Quebec offers its skilled worker program for all. This is a separate immigration program of this Canadian program (not a part of the PNP stream). It is Canada’s largest province.
What is Quebec’s Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
The program is developed by the Government of Quebec and the Federal Government of Canada. The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) enables highly educated and trained foreign nationals to move to Quebec as skilled workers.
Candidates interested in the skilled worker program of Quebeck must demonstrate that they meet the minimum required score on the QSW points assessment grid. In case if you have sufficient QSW points, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the Arrima online portal to be considered for the program. The government of Quebec will then invite some candidates to submit a complete application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate). Upon receiving a CSQ, an applicant becomes eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
What is Arrima Portal?
The Arrima platform allows for a better alignment between immigration and the needs of Québec’s labor market. Its use is completely free. Individuals who wish to immigrate permanently or temporarily under one of the programs listed below can use it:
- Regular Skilled Worker Program
- International Student Program (document transmission only)
- Québec Experience Program
For the skilled worker program, candidates can submit an expression of interest if they meet the minimum score under the points grid. The creation of an Arrima profile is done in two steps:
- You must first validate your email address, choose a password, and confirm your registration in the secure authentication system.
- The user must then approve the Arrima account’s terms of use, fill in the Identity and Contact information sections before receiving confirmation that the account has been created.
The immigration ministry has set new goals for immigration in 2021 that is between 44500 to 47500. This could well be called a slight more as compared with of 2020 policy when the immigration ministry of Quebec decided to release new 24,700 selection certificates and 44,500 permanent residency permits (a press release on Wednesday 31 October 2020).
Read here complete report about Quebec’s 2020 immigration program
Queceb immigration (QSWP) selection factors
In order to submit to the Quebec Skilled Worker program for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate), candidates must meet the minimum required scores on the eligibility points grid below. The points for education are awarded based on the applicant’s area of study. Candidates applying without a spouse or common-law partner must reach a minimum of 43 points on the employability factors and 50 points total. Applicants applying with a spouse or common-law partner must reach a minimum of 52 points on the employability factors and 59 points total.
| Factor | Points | |
| Without spouse | With spouse | |
| Education | 26 | 26 |
| Experience | 8 | 8 |
| Age | 16 | 16 |
| Language Proficiency | 22 | 22 |
| Connection to Quebec | 8 | 8 |
| Accompanying Spouse Factors | 17 | 17 |
| Valid Job Offer | 14 | 14 |
| Employability Eligibility Score | 43 | 52 |
| Children | 8 | 8 |
| Capacity for financial autonomy (eliminatory) | 1 | 1 |
| Minimum Eligibility Score | 50 | 59 |
The factors and criteria considered
Candidates are assessed against certain criteria which could be summarised as follows:
Your training (level of education and area of training). Only diplomas obtained before the submission of your application are considered in the attribution of points for the Education Level criterion;
- knowledge of French and English
- stays in Québec and family relationship with a Canadian citizen or a permanent Québec resident
- work experience
- having a permanent employment offer validated by the Ministère
- age
- characteristics of your accompanying spouse or de facto spouse, if applicable
- other factors, including the number of children under the age of 22 who will be accompanying you to Québec
- capacity for financial self-sufficiency (you must sign a contract in which you undertake to provide for your needs and your family’s needs for at least the first three months following your arrival in Québec).
Application Process
The Quebec government has a special immigration agreement with Canada. The province has its own rules for selecting immigrants that will adapt to the conditions of residence. Potential immigrants applying to the Skilled Worker Quebec program are selected according to a selection grid of factors, and applicants who receive substantial points are awarded a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) after which they become permanent residents of Canada. The applicant will follow two sections for the application process:
Apply to the Government of Quebec for the Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificate of Selection du Quebec [CSQ])
| The province of Quebec will review you using its own rules. | The certificate shows that the province of Quebec has accepted you as an immigrant. |
If the province of Quebec selects you and gives you a CSQ, you must apply for permanent residence in Canada through IRCC.
| Fees$1325 | Processing Time: |
| 15 to 17 months You may need to provide biometrics with your application. This processing time requires time to submit your biometrics. |
How to apply?
