Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with the Government of Canada . The province has its own rules for choosing immigrants who will adapt well to living there. The Quebec Skilled Worker program is an immigration program that does not require a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
To immigrate to Canada as a Quebec-selected skilled worker, you must apply in the following 2 stages:
- Apply to the Government of Quebec for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec [CSQ]).
- The Province of Quebec will assess you, using its own rules.
- The certificate shows that the Province of Quebec has accepted you as an immigrant.
- If the Province of Quebec chooses you and gives you a CSQ, you must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.
These instructions are for your application for permanent residence only.
Who can apply
You can apply as a Quebec-selected skilled worker if you
- hold a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificate de selection du Québec) from the Government of Quebec
- submit a complete permanent residence application, including police certificates.
Quebec skilled worker program requirements
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is more complex than many other Canadian immigration programs. There are different eligibility thresholds for single applicants as opposed to applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, and all applicants have to pass two points thresholds in order to be considered eligible.
As of January 1, 2020, all applicants for permanent residence through Quebec immigration programs are required to show they understand Quebec values. This can be done by passing a Quebec values test or completing a course in Quebec values.
Single applicants
Single applicants first have to accrue at least 43 points (out of 99) across the following factors: education level, specific area of training, age, French ability, English ability, connections to Quebec through previous visits and/or family, and whether or not they have a validated job offer from an employer in Quebec.
Education and training (maximum 20 points for both, minimum 2 points required for education level)
| Level of education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate | 14 |
| Master’s Degree | 12 |
| Undergraduate diploma (3 or more years of full-time studies) | 10 |
| Undergraduate diploma (2 or more years of full-time studies) | 6 |
| Undergraduate diploma (1 or more years of full-time studies) | 4 |
| Postsecondary school technical diploma (3 years of full-time studies) | 8 |
| Postsecondary school technical diploma (1–2 years of full-time studies) | 6 |
| Postsecondary school general diploma (2 years of full-time studies) | 4 |
| Secondary school vocational diploma | 6 |
| Secondary school general diploma | 2 |
| Maximum | 14 points |
| Areas of Training | Points |
|---|---|
| Section A | 12 |
| Section | 9 |
| Section C | 6 |
| Section D | 2 |
| Section E, F, or G | 0 |
| Maximum | 12 points |
Updates to Quebec’s Areas of Training List, effective as of August 2, 2018 favour candidates with foreign degrees in actuarial science, information management and early childhood education, among others, as well as candidates across a range of disciplines who studied in Quebec.
Principal applicant: 12 points
Spouse or common-law partner: 4 points
- ACS = Attestation of College Studies
- AVS = Attestation of Vocational Specialization
- DVS = Diploma of Vocational Studies
- DCS = Diploma of College Studies (Vocational or technical education programs with a three-year duration leading to a diploma of college studies)
Principal applicant: 9 points
Spouse or common-law partner: 3 points
- ACS = Attestation of College Studies
- AVS = Attestation of Vocational Specialization
- DVS = Diploma of Vocational Studies
- DCS = Diploma of College Studies (Vocational or technical education programs with a three-year duration leading to a diploma of college studies)
Principal applicant: 6 points
Spouse or common-law partner: 2 points
- ACS = Attestation of College Studies
- AVS = Attestation of Vocational Specialization
- DVS = Diploma of Vocational Studies
- DCS = Diploma of College Studies (Vocational or technical education programs with a three-year duration leading to a diploma of college studies)
Principal applicant: 2 points
Spouse or common-law partner: 1 point
- ACS = Attestation of College Studies
- AVS = Attestation of Vocational Specialization
- DVS = Diploma of Vocational Studies
- DCS = Diploma of College Studies (Vocational or technical education programs with a three-year duration leading to a diploma of college studies)
Principal applicant: 0 points
Spouse or common-law partner: 0 points
- ACS = Attestation of College Studies
- AVS = Attestation of Vocational Specialization
- DVS = Diploma of Vocational Studies
- DCS = Diploma of College Studies (Vocational or technical education programs with a three-year duration leading to a diploma of college studies)
Work experience
Experience | Points |
