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There are many reasons why you may want to apply for a a visa from the Canadian Consulate. But the most common reasons are: To study in Canada, To work in Canada, To Visit canada, To be sponsored by a Canadian employer.
Quick Visa For Canada
The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is a well-established permanent immigration program for skilled workers in Quebec.
Similarly to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) under the Express Entry system, foreign nationals who wish to immigrate through the QSWP must first declare their interest in immigrating to Quebec by completing an expression of interest (EOI) form through an online portal. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) regularly selects people from the pool of candidates and invites them to apply for permanent selection.
Recent Application Processing Improvements Under the QSWP
In the past, applications under the QSWP were submitted in paper format and were subject to a quota. Quebec set a maximum number of applications it could receive for the year and a deadline for receiving applications. Once the maximum number of applications was reached, Quebec closed the program to new applications. This “first come, first served” selection system was deemed inefficient and the large inventory of applications received at once resulted in endless backlogs.
In other words, under the old application model, the number of applications submitted was far greater than the number of spots available each year for skilled workers. As a result, the waiting time for the successful candidates often spanned several years.
For this reason, in 2018, the Quebec Immigration Ministry proceeded with a sort of “reboot,” removing the “first come, first served” approach, backlogged applications and introduced an online Expression of Interest (EOI) system hosted on a platform called “Arrima.”
The EOI system gives an equal opportunity for permanent selection to all potential candidates. Anyone 18 years of age or older who wishes to immigrate to Quebec can declare their interest in doing so at any time.
Quebec’s Expression of Interest System
The EOI system is a two-step process for selecting skilled immigrants, whether they are abroad or already in the province.
The first step is to submit an electronic expression of interest for permanent immigration to Arrima. This is a pre-screening process that allows the government to rank interested candidates based on their human capital and labour market-related criteria.
The second step is for the government to invite the top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent immigration in regular draws from the pool. The chances of being invited in the draws depend on many factors. These include the government’s annual admission targets, its processing capacity, the candidates’ ranking scores in the pool, whether there is a job offer, and the targeted occupations at the time of each draw.
Immigration Process Under the QSWP
First, candidates must submit an expression of interest through the Arrima pool. Submitted profiles are scored based on factors such as age, education, language skills and work experience. The top-scoring candidates in the pool may be invited to apply for permanent selection by the Government of Quebec in regularly held draws.
Candidates invited to apply to immigrate to Quebec under the QSWP will then use the Mon Projet Quebec portal to complete and submit an application form for permanent selection. The portal allows candidates to complete their application, make their payment online, track the status of their application, make changes to their application and access a personal email throughout the process.
Candidates who are successful under the QSWP are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and can then apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will conduct a medical and criminal background check as part of its approval process.
QSWP Eligibility
In order to be eligible for a CSQ under the QSWP, candidates must obtain sufficient points based on the Quebec Immigration selection grid.
This grid is composed of nine factors:
- education;
- work experience;
- age;
- knowledge of French and English;
- stay and family in Quebec;
- validated job offer;
- spouse’s characteristics;
- presence of children;
- ability to be financially independent.
A single (unmarried) candidate must score at least 50 points based on this system, while a candidate with a spouse or common-law partner must score at least 59 points.
QSWP Selection Factors
The Quebec Immigration selection factors are as follows:
| Factors | Points |
|---|---|
| Education | Up to 14 points (Cutoff Score = 2 points) |
| Area Of Training | Up to 12 points |
| Validated Employment Offer | Up to 14 points |
| Work Experience | Up to 8 points |
| Age | Up to 16 points |
| Language Proficiency | Up to 22 points |
| Stay And Family In Quebec | Up to 8 points |
| Spouse/Common-law partner Characteristics | Up to 17 points |
| Presence Of Accompanying Children | Up to 8 points |
| Financial Self-Sufficiency | 1 point |
Many of the documents required in order to apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program must be certified true copies. Click here to learn more.
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).
QSWP Processing Fees
Processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program for effective January 1, 2022, are as follows:
| Applicant | Fees |
|---|---|
| Principal Applicant | CAD $ 844 |
| Spouse, de facto spouse | CAD $181 |
| Each dependant child | CAD $181 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)?
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is a program for economic immigration candidates who intend to settle in the province of Quebec. Quebec’s Ministère de l’immigration, de la francisation et de l’intégration (MIFI) invites candidates to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ) based on their Expression of Interest profile, which details their age, education, work experience, proficiency in French, among other factors.