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Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW)

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW) is an immigration program operated by the province of Quebec for candidates who have skilled work experience and will be able to make lasting contributions to Quebec’s economy as members of the workforce.

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Although the official language of Quebec is French, QSW does not require applicants to show proficiency in French, making the program attractive to English speakers who wish to reside in Quebec.

Quebec Skilled Worker - How to Apply

All QSW candidates must demonstrate that they meet the minimum required score on the QSW points assessment grid. If you have sufficient QSW points, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the Arrima online portal to be considered for the program. The Quebec government will then invite some candidates to submit a complete application for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate).

Upon receiving a CSQ, an applicant becomes eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.

Arrima Online Portal

The Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) launched the Arrima online portal to manage applications to the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW) program. Candidates who want to apply to QSW must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form online, which contains information regarding the candidate’s language proficiency, work experience, field of training, and education.

MIFI will select candidates from this pool to submit an application for a CSQ, however they have not yet confirmed how they will determine which candidates to invite. Upon receiving an invitation to apply to the program, candidates will have a limited amount of time to submit their complete application.

Applications for a CSQ submitted through the Arrima portal are expected to be processed within 6 months.

Selection Factors - QSW Points Grid

In order to submit to the Quebec Skilled Worker program for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate), applicants must meet the minimum required scores on the eligibility points grid below. Please note that points for education are awarded based on the applicant’s area of study. Applicants applying without a spouse or common-law partner must reach a minimum of 43 points on the employability factors and 50 points total. Applicants applying with a spouse or common-law partner must reach a minimum of 52 points on the employability factors and 59 points total.

Factor	Points
	Without spouse	With spouse
Education	26	26
Experience	8	8
Age	16	16
Language Proficiency	22	22
Connection to Quebec	8	8
Accompanying Spouse Factors	17	17
Valid Job Offer	14	14
Employability Eligibility Score	43	52
Children	8	8
Capacity for financial autonomy (eliminatory)	1	1
Minimum Eligiblity Score	50	59

Factor 1: Education

Education	Points
Level of Education
General secondary	2
Professional secondary	6
General post-secondary 2 years	4
Technical post-secondary 1 or 2 years	6
Technical post-secondary 3 years	8
University undergraduate 1 year	4
University undergraduate 2 years	6
University undergraduate 3 years or more	10
University graduate 1 or more years	12
Univeristy post-graduate	14
Area of Training
Section A	12
Section B	9
Section C	6
Section D	2
Section E	0
Maximum	26

Factor 2: Experience

Experience	Points
Length of skilled work experience
Less than 6 months	0
6 months to 11 months	4
12 months to 23 months	4
24 months to 35 months	6
36 months to 47 months	6
48 months or more	8
Maximum	8

Factor 3: Age

Age	Points
18 to 35 years	16
36 years	14
37 years	12
38 years	10
39 years	8
40 years	6
41 years	4
42 years	2
43 years or more	0
Maximum	16

Factor 4: Language Proficiency

Language Proficiency - Principal Applicant	Points
French
Listening and Speaking
C2	7
C1	6
B2	5
B1, A2, A1, or less than A1	0
Reading and Writing
C2 or C1	1
B2, B1, A2, A1, or less than A1	0
English
Listening and Speaking
CLB 9	2
CLB 5	1
Reading and Writing
CLB 5	1
Maximum	22

Factor 5: Connection to Quebec

Connection to Quebec	Points
Trips to Quebec
Study in Quebec for one full-time semester	0
Study in Quebec for two full-time semesters	0
Study in Quebec leading to a DEP/AEC of 900 to 1800 hours AND full-time work experience related to the field of study within the 6 months following the period of study	5
Study in Quebec leading to a DEP/AEC of 1800 hours or more, or a DEC, or university degree or diploma	5
6 months of full-time work experience in Quebec while holding a work permit valid for at least one year	5
Work experience in Quebec for less than 6 months	0
Working holiday participant 3 months or more	0
Other trips 3 months or more	2
Other trips (2 weeks to less than 3 months)	1
Other trips less than 2 weeks in length	0
Family in Quebec
Spouse, Parent, Sibling, Child, Grandparent	3
Maximum	8

