Quebec announces big immigration changes alongside 3 new immigration pilot programs. The Quebec government has released the latest details of three new pilot (permanent residency) programs that will take effect in early 2021.
New regulations have also been announced by the Quebec government for the Self-Employed Worker Program and the Entrepreneur Program.
Some main immigration program changes
The government brought changes to applications for collective sponsorship under the Overseas Refugee Program. There will be 750 applications for group sponsorship of two to five people accepted from April 6 to May 5, 2021. Applications will now also have to be submitted online and then randomly selected by draw. For the next year, the following several applications will be entertained under the economic immigration program:
- Arima update has also arrived for selection under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. The renewal has been allowed until November 1, 2021. This is for the selection criteria in effect for immigration candidates who have filed an Expression of Interest in Arrima.
- Under the Self-Employed Program, a limit of 50 permanent selection applications has been set from November 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.
- Applications time limit from 1st November 2020 to September 30, 2021: a limit of 25 permanent selection applications will be received in the first phase of the Entrepreneur Program.
- The second phase of this program is suspended for next year to improve.
3 New Pilot Programs
The draft regulation on the implementation of these programs was published in the Gazette Official du Quebec on 28 October 2020. There are three new permanent residency pilot programs announced by the Quebec government at the start of the new year. The purpose of new pilot programs is to excite and maintain the workforce in the province.
All three pilot programs will be implemented after a 6 weeks consultation period from now on. These programs are for the people whose skills meet the specific needs of the Quebec labor market” and address labor shortages in three key areas. Under this program, family members will receive Quebec selection certificates as well. The pilot program will run for three years.
Following are the three pilot programs run by the Quebec government for the upcoming year:
The pilot program for Workers in food processing:
The Food Processing Workers will provide a permanent residency route for temporary foreign workers working in the food processing sector.
The pilot program for orderlies:
Nurses, assistants, and beneficiary attendants in Quebec will be able to apply for this pilot.
AI and IT:
This pilot program is for workers in artificial intelligence, information technologies, and visual sectors. A quota of 550 per year will be evenly distributed for each of these three. This pilot project is meant to both attract international talent working in these sectors and ensure the retention of those who are already in Quebec temporarily.
Pilot program benefits
- in all above mentioned three programs each year, 550 eligible workers (main applicants) will be able to apply for PR
- applicants accompanied by family members and will also be able to get a Quebec selection certificate.
- the pilot program will run for 5 years