4
		12 months to 23 months	4
		24 months to 35 months	6
		36 months to 47 months	6
		48 months or +	8
AGE			(16 max.)
		18 years to 35 years	16
		36 years	14
		37 years	12
		38 years	10
		39 years	8
		40 years	6
		41 years	4
		42 years	2
		43 years or +	0
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY			(22 max.)
	French	Oral comprehension	0, 5, 6, or 7
		Oral expression	0, 5, 6, or 7
		Written comprehension	0 or 1
		Written expression	0 or 1
	English	Oral comprehension	0, 1, or 2
		Oral expression	0, 1, or 2
		Written comprehension	0 or 1
		Written expression	0 or 1
STAY AND FAMILY IN QUÉBEC			(8 max.)
		Stay for study purposes leading to a DVS or an AVS of 900 to less than 1,800 hours, combined with at least 6 months or more full-time work experience in Québec related to the area of training	5
		Stay for study purposes leading to a DVS or an AVS of 1,800 hours or more, a DCS, or an undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral diploma	5
		Stay for work purposes with work permit of at least 1 year and full-time work experience of 6 months or more	5
		Other stays of 3 months or +	2
		Other stays of 2 weeks to 3 months	1
	Family in Québec	Sp, fr, mr, br, sr, son, daughter, gf, gm	3
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACCOMPANYING SPOUSE OR DE FACTO SPOUSE			(17 max.)
	Level of education	General high school	1
		Vocational high school	2
		General postsecondary 2 years	1
		Technical postsecondary 1 year or2 years	2
		Technical postsecondary 3 years	3
		University, undergraduate 1 year	1
		University, undergraduate 2 years	2
		University, undergraduate 3 years or +	3
		University, master’s 1 year or +	4
		University, doctorate	4
	Area of training	Points in Part I (foreign diploma) or Part II (diploma from Québec or equivalent) of the list	0, 1, 2, 3, or 4
	Age	Under 18 years	0
		18 to 35 years	3
		36 years	2
		37 years	2
		38 years	2
		39 years	2
		40 years	1
		41 years	1
		42 years	1
		43 years or +	0
	Language proficiency	Oral comprehension	0, 2, or 3
		Oral expression	0, 2, or 3
			PROPOSED
VALIDATED JOB OFFER			(14 max.)

Financial Self-sufficiency (maximum 1 point)

Quebec Canada Skilled Worker Program applicants are eligible to receive one point under this “Financial Autonomy” qualification category should they meet the Quebec immigration minimum settlement funds requirement. The Government of Quebec requires potential immigrants to possess a minimum amount of money that is determined by the number of family members immigrating and their ages. Applicants who sign the Quebec Immigration Skilled Worker Program financial agreement stating that they possess the required funds will receive a point for this selection factor. A score of 1 point in this category is required in order to be eligible for the Skilled Worker Program. Prospective immigrants who do not sign the declaration that they satisfy the Quebec Skilled Worker minimum funds requirement will not be eligible to participate in the program.

Quebec Skilled Worker Processing Fees

There is a mandatory Government processing fee for applying to the 2018 Quebec Skilled Worker Immigration Program.

Quebec Skilled Worker Fees:

• Main applicant – CAD $773
• Spouse or common-law partner – CAD $166
• Dependent children – CAD $166 each

Example: a family consisting of a husband and wife and two children would need to pay a Government of Quebec Skilled Worker Program fee of $1,271 ($773 + $166 + $166 + $166).

What is the Highest Possible Quebec Skilled Worker Score?

Although extremely unlikely, it is possible for an applicant to attain a QSW Canada immigration score of 116 (26 + 8 + 16 + 22 + 8 + 17 + 10 + 8 + 1). To do so, he or she would need to have a PhD in a Section A area of training, have more than 4 years of eligible job experience, be 35 years of age or under, be exceptional at both French and English, have close family living in Quebec, have previously worked or studied in the province, have a validated Quebec job offer, have 2 or more children also moving to Canada, be financially self-sufficient, and have a spouse or partner that is also young and highly educated in an ideal industry. The minimum cutoff score for participating in the Quebec Canada Immigration Skilled Worker Program is 50 points for single applicants and 59 points for couples.

Updated Quebec Skilled Worker Requirements

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program requirements were changed in 2015, lowering the score required to obtain a Certificate de Selection du Quebec (CSQ). The Adaptability selection factor was also removed from the points-based Quebec immigration program. As a result, the adaptability interview is no longer a requirement of the Canada Immigration Quebec Skilled Worker Program. Previously, attending a scheduled interview was an obligatory element of the QSW Program application process. Now it is no longer mandatory, although Immigration Quebec retains the right to conduct QSWP interviews should they wish to verify in person settlement plans, authenticity of documentation, language proficiency, relationships in Quebec, or other aspects of a candidate’s application.

