#skilled worker program

Introduction

The Quebec Selected Skilled Workers Program is a prominent immigration stream designed for individuals who wish to settle permanently in the province of Quebec, Canada. This program operates differently from federal immigration pathways and follows its own selection criteria under Quebec’s unique immigration system.

What Is the Program?

Quebec’s skilled worker program allows qualified professionals to immigrate based on their ability to contribute to the province’s economy. It evaluates applicants on a point-based system that considers factors like:

Education and qualifications

Work experience

Age

Language proficiency (primarily French)

Family situation

Adaptability and financial self-sufficiency

How the Selection Works

Expression of Interest (EOI) – Candidates must create a profile in Quebec’s online system (ARRIMA) to express their interest in immigration.

Invitation to Apply – The Ministry of Immigration invites top-ranking candidates to submit a full application for permanent selection.

CSQ (Certificat de sélection du Québec) – Selected individuals receive a Quebec Selection Certificate.

Permanent Residence Application – With the CSQ, candidates can apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

Key Features of the Program

French Language Requirement: Applicants must prove their proficiency in French. This is a critical factor for eligibility.

Quebec Values Test: Before obtaining a CSQ, applicants must complete a test on Quebec's democratic values.

Financial Proof: Candidates must demonstrate they can financially support themselves and their families after arriving in Quebec.

New Structure & Streams (2025 Update)

As of 2025, the program is structured into four streams to better align with labor market needs:

Highly Qualified Professionals – For skilled workers in managerial or specialized roles.

Intermediate Skilled Workers – For trades and technical professions.

Regulated Occupations – For fields requiring Quebec-specific licenses or certification.

Exceptional Talent Stream – For individuals with notable achievements in science, arts, sports, or innovation.

Processing Time

CSQ Processing: Typically takes 6 to 9 months.

Federal PR Processing: After receiving the CSQ, permanent residence processing may take an additional 8 to 12 months.

Optional Work Permit (IMP+)

Candidates who receive a CSQ and meet certain eligibility criteria may apply for a temporary open work permit under the International Mobility Program Plus (IMP+). This allows them to work in Quebec while waiting for PR approval.

Conclusion

Overall admissions remain unchanged from 2022, with little variation across all categories.

According to the Quebec Immigration Plan for 2023, which was released on December 8, the province could admit up to 52,500 new permanent residents in 2023. This goal is identical to the immigration plan for 2022.

In 2023, the majority of new admissions to Quebec will be through the province’s economic immigration programmes, such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and the Québec Experience Program (PEQ).

The new plan adheres to the goals established during the public consultation held in the summer of 2019 as part of Quebec Immigration Planning for 2020-2022.

The economic category, with a maximum target of 33,900, represents the largest proportion of newcomers, accounting for more than 65% of planned admissions. The province anticipates welcoming up to 29,500 skilled workers in this category.

The remaining 18,100 new permanent residents are anticipated to come through various immigration programmes for refugees, family reunification, and other categories.

The Immigration Department of Quebec presents its immigration strategy each year. The document specifies the categories in which the province will admit the amount of new permanent residents it plans to accept in the upcoming year. Plans have only been made public thus far that include goals for the upcoming year. However, a consultation will be held in 2023 after which the province will draught a multi-year plan that will start in 2024.

Attention to French-Speaking Immigrants

The 2023 plan is similar to the 2022 plan because the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) won a second term as the governing party with a large majority earlier this year.

After lowering admission targets in 2019, the 2022 plan, led by current Prime Minister François Legault, aimed to gradually increase the number of newcomers. The CAQ implemented a 20% reduction that year in order to improve the selection and francization of newcomers to Quebec.

The protection of the French language in Quebec is one of the CAQ party’s main pillars, and the new plan focuses on selecting immigrants who already speak French. The Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration anticipates that 79% of economic immigrants and 66% of all immigrants will be fluent in French by 2023.

During this year’s provincial election in Quebec, immigration was a hotly debated topic. Legault pledged during his campaign that he would only allow 50,000 newcomers into Quebec per year for the duration of his term. He claims that this is the maximum number of immigrants that Quebec can accept because it is difficult to integrate newcomers into Quebec society, especially those who need to learn French.

