Generally, the Canadian federal government has a prominent role in bringing newcomers to Canada and providing them a chance to settle there. Even though the federal government is the most powerful regarding immigration authority, Quebec has more control over immigrant selection compared to other provinces in Canada.
Quebec started its immigration ministry in 1968, receiving more immigration authority. Quebec is authorized to choose skilled workers seeking immigration to the province while the federal government makes the final call on getting these immigrants to Canada.
The province has separate criteria and procedures based on which it carries out the selection process for candidates. Suppose the province of Quebec selects you, along with your family members, will get a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The Quebec Selection Certificate implies your selection for the province and the chance to apply for Permanent Residence at IRCC.
Quebec monitors and manages its immigration system since it has control over the permanent residency levels, selection of immigrants under the economic class, and even has authority over the Refugees and Family classes.
Quebec’s immigration plan at present
Quebec has set up a target of bringing forth at least 52,000 new permanent residents with the help of the available immigration pathways.
The Economic Immigration category has laid out its different targets including a range of immigrants from 32,000 to 33,900, skilled workers from 1,8000 to 2,2000, business immigrants from 1,500 to 2,300, and economic class candidates between 5,000 to 5,700. For the Family Reunification category, Quebec has a target of 10,000 candidates.
Quebec Immigration
The various programs to immigrate to Quebec (Economic Immigration Programs), are as follows:
Economic Immigration Programs
Quebec’s official language is French and therefore, Quebec emphasizes the significance of the French language when it selects immigrants.
Proficiency in the French language certainly benefits Quebec immigrants. However, it is not essential to speak French to qualify for the Quebec immigration requirements.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Quebec Skilled Worker Program is a gateway for skilled workers from abroad who want to hold Canadian permanent residency and live in Quebec. If you seek to qualify for this program, you must acquire professional skills to help you in your Quebec employment.
Quebec Experience Program
Quebec Experience Program is also abbreviated as PEQ and opens a path for international students with Quebec’s post-secondary institution’s diploma. It is also beneficial for skilled workers with valid work experience in Quebec.
To make sure you qualify for this program, you must be 18 years or above, have a clear intention to work in the province and live here, and have a basic level of French language skills.
Quebec Permanent Immigration Pilot Programs
The Quebec Permanent Immigration Pilot Programs apply to foreign workers who work in different sectors including artificial intelligence, orderlies, food industry, information technology, and visual effects. This program takes up to 500 applicants to help fill the gap in the few sectors for skilled workers. This program might even issue a Quebec Selection Certificate to the family members accompanying you.
A non-French speaking profile is also available for workers working in different sectors including information technologies and visual effects as well as artificial intelligence. Suppose a candidate is selected under this program, he will immediately receive enrollment in ‘Accompagnement Quebec’. It is a customized and free program explicitly developed to assist people in learning French and also incorporate it well within Quebec society.
Quebec Business Immigration Programs
Quebec Business Immigration Programs apply to all foreign workers who can apply for Quebec immigration through the available resources incorporated in the three programs.
- Investor Program: The Investor Program applies to those who want to visit Quebec to invest here. It is a passive Investor Program without the need to manage any business in the province.
- Entrepreneur Program: Individuals seeking to begin their own business or attain an existing business in the province of Quebec can access the Entrepreneur Program.
- Self-Employed Program: The Self-Employed Program applies to self-employed people who could be either professionals or tradespersons.
Family Immigration Programs
Family Class Sponsorship will benefit those individuals who would like to sponsor their family members to accompany them to Quebec and also let them become permanent residents. Interested candidates must apply to MIFI and IRCC at the provincial level for Quebec Sponsorship. If anyone would like to sponsor their family members in Quebec, they must be capable enough to fulfill their basic requirements. Additionally, while sponsoring a parent or grandparent it is essential to surpass the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) to demonstrate that they are self-reliant and also have the potential to support their family members. However, this condition doesn’t apply to individuals sponsoring either their spouse or their child (dependent on them).
But, if you’re a sponsor in Quebec, you will have to qualify for different requirements of the income compared to other provinces. Being a Quebec Sponsor implies that you can potentially qualify for all requirements related to income and your annual income is equivalent to the expected Canadian income for the past twelve months and also during the time of undertaking the responsibility of the person you’re sponsoring. The expected gross income and its equivalent are given in the table below:
Table 1
| Family Unit Size | Basic Annual Income Needed |
| 1 individual | $25,251 |
| 2 individuals | $34,086 |
| 3 individuals | $42,083 |
| 4 individuals | $48,401 |
| 5 individuals | $53,868 |
| Above 5 individuals, for each additional individual add | $5,467 |
Table 2
Table 2 is meant for individuals who are being sponsored. The main applicants are supposed to add the figure from Table 1 to Table 2 extreme right figure and get the total basic income required.
| Additional income is needed from the sponsor to satiate the basic needs of the sponsored person and accompanying family members | ||
| Number of individuals 18 years or above | Number of individuals under 18 years | Gross annual income expected from the sponsor |
| 1 | $8,740 | |
| 2 | $13,852 | |
| The gross annual income required enhance by $4,619 for each additional individual under 18 years of age | ||
| Number of individuals 18 years or above | Number of individuals under 18 years | Gross annual income expected from the sponsor |
| 1 | $18,469 | |
| 1 | 1 | $24 815 |
| 1 | 2 | $28,021 |
| The gross annual income need enhances by $3,203 for each additional person under 18 years of age. | ||
| Number of individuals 18 years or over | Number of individuals under 18 years | Gross annual income required from the sponsor |
| 2 | $27,085 | |
| 2 | 1 | $30,340 |
| 2 | 2 | $32,754 |
| The gross annual income needs to be enhanced by $2,404 for each additional individual who’s below 18 years old and by $8,610 for each additional individual 18 years or above. |
Additionally, applying through the Family Class Sponsorship expects you to show a signed undertaking depicting that you’re ready to take on the legal responsibility for the person you are sponsoring, it could be anyone from your parent, grandparent, spouse, partner, or dependent child. The undertaking’s duration will depend upon the sponsored individual and his stay.
However, the undertaking’s length for a dependent child in Quebec will be determined by the child’s age and will vary in terms of other Canadian provinces. Refer to the table below for more clarity:
| All provinces (Quebec is an exception) | The Duration of Undertaking | Quebec | The Duration of Undertaking |
| For Dependent child | 10 years, or until he turns 25 (whichever comes first) | Dependent child under 16 years | Minimum 10 years (or until the age of 18 years), whichever proves longer |
| For Dependent child 22 years old or over | 3 years | Dependent child 16 years of age and above | Minimum 3 years or until he turns 25, (whichever proves longer) |
Refugee Immigration Programs
Canadian immigration for individuals is possible either through Refugee Class concerning Humanitarian purposes.
Refugees have a chance of getting approval from the Immigration and Refugee Board in case they are seeking to settle in Canada for security. If they don’t fall under the Refugee Class yet demonstrate some sort of humanitarian ground might obtain permanent residence.
Quebec plays a significant role in assisting and protecting refugees and asylum seekers. The province involves an additional step in the application processing system compared to the other Canadian provinces. When a refugee submits the application, it will be evaluated primarily by Quebec and once the province determines whether the individual can settle in the province or not, the application will further go to the federal government. Quebec’s government and the federal government both need to collaborate and decide on the number of refugees, refugees from which origin must be welcomed to the province through its financial assistance.