Factor 6: Accompanying Spouse Factors

Accompanying Spouse Factors	Points
Level of Education
General secondary	1
Professional secondary	2
General post-secondary 2 years	1
Technical post-secondary 1 or 2 years	2
Technical post-secondary 3 years	3
University undergraduate 1 year	1
University undergraduate 2 years	2
University undergraduate 3 years or more	3
University graduate 1 or more years	4
University post-graduate	4
Area of Training
Section A	4
Section B	3
Section C	2
Section D	1
Section E	0
Age
less than 18 years	0
18 to 35 years	3
36 years	2
37 years	2
38 years	2
39 years	2
40 years	1
41 years	1
42 years	1
43 years or more	0
French-language Proficiency
Oral comprehension	0, 2, or 3
Spoken French	0, 2, or 3
Maximum	17

Factor 7: Valid Job Offer

Valid Job Offer	Points
Valid job offer in Montreal Metropolitan Region	8
Valid Job Offer outside Montreal, by region
• Capitale-Nationale • Chaudière-Appalaches • Montérégie	14
• Abitibi-Témaniscamingue • Centre-du Québec • Estrie • Lanaudière • Outaoais	13
• Bas-Saint-Laurent • Côte-Nord • Laurentides • Mauricie • Nord-du-Québec • Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean	12
• Gaspésie	10
Maximum	14

Factor 8: Children

Children	Points par enfant
12 years or less	4
13 to 21 years	2
Maximum	8

Area of Training

• QSW - Points for Area of Training

Recent Draws Using the Arrima Portal

Invitation Date	Number of Invitations	Selected Applicants Met the Following Criteria
January 16, 2020	23	-Their application for selection submitted under the Regular Skilled Worker Program was finalized, pursuant to Section 28 of the Act -They filed an expression of interest with the Minister before December 17, 2019 -Their application, which was finalized under the Act, was submitted to the Minister under Section 5.01 of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals (CQLR, chapter I-0.2, r. 4) or they were staying in Québec on June 16, 2019 while they held a study or work permit issued pursuant to Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227).
December 17, 2019	220	-Their application for selection submitted under the Regular Skilled Worker Program was finalized, pursuant to Section 28 of the Act -They filed an expression of interest with the Minister before December 17, 2019 -Their application, which was finalized under the Act, was submitted to the Minister under Section 5.01 of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals (CQLR, chapter I-0.2, r. 4) or they were staying in Québec on June 16, 2019 while they held a study or work permit issued pursuant to Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227).
December 12, 2019	85	-They had a validated offer of employment -Persons mentioned in Section 26 of the Québec Immigration Regulation (CQLR, chapter I-0.2.1, r. 3).
September 25, 2019	169	-Their Application under the Regular Skilled Worker Program was finalized, -Filed an Expression of Interest with the Minister before December 17, 2019, and -Application was submitted under Section 5.01 of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals, or applicants were staying in Quebec on June 16, 2019 holding a study or work permit.
September 4, 2019	32	-Hold a validated offer of employment -Foreign nationals staying in Quebec as a diplomat, consular officer, representative or official of a foreign country
August 19, 2019	444	-Their Application under the Regular Skilled Worker Program was finalized, -Filed an Expression of Interest with the Minister before December 17, 2019, and -Application was submitted under Section 5.01 of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals, or applicants were staying in Quebec on June 16, 2019 holding a study or work permit.
July 17, 2019	259	-Hold a validated offer of employment -Foreign nationals staying in Quebec as a diplomat, consular officer, representative or official of a foreign country
July 4, 2019	691	-Their Application under the Regular Skilled Worker Program was finalized, -Filed an Expression of Interest with the Minister before December 17, 2019, and -Application was submitted under Section 5.01 of the Regulation respecting the selection of foreign nationals, or applicants were staying in Quebec on June 16, 2019 holding a study or work permit.

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Related Links

• Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

• Certificat de Selection du Quebec (CSQ)

• Quebec Investor Program