The Quebec immigration points grid was updated again in 2018. The minimum points required for single applicants was increased from 49 to 50, and the number of points required for married couples was raised from 57 to 59. The 2018 Immigration Quebec Areas of Training list was also updated. In addition to these changes, the Government of Quebec has been steadily improving the “Mon projet Québec” online immigration system, and it is now better than ever.

The new Quebec immigration rules for skilled workers favor potential candidates who have been trained in a “preferred area” or who have a validated offer of employment in the province. In 2018, the Education sub-category is more heavily weighted than the Areas of Training sub-category, which means what a person is trained in affects their eligibility to migrate to Quebec less than the actual level of education they have attained. The Quebec Immigration Skilled Worker list of occupations has also been enlarged, and points are now awarded for an exceedingly wide range of degrees and diplomas from foreign and Quebec institutions. Canadian immigration for Quebec skilled workers is more consistent and objective than ever thanks to the new ranking formula, and many subjective elements such as the in-person interview have been removed. The new and improved Quebec immigration eligibility criteria for the program should prove to be more effective at identifying human capital with strong credentials.

Quebec Immigration French Requirements

Immigration to Quebec without speaking French is possible through the QSW Program provided an applicant is awarded enough points from other categories of the selection grid to attain a passing score. French language proficiency is worth up to 16 points, so even if you are excellent at English, you will need to be very competitive in other categories to exceed the pass mark if you do not understand or speak French.

Can I Immigrate to Other Canadian Provinces via the QSWP?

Under Canadian immigration rules, skilled immigrants who wish to reside in Montreal or other areas of Quebec are selected based on different criteria than those who wish to settle in the rest of Canada. This is why the Province of Quebec has its own skilled immigration program, officially called the “Regular Skilled Worker Program Quebec.” All Quebec Skilled Worker Program applicants should intend to reside in Quebec. Although the Quebec immigration program gives successful participants unconditional permanent residency in Canada, enabling them to live, work, and study in any Canadian city, it is specifically designed to attract skilled workers to the Province of Quebec. Individuals and families that do not genuinely wish to live in Quebec should not apply for the QSW Program. Instead, skilled workers who wish to reside outside of Quebec can consider applying to the Federal Skilled Worker Program Canada (FSW). To learn more about the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Canada Express Entry, click here.

Which Canadian Visa Offices Process Quebec Skilled Worker Program Applications?

The following Canada Visa Offices accept Skilled Worker Quebec applications.

Africa:

• Accra (Ghana)
• Cairo (Egypt)
• Dakar (Senegal)
• Nairobi (Kenya)
• Pretoria (South Africa)
• Rabat (Morocco)
• Tel Aviv (Israel)

Asia and Australia:

• Beijing (China)
• Colombo (Sri Lanka)
• Hong Kong (China)
• Islamabad (Pakistan)
• Manila (Philippines)
• New Delhi (India)
• Singapore (Singapore)
• Sydney (Australia)

Europe:

• Bucharest (Romania)
• Kiev (Ukraine)
• London (United Kingdom)
• Moscow (Russia)
• Paris (France)
• Rome (Italy)
• Vienna (Austria)
• Warsaw (Poland)

Middle East:

• Abu Dhabi (UAE)
• Amman (Jordan)
• Ankara (Turkey)
• Beirut (Lebanon)

North America:

• Guatemala City (Guatemala)
• Havana (Cuba)
• Kingston (Jamaica)
• Los Angeles (USA)
• Mexico City (Mexico)
• New York City (USA)
• Port-au-Prince (Haiti)
• Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago)
• Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)

South America:

• Bogota (Colombia)
• Buenos Aires (Argentina)
• Lima (Peru)
• Santiago (Chile)
• Sao Paulo (Brazil)

Quebec Skilled Worker Supporting Documentation

Individuals and families applying for the Quebec Canada Immigration Skilled Worker Program must support their application with supplementary documentation. In addition to the Quebec Skilled Worker application form (Immigration Quebec form A-0520-AA “Application for Selection Certificate – SKILLED WORKER”), the following supporting documents should also be included with a QSWP application.