You have to follow the three main steps to apply.
| 1-Get the application package | 2-Submit application | 3-Payment of your application fees |
When you have been selected by the Quebec Government:
| You will get the application package included Forms to fill in your information | A guideline to fill out the forms with the correct pattern, First of all, fill out the forms correctly with proofreading, then take prints of these forms, at last, you have to sign all the forms to complete the forming process. | Guideline: Read all the forms, answer all the questions carefully, complete it truthfully, you will be responsible for the serious consequences if you misrepresent yourself or hold back information on your application. |
Submit your application
You recheck all the data you filled in the forms, do not miss any necessary category to fill out. Let’s see the impact if you miss anything :
| if your application would not be complete, it will send back to you without processing, you will have to fix all errors and resubmit it. | Mail your package to the address in the instruction guide. | Select the official e-mail address to submit your application, don’t send your application to any other processing center or visa office. | you should fill the forms correctly if the application will refuse you have to do all processes again, so do not waste your time and effort by doing all processes twice. |
What expenses you may have to bear?
- Processing fees of your application. Charges of processing Your companion in your application.
- Biometrics
- Third-party charges
- The Right of Permanent Residence Fees (RPRF)
You have to pay your fees online.
What you should do after applying?
Follow the below-given stages
| 1-Obtain your fingerprints and the photo was taken | 2-Know the causes of processing delays | 3-Processing your application | 4Processing times | 5-Medical exams |
| 6-Police certificates | 7-Authorize your information | 8-Your application decision | 9-Get your fingerprints and photo took: |
If you are between the ages of 14 to 79, you need to provide your fingerprints and photos (biometrics) for each application for permanent residence that you submit. Even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they are still correct.
Application process
When you apply, immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) will check that:
- Have you paid your application processing fee?
- Have you filled out your application forms correctly with your signatures?
- Have you provided all the required documents?
Update your information within time to avoid delays in the process, to report important changes to your application such as adoptions, marriage or divorce, births and deaths in your family, Chang in address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other contact information.
Reasons behind the delay in the process
| Process of Information verification | Your family situation is not satisfied as Child custody problems have not been resolved | Authorities will need to do more background checks |
| Criminal and security issues | Divorce or adoption that is not yet completed | In some cases, more documents required from you or an interview with you (you will be informed in such case) |
Medical exams
You must do a medical exam before you come to Canada. Your family members will also complete this exam, even if they are not coming with you.
Your application will be refused if :
- Your health is dangerous to Canada’s public safety and health.
- If the possibility of your health causes a negative impact on health or social services in Canada.
- A notification will send to you in terms and conditions that how to get a medical exam after your application has sent to the processing office.
Police Certificate
In order to immigrate to Canada, you and any family members will need to provide additional police certificates during the processing of your application for permanent residence. People who pose a threat to Canada’s security are not allowed to come to Canada. If you have a criminal record, you will not be allowed to enter Canada
Verification of your information
Consequences you may bear if you are not truthful in your application for permanent residence. It could be
- you are found inadmissible
- application refusal
- you could face a ban of up to 5 years in Canada for any reason
The decision on your application
Your application will decide under the following points:
- Your eligibility for the program
- If you have sufficient funds to support you and your family after arrival
In case of your application approval
You will be informed through e-mail in case of application approval including:
- Permanent residency visa (if you’re from a country that requires a visa)
- Confirmation of permanent residence.
- Confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) will have information and photographs about who are you
- Make sure your information is accurate. It should be the same as your passport information. If there is an error in your CPR, contact the Absolute Authority using the webform
At the time of arrival in Canada
You must use AriveCAN (app) to check-in at the airport or make a deposit before crossing the border by 21 November 2020 and this includes your travel and contact information, Quarantine plan, and COVID-19 symptom self-diagnosis. Please receive your receipt (electronic or paper) to show the Border Services Officer to arrive.
Important to remember:
| Your travel documents, passport or both | Make sure you are the same person who was approved to go to Canada (for this verification you will have to do biometrics ) |
| Make sure you are entering Canada before or at the expiration date on (COPR) | You will meet a border office at the time of arrival |
| Your passport must be a private citizen’s passport, you cannot move to Canada with a diplomatic, government service, or public affairs passport. | The officer will ask a few questions to make sure you still meet the conditions for immigrating to Canada, the answers to the questions will be the same as when you answered the application. Ask to see your passport and other travel documents |
| Your Certified Permanent Residence (CPR) and your Permanent Resident Visa (if you are awarded a visa) Proof that you have funds to support yourself and your family once you arrive in Canada | Keep your passport and other documents with you all the time, do not keep them in luggage to help speed up your process of entry to Canada. You will not be permitted into Canada in case of 1-Incomplete or false information. 2-Do does not convince the officer that you meet the conditions to enter Canada |
If you are accepted and have no problem arriving, the officer will assist you, and allow you to enter Canada as a permanent resident Verify your Canada mailing address, where the office will send your Permanent Resident (PR) Card.
