Quebec Skilled Worker

Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW)

Quebec Skilled Worker Program is an immigration program for foreign skilled workers who want to settle as permanent residents of Canada and reside in Quebec.

Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with the Government of Canada and its Skilled Worker Program is operated separately from the government of Canada’s own programs for skilled workers. The program is a point-based initiative operated by the province of Quebec for skilled candidates who can contribute to Quebec’s economy as a member of the workforce. Quebec has its own rules for choosing immigrants who will adapt well to living there. Successful applicants may bring their family members to Quebec, and a valid job offer from a Canadian or Quebec employer is not required.

The Quebec Skilled Worker program has no list of eligible occupations. If the criteria set out by Immigration Quebec are met, individuals will qualify for the program regardless of their occupation or field of expertise.

Quebec Skilled Worker Application Process

The Quebec Skilled Worker program involves two steps. To immigrate to Canada as a Quebec-selected skilled worker and to become a permanent resident of Canada and live in Quebec, individuals with a validated job offer in Quebec, as well as temporary residents must apply to the Government of Quebec for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). If the applicant has sufficient QSW points, s/he can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The Quebec government will then invite some candidates to submit a complete application for a Quebec selection certificate (CSQ) within 90 days.

If the Province of Quebec issues a CSQ, the applicant becomes eligible to apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. IRCC will conduct a medical and criminal background check as part of its approval process.

Note that not everyone with a passing score will be invited to apply for a CSQ. Other elements will be considered when issuing invitations, including applicants’ ability to successfully stay in Quebec, their region of destination, whether there is a shortage in their occupation in Quebec, and whether their country of origin is affected by a humanitarian crisis. The Minister will also prioritize applicants with a valid job offer, those who are currently working in Quebec full-time, and those with at least 6 months of prior work experience in Quebec.

How to apply

There are 3 main steps to apply:

1. Get the application package

After the applicant is selected by the province of Quebec, s/he must get the application package including the forms that must be filled out completely and truthfully. There are serious consequences if the applicant misrepresents himself or herself holds back information on his or her application.

2. Pay the application fees

In most cases, the fees include processing fees for the applicant and anyone s/he has included on his or her application, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), biometrics, and third-party fees. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo. In most cases, a biometrics fee must be paid when the applicant submits his or her application. Then a confirmation letter is sent to the applicant that must be shown by him or her at the time of giving the biometrics.

Depending on the applicant’s situation, third-party fees are needed to be paid for medical exams, police certificates, and educational credential assessment.

Processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program for 2020 are as follows:

3. Submit your application

After applying to come to Canada as a Quebec-selected skilled worker, if the application is approved, the applicant will receive a confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) as well as a permanent resident visa (if the applicant is from a country that requires a visa). The COPR cannot be extended and should be used before it expires.

Quebec Skilled Worker Requirements

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is more complex than many other Canadian immigration programs. There are different eligibility thresholds for single applicants as opposed to applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, and all applicants have to pass two points thresholds in order to be considered eligible.

Selection is made based on a selection grid, with points awarded on the basis of various selection factors and criteria. All QSW candidates must demonstrate that they meet the minimum required score on the QSW point’s assessment grid.

As of January 1, 2020, all applicants for permanent residence through Quebec immigration programs are required to show they understand Quebec values. This can be done by passing a Quebec values test or completing a course in Quebec values.

Selection Grid for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program

The selection factors and criteria are designed to assess the applicant’s social and professional profile (as well as his or her spouse’s, if applicable). In order to submit to the Quebec Skilled Worker program for a Quebec selection certificate (CSQ), applicants must meet the minimum required scores on the eligibility point’s grid below.

Single applicants

Single applicants must reach a minimum of 43 points (out of 99) across the following factors: education level, specific area of training, age, French ability, English ability, connections to Quebec through previous visits and/or family, and whether or not they have a validated job offer from an employer in Quebec.

Education and training (maximum 20 points for both, minimum 2 points required for education level)

Please note that points for education are awarded based on the applicant’s area of study.

Only diplomas obtained before the submission of the application are considered in the attribution of points for the Education Level criterion.

Education level: up to 14 points

Work experience: up to 8 points

Age: up to 16 points

Language proficiency (up to 22 points)

French ability: up to 16 points

English ability: up to 6 points

Stays and family in Quebec (up to 8 points)

Previous stays in Quebec: up to 5 points

Family in Quebec: up to 3 points

Valid job offer: up to 14 points

Applicants with a spouse/common-law partner

Applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner must reach a minimum of 52 points for the first threshold. Though this may seem like a higher threshold, and therefore seemingly more difficult, these applicants can also obtain up to 17 points for the spouse or partner’s factors, in addition to the first set of factors above. So whereas single applicants have to accumulate at least 43 points out of a possible 99 in order to pass the first threshold, applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner have to obtain at least 52 points out of 116.

Spouse/partner education: up to 4 points

Spouse/partner age: up to 3 points

Spouse/partner French ability: up to 6 points

Cutoff Score for Employability

Single applicants who can accumulate at least 43 points from among the above factors must then take into account the number of accompanying children they have, as well as their financial capacity, and all together reach at least 50 points across all factors.

Applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner who can accumulate at least 52 points from among the above factors must then take into account the number of accompanying children they have, as well as their financial capacity, and all together reach at least 59 points across all factors.

Accompanying children: up to 8 points

Financial Self-sufficiency: 1 point

The applicant must sign a contract in which s/he undertakes to provide for his or her needs and his or her family’s needs for at least the first three months following his or her arrival in Quebec.

Although only one point is awarded for financial self-sufficiency, this is an essential requirement. Applicants who do not satisfy this requirement will have their application rejected, even if they otherwise satisfy the overall point’s requirements. It should be noted that the figures below do not denote fees. Rather, this is the minimum funds applicants must possess for settlement purposes.

To find out the minimum funds required for your application, see the tables below.

Applicants with no children

Applicants with children

Timeframes

The Ministère will analyze an application within 6 months, starting from the date on which the complete information required to process the application (forms and documents) has been received and added to the file. The application processing timeframe may exceed 6 months for applications that require verifications.