Getting Quebec Selection Certificate (certificat de sélection du Québec)

The largest of the ten Canadian provinces, Quebec is a French-speaking province in north-east part of Canada. The province is renowned for its diverse culture, natural scenic beauty combined with a low cost of living, making it a top choice for immigrants to migrate to. Quebec has a separate immigration program with its own requirements and criteria.

The Quebec Selection Certificate (certificat de sélection du Québec) is the first step in the immigration process to Quebec. Quebec issues the certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) to declare the selection of a candidate to migrate and settle in Quebec. Immigrants willing to migrate to Quebec must obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate to begin with the Quebec immigration process.

The Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (Mifi) in Quebec issues the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to eligible candidates who qualify for Quebec immigration.  Obtaining a CSQ is an essential requirement for applicants willing to apply for PR in Canada. With a valid Quebec Selection Certificate you can apply for the International Mobility Program Plus (IMP+) to acquire an open work permit in Quebec.

 

Quebec Immigration Program Overview

Quebec offers several immigration programs for immigrants willing to migrate and settle in the province. The Canadian federal government has granted significant autonomy in migration processes and framing policies to invite immigrants for PR in Canada. Quebec is the only province that does not participate in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The Government of Canada signed the Canada-Quebec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens which allows Quebec to:

• Select candidates willing to migrate to Quebec, temporarily or permanently
• Admit candidates to Canada
• Integrate newcomers into Quebec society
• Determine the number of immigrants entering Quebec

The province of Quebec has its own immigration programs which allow expats to migrate to the province and settle with a permanent resident status. The following are the immigration programs offered in Quebec:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW)
• Quebec Experience Class or Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ)
• Quebec Investor Program
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program
• Quebec Self-Employed Person Program

 

Types of Immigration Program leading to a CSQ

Among the several immigration programs offered by Quebec, the ones that lead to a Quebec Selection Certificate are listed below:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW): This immigration program operated by the province of Quebec invites immigrants having skilled work experience along with the potential to contribute significantly to the economic development of Quebec. The provincial government of Quebec issues the Quebec Selection Certificate to eligible candidates who qualify through the Quebec Arrima draw.
• Quebec Experience Program (PEQ): This immigration program is also known as Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) which invites candidates having relevant skills and work experience within the province of Quebec, exclusively. Candidates must also demonstrate oral proficiency in French to be eligible to apply for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).  
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program: This immigration program invites candidates having the financial ability and professional work experience to manage or set up a business program in Quebec. Eligible applicants are granted a Quebec Selection Certificate allowing them to migrate and settle in the province.
• Quebec Self-Employed Program: This immigration program aims to invite self-employed people to migrate to the province and create their own job. Candidates having assets worth a minimum of CAD 100,000 along with at least two years of professional experience as a self-employed worker in their field of occupation are eligible to apply for this program. Qualifying candidates receive the Quebec Selection Certificate upon selection. 

 

Quebec Selection Certificate Application Process

Applicants who qualify for any of the above-mentioned programs can apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate either online or by paper.  Online applications can be made through the government of Quebec’s Arrima portal. The Arrima portal can also be used to submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) while migrating to Quebec. Candidates are notified about their selection and whether they qualify for PR in Canada. Candidates willing to apply on paper can fill out the CSQ application form after getting a print out from the same portal. The completed form must be attested and submitted to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI).

Obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate involves a three-step process which is listed below:

Step 1: Fill out the CSQ application form

Step 2: Complete the fee payment

Step 3: Apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate

After submission of the application, candidates would be called for an interview with a MIFI immigration to verify the information provided.