Factors-wise points grid for QSWP
1- Age (maximum number score 16)
| Age | Points |
| 18 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 more | 0 |
2- Language proficiency (maximum score 22)
| Language Proficiency – Principal Applicant | Points |
| French | |
| Listening and Speaking | |
| C2 | 7 |
| C1 | 6 |
| B2 | 5 |
| B1, A2, A1, or less than A1 | 0 |
| Reading and Writing | |
| C2 or C1 | 1 |
| B2, B1, A2, A1, or less than A1 | 0 |
| English | |
| Listening and Speaking | |
| CLB 9 | 2 |
| CLB 5 | 1 |
| Reading and Writing | |
| CLB 5 | 1 |
3- Connectivity to Quebec (maximum score 8)
| Connection to Quebec | Points |
| Trips to Quebec | |
| Study in Quebec for one full-time semester | 0 |
| Study in Quebec for two full-time semesters | 0 |
| Study in Quebec leading to a DEP/AEC of 900 to 1800 hours AND full-time work experience related to the field of study within the 6 months following the period of study | 5 |
| Study in Quebec leading to a DEP/AEC of 1800 hours or more, or a DEC, or university degree or diploma | 5 |
| 6 months of full-time work experience in Quebec while holding a work permit valid for at least one year | 5 |
| Work experience in Quebec for less than 6 months | 0 |
| Working holiday participant 3 months or more | 0 |
| Other trips 3 months or more | 2 |
| Other trips (2 weeks to less than 3 months) | 1 |
| Other trips less than 2 weeks in length | 0 |
| Family in Quebec | |
| Spouse, Parent, Sibling, Child, Grandparent | 3 |
4- Job availability from Quebec (14)
| Valid Job Offer | Points |
| Valid job offer in Montreal Metropolitan Region | 8 |
| Valid Job Offer outside Montreal, by region | |
| • Capitale-Nationale
• Chaudière-Appalaches • Montérégie |
14 |
| • Abitibi-Témaniscamingue
• Centre-du Québec • Estrie • Lanaudière • Outaoais |
13 |
| • Bas-Saint-Laurent • Côte-Nord • Laurentides • Mauricie • Nord-du-Québec • Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
12 |
| • Gaspésie | 10 |
5- Children (maximum points 8)
| Children | Points par enfant |
| 12 years or less | 4 |
| 13 to 21 years | 2 |
6- Education (maximum score 26)
| Education | Points |
| Level of Education | |
| General secondary | 2 |
| Professional secondary | 6 |
| General post-secondary 2 years | 4 |
| Technical post-secondary 1 or 2 years | 6 |
| Technical post-secondary 3 years | 8 |
| University undergraduate 1 year | 4 |
| University undergraduate 2 years | 6 |
| University undergraduate 3 years or more | 10 |
| University graduate 1 or more years | 12 |
| University post-graduate | 14 |
| Area of Training | |
| Section A | 12 |
| Section B | 9 |
| Section C | 6 |
| Section D | 2 |
| Section E | 0 |
7- Skilled work experience (maximum score 8)
| Experience | Points |
| 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 more | 8 |
8- Accompanying Spouse Factors (maximum score 17)
| Accompanying Spouse Factors | Points |
| Level of Education | |
| General secondary | 1 |
| Professional secondary | 2 |
| General post-secondary 2 years | 1 |
| Technical post-secondary 1 or 2 years | 2 |
| Technical post-secondary 3 years | 3 |
| University undergraduate 1 year | 1 |
| University undergraduate 2 years | 2 |
| University undergraduate 3 years or more | 3 |
| University graduate 1 or more years | 4 |
| University post-graduate | 4 |
| Area of Training | |
| Section A | 4 |
| Section B | 3 |
| Section C | 2 |
| Section D | 1 |
| Section E | 0 |
| Age | |
| less than 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 more | 0 |
| French-language Proficiency | |
| Oral comprehension | 0, 2, or 3 |
| Spoken French | 0, 2, or 3 |