Quebec occupies a unique position in the Canadian immigration scene, because of its French language and cultural heritage. The province manages its own permanent resident immigration programmers. The Regular Skilled Worker Program is a key immigration option for those desiring to settle in Quebec (QSWP).
Candidates are chosen for the QSWP based on their profile, level of education, language competence, professional experience, and prospective links to Quebec. This exhaustive WISA India website discusses all facets of the QSWP.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program Overview
The Regular Skilled Worker Scheme of Quebec (QSWP) is a long-standing permanent immigration scheme for skilled employees in Quebec.
Foreign nationals who seek to come to Quebec skilled worker program through the QSWP must first register their interest in immigrating to Quebec by completing an expression of interest (EOI) form through an online portal, similar to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) under the Express Entry system. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) selects persons on a regular basis from a pool of candidates and invites them to apply for permanent selection.
Recent QSWP Application Processing Enhancements
Previously, applications for the QSWP were submitted on paper and were subject to a quota. Quebec skilled work program established a maximum number of applications that might be received for the fiscal year, as well as a deadline for receiving applications. Quebec halted the program to new applications after the maximum number of applications was achieved. This “first come, first served” method of applicant selection was deemed inefficient, and the large volume of concurrent applications resulted in seemingly endless backlogs.
In other words, under the former application model, the number of applications received was significantly larger than the number of skilled worker positions offered each year. As a result, competent candidates typically faced long wait times.
As a result, the Quebec Immigration Ministry underwent a “reboot” in 2018, eliminating the “first come, first served” approach and backlogged applications in favour of an online Expression of Interest (EOI) system housed on the platform “Arrima.”
Under the EOI system, all candidates have an equal chance for permanent selection. At any moment, anybody over the age of 18 may immigrate to Quebec.
Quebec’s Expressions of Interest System
The EOI system is a two-step process for selecting skilled immigrants, whether they are from outside the province or already live there.
The first step is to submit an online statement of interest in permanent immigration to Arrima. This is a pre-screening process that allows the government to assess potential workers’ human capital and labor market characteristics.
The government will then invite the highest-ranked people to seek permanent immigration through regular pool draws. Numerous factors affect one’s likelihood of getting invited to the draws. These include the government’s annual admission targets, processing capacity, candidate ranking scores in the pool, whether a job offer is available, and the targeted occupations at the time of each draw.
Procedures for Immigration Under the QSWP
Candidates must first declare their interest through the Arrima pool. Age, education, language skills, and professional experience are among the characteristics considered when scoring submitted profiles. The pool’s top scorers may be invited to apply for permanent selection in regularly scheduled lotteries by the Quebec government.
Candidates invited to apply for permanent residence in Quebec through the QSWP will utilize the Mon Project Quebec portal to complete and submit an application form for permanent residence. Candidates can use the portal to complete their application, pay online, follow the status of their application, make modifications to their application, and obtain a personal email address throughout the process.
Candidates that are successful in the QSWP receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and are then entitled to apply for permanent residency with the Government of Canada.As part of the clearing process, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will perform a medical and criminal background check.
QSWP Eligibility
Candidates must receive a sufficient number of points on the Quebec Immigration selection grid in order to be eligible for a CSQ under the QSWP.
This grid is made up 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.
According to this system, a single (unmarried) candidate must score at least 50 points, whereas a candidate with a spouse or common-law partner must get at least 59 points.
QSWP Selection Factors
The following are the Quebec Immigration selection factors:
| 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 documentation necessary for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program application must be certified true copies.
Language test results must accompany immigration applications in order to qualify for language competence points.
How WISA India can help you?
If you want to immigrate to Canada through Quebec’s skilled worker programs or another skilled worker pathway, the first step is to fill out a free WISA India assessment form. If you qualify for Quebec or Canadian immigration, a member of the WISA India team will contact you to assist you to make your move.