 

Eligibility Requirements for getting Quebec selection Certificate

You would be eligible to apply for the Quebec selection Certificate if you qualify for any of the Quebec Immigration programs that lead to a CSQ. Each program has specific set of requirements and eligibility that the candidate must fulfil. The specific eligibility requirements for each immigration program have been discussed below:

 

Quebec Skilled Worker Program Eligibility Requirements

You would be eligible to apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program if you:

• Submit a Canada PR application
• Have police clearance certificates
• Have skilled work experience
• Intend to migrate and settle in Quebec
• Can contribute towards the economic development of the province

 

Quebec Experience Program Eligibility Requirements

You would be eligible to apply for the Quebec Experience Program if you:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Have been  a legal resident of Quebec even for a temporary period
• Have an eligible Quebec diploma or work experience
• Have oral proficiency in French at least to the intermediate level
• Can financially support yourself and your dependents
• Can provide French language test results
• Have zero criminal records
• Intend to settle in Quebec with a job

 

Quebec Entrepreneur Program Eligibility Requirements

You would be eligible to apply for the Quebec Entrepreneur Program if you:

• Have the potential to set up or manage a business program in Quebec
• Can create a business offer supported by a business incubator, business accelerator or a university entrepreneurship centre
• Can provide  a detailed business plan
• Have assets net worth of CAD 900,000
• Can afford for a security deposit of CAD 200,000 as business insurance
• Can afford a start-up deposit of at least CAD 300,000
• Own and control at least 51% of equity capital of your business
• Can contribute to Quebec’s economy 
• Intend to settle in Quebec with a permanent resident status

 

Quebec Self-Employed Program Eligibility Requirement

You would be eligible to apply for the Quebec Self-Employed Program if you:

• Have the potential to create your own job by practising a trade or business of your own
• Have net assets worth a minimum of CAD 100,000 which have been obtained through legal means
• Are fluent in speaking French and can provide language test results
• Have a minimum work experience of two years as a self-employed worker in your field of occupation
• Fulfil the minimum points criteria as specified in the Quebec Self-Employed Worker Points Assessment Grid
• Intend to migrate and settle in Quebec

 

Processing time for Quebec Selection Certificate

According to a recent announcement, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) will by targeting to process Quebec Selection Certificate within 6 months. The processing time for applications that have been already received will be based on the workload of the MIFI. Applications that are not submitted yet are to be processed within 6 months.

The processing times vary based on the following factors:

• Number of applications received
• If complete information is provided in the application form
• If your information is verifiable

The processing time begins with the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) receiving your application. An incomplete application may lead to delayed processing time. If your application is processed, the MIFI will notify you via the Arrima portal. The MIFI will be sending a request to get an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Quebec values.

You will be given a 60-day period to get the attestation done. Accompanying family members including your spouse and dependent children mentioned in your application must also acquire their attestation within this time. Failing to provide the attestation may lead to rejection of your application.

Once your application is reviewed, you can expect any of the three possible outcomes:

• You would be issued a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ - Québec selection certificate) if you have fulfilled all the requirements and an interview is not required
• You may receive a letter stating the refusal of your application if:
  • All the conditions of the program are not fulfilled
  • All the required documents are not in proper format
  • All the required documents were not submitted before the deadline
  • Supporting documents were not submitted to the MIFI
• Your request is rejected because of the following reasons:
  • The MIFI doubts the genuineness of the information provided by you
  • Not enough supporting evidence is submitted
  • Deadline for the documents requirement was not met
  • You did not attend the interview on the scheduled date

 

Quebec Skilled Worker Program

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW) is one of the several immigration pathways offered by the province to invite immigrants for Canada PR. This program focuses on inviting skilled workers to migrate and settle in the province. The QSW uses a points-based system to determine the eligibility of the applicants.

Candidates having relevant skilled work experience and who have scored above the minimum points criteria can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). One of the main advantages of the program is that it does not require French language proficiency to be eligible for the program. However, candidates who are proficient in French can score higher under the Quebec Skilled Worker Points System.

 

Quebec Skilled Worker Points System

Here are two points system used by Quebec: one determines the eligibility of candidates to submit an Arrima profile and the other determines who is eligible to be invited to apply for Canada PR. Candidates fulfilling the minimum point criteria to submit an Arrima profile will receive another score. This score is considered while ranking the profiles against each other to determine the eligibility of candidates for CSQ.

