Quebec Skilled Worker Program

A Province-Led Immigration Route With Independent Selection Criteria

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is a provincial immigration pathway managed by the Government of Quebec in coordination with the federal authorities of Canada. This program enables qualified foreign nationals with education, training, and professional experience to settle in Quebec and participate in its labour market.

Unlike federal economic pathways, Quebec operates its own selection system. Applicants are assessed by provincial authorities before submitting a permanent residence application to the federal government. Travia Immigration and Consultancy assists applicants through each stage of this structured process, ensuring applications meet current provincial and federal standards.

Overview of the Quebec Skilled Worker Program

The QSWP is designed for individuals who intend to live and work in Quebec. Selection is based on a points grid that evaluates factors such as education, work experience, age, language ability, and adaptability. Candidates who reach the required score receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). This certificate allows them to apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Quebec has constitutional authority to select a large portion of its economic immigrants each year. The province welcomes approximately 50,000 new residents annually, with a significant share admitted through economic immigration streams.

Quebec Economic Immigration Streams

Quebec admits foreign nationals primarily through its Economic Class programs. These include:

Quebec Skilled Worker Program

This stream is intended for foreign nationals who plan to settle in Quebec to pursue employment. Selection is influenced by education, training, professional background, language ability, and labour market alignment.

Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

This program is for individuals who have either worked in Quebec for at least one year within the past two years or completed an eligible diploma from a Quebec institution within the last three years. Applicants must demonstrate French language ability at an intermediate-advanced level.

Quebec Entrepreneur Program

Applicants must establish or acquire a business in Quebec and receive support from a recognized university entrepreneurship centre, incubator, or business accelerator. Ownership requirements vary depending on whether the business is newly created or acquired.

Quebec Investor Program

This stream is intended for individuals with significant legally obtained assets and management experience. Applicants are required to make an approved investment for a fixed period.

Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program

This pathway allows foreign nationals to practise a profession or trade listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) while creating their own employment in Quebec.

Selection System and Policy Framework

Quebec revised its immigration framework under the Immigration Act of Quebec (2016) and the Immigration Regulation of Quebec (2018). These changes introduced several structural updates, including:

• Replacement of the first-come, first-served model with an Expression of Interest system
• Introduction of the ARRIMA online platform
• Adjustments to selection grids and labour market weighting
• Expansion of pathways for workers, graduates, entrepreneurs, and self-employed applicants

The provincial immigration department determines annual intake levels and publishes forward-looking admission plans for review by the National Assembly of Quebec.

Expression of Interest and ARRIMA Portal

Applicants must begin the QSWP process by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the ARRIMA portal. This online system allows individuals aged 18 and above to declare their intention to immigrate to Quebec.

EOI profiles remain in the provincial bank, and invitations are issued periodically based on labour market needs and selection priorities. Submitting an EOI is free, and profiles can be updated as circumstances change.

Invitations are typically based on three broad assessment areas:

• Human capital: education level, age, French language ability, and work background
• Employment potential in Quebec: job offers, Quebec education, or recent work experience in the province
• Labour market alignment: training or experience in sectors facing workforce shortages

Mon Projet Québec and CSQ Application

Candidates who receive an invitation must submit a full application for permanent selection through the Mon Projet Québec portal. Applications must be completed within the prescribed timeframe, and processing fees must be paid.

Applicants receive a document checklist once their file enters assessment. All documents must meet specific formatting and submission standards. Upon approval, the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is issued.

Federal Permanent Residence Stage

After obtaining a CSQ, applicants submit a permanent residence application to IRCC as Quebec-selected skilled workers. Federal authorities assess applications primarily for medical admissibility and security clearance. Selection decisions remain under Quebec’s jurisdiction.

Current processing times generally include provincial assessment followed by approximately 15 to 17 months at the federal stage, subject to case complexity and intake volumes.

Points Requirement for Quebec Immigration

Applicants must meet minimum threshold scores under the Quebec selection grid.

• Single applicants:
  • Employability threshold: 43 points
  • Overall selection threshold: 50 points
• Applicants with a spouse:
  • Employability threshold: 52 points
  • Overall selection threshold: 59 points

Points are awarded for education, age, work history, job offers, language skills, family ties, Quebec visits, and financial self-sufficiency. Additional points may apply for dependent children and spousal credentials.

In-Demand Occupations in Quebec

Quebec regularly updates its Areas of Training List, which assigns selection points to specific fields of study. This list plays a central role in QSWP assessments, especially for applicants without advanced French proficiency.

High-demand occupational groups include:

• Management roles
• Business, administration, and finance
• Applied and natural sciences
• Health-related professions
• Education, social sciences, and public service
• Arts, culture, sports, and recreation
• Sales and service roles
• Trades, transport, and equipment operation
• Manufacturing, processing, and utilities

How Travia Immigration and Consultancy Supports Applicants

Travia Immigration and Consultancy assists applicants throughout the Quebec Skilled Worker Program process, from eligibility review to document preparation and submission. Each application is handled with a structured approach aligned with current provincial and federal regulations.

Our team monitors policy updates, selection criteria changes, and intake announcements to ensure applications remain aligned with Quebec’s immigration framework. This allows applicants to move through each phase of the process with clarity and compliance.