Less than 6 months | 0 points |
6 to 11 months | 4 points |
12 to 23 months | 4 points |
24 to 35 months | 6 points |
36 to 47 months | 6 points |
48 months or more | 8 points |
Maximum | 8 points |
Age (up to 16 points)
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–35 | 16 |
| 36 | 14 |
| 37 | 12 |
| 38 | 10 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 6 |
| 41 | 4 |
| 42 | 2 |
| 43 or older | 0 |
| Maximum | 16 points |
Language proficiency (up to 22 points)
| Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Beginner (A1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| High Beginner (A2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Low Intermediate (B1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| High Intermediate (B2) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Advanced (C1) | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Advanced (C2) | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Maximum | 16 points |
| English Proficiency | Beginner (CLB 1-4) | Intermediate (CLB 5-8) | Advanced (CLB 9-12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 0 points | 1 | 2 |
| Speaking | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Reading | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Writing | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Maximum | 6 points |
Stays and family in Quebec (up to 8 points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| For studies leading to a vocational training diploma (DEP) or an attestation of college studies (AEC) attesting to a total of 900 1,800 hours, combined with full-time work experience in Quebec related to the field of training, for a period of at least 6 months following the study program | 5 |
| To work, with a work permit of at least 1 year and 6 months or more of full-time work experience | 5 |
| Stay for a duration of of at least 3 months | 2 |
| Stay for a duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 3 months | 1 |
| Maximum | 5 points |
| Relationship with applicant | Points |
|---|---|
| Spouse / common-law partner | 3 |
| Son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister, Grandfather or grandmother | 3 |
| Maximum | 3 points |
Valid job offer: up to 14 points
| Region of job offer | Points |
|---|---|
| Capitale-Nationale | 14 |
| Chaudière-Appalaches | 14 |
| Montérégie | 14 |
| Abitibi-Témiscamingue | 13 |
| Centre-du-Québec | 13 |
| Estrie | 13 |
| Lanaudière | 13 |
| Outaouais | 13 |
| Bas-Saint-Laurent | 12 |
| Côte-Nord | 12 |
| Laurentides | 12 |
| Mauricie | 12 |
| Nord-du-Québec | 12 |
| Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean | 12 |
| Gaspésie | 10 |
| Montreal | 8 |
| Maximum | 14 points |
Applicants with a spouse/common-law partner
Applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner have to accumulate 52 points for the first threshold. Though this may seem like a higher threshold, and therefore seemingly more difficult, these applicants can also obtain up to 17 points for the spouse or partner’s factors, in addition to the first set of factors above. So whereas single applicants have to accumulate at least 43 points out of a possible 99 in order to pass the first threshold, applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner have to obtain at least 52 points out of 116.
| Level of education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 4 |
| Undergraduate diploma (3 or more years of full-time studies) | 3 |
| Undergraduate diploma (2 or more years of full-time studies) | 2 |
| Undergraduate diploma (1 or more years of full-time studies) | 1 |
| Postsecondary school technical diploma (3 years of full-time studies) | 3 |
| Postsecondary school technical diploma (1–2 years of full-time studies) | 2 |
| Postsecondary school general diploma (2 years of full-time studies) | 1 |
| Secondary school vocational diploma | 2 |
| Secondary school general diploma | 1 |
| Maximum | 4 points |
| Areas of Training | Points |
|---|---|
| Section A | 4 |
| Section | 3 |
| Section C | 2 |
| Section D | 1 |
| Section E, F, or G | 0 |
| Maximum | 4 points |
See above for areas of training lists.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–35 | 3 |
| 36–39 | 2 |
| 40–42 | 1 |
| 43 or older | 0 |
| Maximum | 3 points |
Secondary points threshold
Single applicants who can accumulate at least 43 points from among the above factors must then take into account the number of accompanying children they have, as well as their financial capacity, and all together reach at least 50 points across all factors.
Applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner who can accumulate at least 52 points from among the above factors must then take into account the number of accompanying children they have, as well as their financial capacity, and all together reach at least 59 points across all factors.
| Age of Children | Points |
|---|---|
| For each child 12 years of age or younger | 4 |
| For each child 13 to 19 years of age | 2 |
| Maximum | 8 points |
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