 

QSW Points Grid

Candidates meeting the minimum score criteria would be eligible to submit an Arrima portal under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. The following are the factors that determine rge eligibility score of candidates:

• Education
• Experience
• Age
• Language proficiency
• Connection to Quebec
• Accompanying spouse factors
• Valid job offer
• Accompanying children

The table below provides the details of the maximum points that can be acquired under the QSW Points Grid:

Factors	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	1	1
Minimum Eligibility Score	50	59

Candidates without a spouse must score a minimum of 50 points and those applying with their spouse must have a minimum score of 59 points to be eligible to apply. Selected applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Arrima portal.

 

Arrima Expression of Interest Points Grid

Candidates will receive a score after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Arrima portal. This score will determine the rank of the candidate against other applicants. The province conducts regular Arrima draws to invite candidates for CSQ. Candidates scoring above the minimum EOI score specified for the draw will be eligible for CSQ.

The table below details about the points grid used to determine the score of the QSWP candidates:

Factors	Maximum Points
	Without Spouse	With Spouse
Education	90	70
Quebec Education	50	50
Age	130	110
French Proficiency	180	180
French and English Proficiency	80	80
Accompanying Spouse Factors	40	40
Response to Quebec's Needs	100	100

 

Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

The Quebec Experience Program (programme de l’expérience québécoise – PEQ) aims to invite professionals who relevant skills and work experience within the province of Quebec, exclusively. Candidates must also demonstrate oral proficiency in French to be eligible to apply for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). 

You would be eligible to apply for the Quebec Experience Program if you:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Have been  a legal resident of Quebec even for a temporary period
• Have an eligible Quebec diploma or work experience
• Have oral proficiency in French at least to the intermediate level
• Can financially support yourself and your dependents
• Can provide French language test results
• Have zero criminal records
• Intend to settle in Quebec with a job

 

Working in Quebec with a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)

Candidates who have a valid Quebec Selection Certificate can work in the province without acquiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the job role if they have a valid work permit already. CSQ holders can apply for a renewal or an extension of their work permit in Quebec. The federal government allows selected applicants under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program and Quebec Experience Class to work and reside in the province after they get their Quebec Selection Certificate.

  To be eligible to work and reside in Quebec, CSQ holders must fall under one of the categories listed below:

• International Experience Canada (IEC) Program 
• Candidates seeking work permit for a new employer
• Candidates seeking work permit renewal for a different employer
• Candidates seeking work permit extension for their current employer
• Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holders with a job offer in Quebec

The following points must be noted by the applicants:

• Candidates must be legally residing in Quebec
• The work permit should have a minimum validity of two years
• The application must have copies of the valid CSQ and the employment offer to work in Quebec. The CSQ must indicate one of the following codes in section 9, Catégorie: “IQ – Travailleurs qualifiés”, “IP – Travailleurs”, “IT – Travailleurs qualifiés”, “IZ – PEQ Travailleurs”, “IY – PEQ Étudiants”, or “I6 Travailleurs Art.40”.
• Candidates can only apply for employer-specific work permits

Note: Spouses or common-law partners of CSQ holders can apply for an Open Work Permit which will have the same validity as of the principal applicant’s work permit.

 

Transitioning to PR

Once a candidate has acquired the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), they are eligible to apply for Canada Permanent Residence (PR). The application has to be made offline along with the hard copy of documents required to the IRCC. Once the application is approved, the candidates along with their family members will be called a Canada PR and would be able to settle in Quebec permanently.

 

Living in Quebec without a Quebec Selection Certificate

The Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is the essential first step for immigrants willing to settle in Quebec permanently. You would need a CSQ to be able to apply for PR in Canada. However, you can live in Quebec temporarily if you do not have a CSQ. Temporary Foreign workers do not require a CSQ to live and work in Quebec. In such cases, the candidate may need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate or certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ).

Foreign students migrating to the province for study purposes can also reside in Quebec without a CSQ. However, students willing to stay in Quebec permanently after they complete their study program must apply for Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from the provincial government of Quebec. Only after receiving the CSQ you can apply for a Canada PR.

Once your CSQ is issued, it would be valid for two years, within which you have to apply for Canada PR. The CSQ cannot be renewed once it has been issued by the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI). Therefore, it is crucial to apply for Canada PR within the two-year time period provided after you receive your CSQ. If your CSQ expires after your Canada PR application is complete, then it would not have any impact on your permanent residency or immigration status.

 

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