Quebec Immigration – Skilled Worker Program
The Quebec immigration selection system for Quebec Skilled Workers is designed to indicate which applicants are likely to become economically established upon immigration to Quebec.
Skilled Worker (Professional) applicants who intend to reside in Montreal or in another city or region within the province of Quebec are assessed under a different system than applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. This is done through what the government of Quebec calls its ‘Regular Skilled Worker Program’, otherwise known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).
As of January 2016, candidates for immigration to Canada through the QSWP must use the secure space Mon projet Québec in order to submit an application. Mon projet Québec allows candidates to complete their application for a CSQ, make their payment online, follow the status of their application, make changes to their application, and access personal electronic messaging throughout the process.
Following the closure of the second intake period in 2016, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (‘the MIDI’, the Quebec government department overseeing immigration to the province) has announced that the intake limit of 10,000 applications for a selection certificate through the QSWP for the period of April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 has been reached.
Note: Cap-exempt candidates who have an employment offer validated by the MIDI, as well as individuals who are temporary residents of Quebec and eligible to submit an application for CSQ, may submit an application at any time.
Quebec Skilled Worker Eligibility
Applicants who are successful under the Regular Skilled Worker Program are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, also known as a CSQ), which is then followed by a Canadian Permanent Resident (Immigration) Visa. Though applicants to the program are assessed based upon different selection factors than those of the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the government of Canada acknowledges Quebec’s selection of applicants by issuing permanent resident visas to successful applicants, once medical and criminality background checks have been completed.
In order to qualify for a CSQ, you must score enough points under the Quebec Immigration selection system that is described below. A single (unmarried) applicant must score at least 50 points based on this system, while an applicant with a spouse or common-law partner must score at least 59 points.
The Quebec Immigration selection factors may be summarized as follows:
Many of the documents required in order to apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program must be certified true copies.
Language test results must be submitted along with immigration applications to be awarded points for language proficiency.
- For more information on approved French tests, see Proving French Language Ability (Quebec Skilled Worker Program).
- For more information on the approved English test, see Proving English Language Ability – International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Quebec Skilled Worker applicants must then successfully complete medical and security examinations conducted by the Canadian government in order to be granted a Canada Immigration (permanent resident) visa.
Quebec Skilled Workers applicants are not assessed based upon the selection factors of the Federal Skilled Worker Class. Citizenship and Immigration Canada acknowledges the selection of applicants who meet Quebec immigration selection criteria.
Processing Times
Processing Times for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program vary from one Canadian Immigration Visa Office to another.
Processing Fees
Processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program for 2017 are as follows:
| Applicant |
Fees |
| Principal Applicant |
CAD $779 |
| Spouse, de facto spouse |
CAD $167 |
| Each dependant child |
CAD $167 |