Quebec’s Distinctive Immigration Policy

The only province in Canada that publishes a yearly strategy for immigration levels is Quebec. Additionally, it is the only province whose admissions for economic immigration are completely under its control.

Quebec has greater control over its immigration policies, largely as a result of the establishment of its own immigration ministry there in 1968. Up until more than 20 years later, in 1991, when the Quebec-Canada Accord gave the province the authority to set its own admission targets, the province persisted in calling for greater control over immigration.

Nevertheless, immigration is a joint duty between the federal and provincial governments, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has the last say on all admissions, regardless of the category of immigration. Quebec chooses the skilled workers it wants to admit.

Ways to Move to Quebec

Anyone wishing to immigrate to Quebec must obtain permission from both the provincial and federal governments. Quebec chooses skilled immigrants based on its own criteria and procedures, and applicants must apply directly to the province via one of its immigration programmes.

If a candidate meets the program’s criteria and is chosen by Quebec, they and any accompanying family members will receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). This document was issued by the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration.

Canada is experiencing a trucker shortage due to pandemic layoffs and an aging workforce.

This week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released the 2021 NOC, adding 16 new occupations to the list of professions eligible for Express Entry. Truck driving is among them due to significant labor shortages within the sector. NOC 2021 is a revision of Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.

A Shortage of Truck Drivers in Canada

The industry is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers due to various factors, including layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a high retirement rate. According to Trucking HR Canada’s 2021 Labor Market Outlook, there were 18,000 open positions in the trucking industry in Canada in the second quarter of 2021.

Truck driving is a vital component of Canada’s supply chain and has a strong impact on the national economy when there are disruptions and labor shortages.

The report says that in Canada, the trucking and logistics industry moves more than $850 billion worth of products to domestic and export markets. Even before the start of the global pandemic, the Forest Products Association of Canada estimated that a shortage of truck drivers was costing the industry an estimated $450 million in lost productivity.

Coming to Canada Through Express Entry

Express Entry programs are the most important immigration pathways for skilled workers. It is an application management system that works with three economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), to expedite the processing of permanent residency applications for skilled workers.

How Does a NOC affect an Express Entry Application?

The NOC allows IRCC to understand what an individual’s occupation is and the level of skill or experience required. The 2016 NOC emphasized whether the role was NOC 0, A, or B (managerial to skilled trades). Instead, the 2021 NOC introduced a system based on a candidate’s training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER).

Applying for Express Entry

To get started, a potential candidate should self-assess whether they are eligible for an Express Entry program.

They must then complete a language assessment and obtain the necessary educational credential assessments. Once these have been completed, the next step is to upload a profile to the IRCC website and wait for a decision. Express Entry uses a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidate profiles. Your profile will be assigned a score and ranked along with all other candidates in the pool.

After the candidate applies, IRCC reviews the application and decides if the candidate is approved.

Candidates with the highest score receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residence. When a candidate receives an ITA, they have 60 days to submit a completed application to the IRCC.

IRCC attempts to process 80% of all Express Entry applications within six months of receiving the final application.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

The FSWP is the most popular program under Express Entry for candidates applying from abroad. It is designed for skilled workers who meet certain requirements for language, work experience, and education acquired abroad.

The minimum requirements are one year of work experience, a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7, proof of funds and proof of education. You also need to score at least 67/100 on the FSWP points grid.

Canadian Experience Class

The CEC is specifically for those who have at least one year of qualifying work experience in Canada, gained within the last three years.

They must also meet a minimum CLB of 5 (“initial intermediate”) for NOC TEER category 2 or 3 work or CLB 7 (“adequate intermediate adequacy”), for NOC TEER category 0 or 1 work.

Changes coming to Express Entry

Skilled Worker Program in Canada

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Quebec Skilled Worker Program candidates who receive an invitation to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate will now only have 60 calendar days to file a complete application, the province’s government announced June 26.   https://bit.ly/325dWy4

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