Quebec Skilled Worker Program Required Documents:

• Financial self-sufficiency contract (Quebec immigration form A-0522-OA)
• Power of attorney mandate (if using a legal representative)
• Declaration for practicing a regulated trade or profession (if applicable)
• Declaration for being a teacher (if applicable)
• Declaration for having attended Medical School in Canada or USA (if applicable)
• Photocopy of valid passport (showing issue date and expiry date)
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• Photocopy of marriage certificate, judgment of divorce, and/or certificate of death of spouse (if applicable)
• Photocopy of 2+ civil status documents attesting to de facto spouse status such as utility bill, shared bank account statements, mortgage or lease, etc. Documents must contain both names. (if applicable)
• Photocopy of valid residence permit if residing in country in which you are not a citizen (if applicable)
• Photocopy of proof of enrollment as a foreign student (if applicable)
• Photocopy of letter from educational institution indicating start date for foreign student as well as expected end date (if applicable)
• Original declaration of parental consent if child under 18 years of age will be accompanying you to Canada without the other parent. Consent must be made before a judge, magistrate, officer of the court, notary, Government employee or diplomatic representative from your country of citizenship. A certificate of death of the other parent, or a court judgment granting sole custody of the child to the accompanying parent will also suffice. (if applicable)
• Photocopy of adoption papers for accompanying child (if applicable)
• Original medical certificate indicating physical or mental incapacity of accompanying adult child (if applicable)
• Original passport-sized photos of all family members immigrating to Quebec
• Certified true copy of all degrees and diplomas, as well as all corresponding transcripts (if applicable)
• Photocopy of official work attestation for each job declared in your Quebec Skilled Worker application. Must be printed on company letterhead and contain detailed information about job duration, positions held, tasks performed, and hours worked per week. (if applicable)
• Photocopy of internship attestation on company letterhead and containing company contact information (if applicable)
• Certified true copy of all internship agreements completed as part of a study program
• Photocopy of documentation supporting your work as a self-employed person or contractor
• Photocopy of certificate of company registration (if applicable)
• Photocopy of documents demonstrating membership in a professional order (if applicable)
• Original or certified true copy of income tax return to prove legality of work experience
• Photocopy of professional practice permit in Quebec as well as authorization to practice a regulated trade in Quebec by local regulatory body (if applicable)
• Photocopy of certificate of competence or qualification by regulatory body in Quebec (if applicable)
• Photocopy of mutual recognition arrangement (ARM) eligibility for residents of France (if applicable)
• Photocopy of French language testing: TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TCF, TCFQ, DELF or DALF (if applicable)
• Photocopy of English language testing: IELTS (if applicable)
• Photocopy of proof of relationship with Quebec. Either a Quebec work permit or study permit, or proof of exemption for one, or passport stamps demonstrating a visit to Quebec. (if applicable)
• Photocopy of proof of family in Quebec. Birth certificate of family member domiciled in the province, as well as their valid Quebec healthcare card and Canadian passport or residency card. (if applicable)

Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW Program) Questions

The application form for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) under the Skilled Worker Program asks a wide variety of questions and includes comprehensive instructions. The official Quebec immigration application asks questions regarding the applicant’s identity, marital status, residential address, family members, dependent children, offer of employment in Quebec validated by the MIDI, as well as if the prospective immigrant is currently residing in Quebec as a student or temporary foreign worker. The Immigration Quebec application forms also ask for the title and code of any degree or diploma attained, if the applicant has ever applied for a temporary stay, permanent residence, or refugee status in Canada, every location the applicant has lived in the past ten years, his or her thorough educational history, and all the jobs held in the past five years as well as the precise tasks performed at each job. The Quebec Skilled Worker application also asks for meticulous information regarding any visits to Quebec in the last ten years, English and French proficiency test scores, which city or region of Quebec the applicant plans to reside in, intended occupation once living in Quebec, and whether or not the applicant has retained the services of a Quebec immigration lawyer or consultant. Skilled Worker Quebec applicants must also sign a declaration on the common values of Quebec society, and spouses or common-law partners must also sign a declaration regarding their relationship with the main applicant.

Quebec Migration – Quebec PR Rules & Process

Quebec selected immigration is assessment based, and only qualified individuals will be invited to settle in the province as a permanent worker. The process to obtain PR in Quebec involves procuring a CSQ and then applying to become a Canadian permanent resident. Using a calculator and the skilled immigration points grid provided above, it is possible for interested parties to determine if they are eligible to participate in the program. A Quebec immigration lawyer or regulated Quebec immigration consultant (RCIC) can also help determine QSW Program eligibility.

The official Quebec immigration website is also an excellent source of information and news. Click here to visit the Quebec immigration official website which also contains the Quebec immigration office contact info. Please note: some people casually refer to the Skilled Worker Program as the “Quebec PNP Program.” Quebec is the only province in Canada without an official provincial nominee program as they handle their own immigration outside of the federal system.

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