Certificat de Selection du Quebec (CSQ)
A Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) is an official document issued by the province of Quebec after a thorough evaluation of applicants to determine their eligibility to immigrate to the province. Upon receiving a CSQ, applicants must then satisfy the federal admission requirements established by the Canadian government. To successfully immigrate to Quebec, individuals must meet the eligibility criteria for both the provincial selection process and the federal admission process.
The selection process:
Candidates are selected by Quebec by obtaining a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). There are several Quebec immigration programs which issue CSQs to successful applicants. The CSQ is a document stating that an applicant has officially been selected for immigration by the province of Quebec.
The admission process:
Once an applicant receives a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), they can apply for permanent residence with the federal immigration authorities. If the application is approved, they will receive permanent resident status. Before starting the immigration process for Quebec, applicants should make sure they meet the requirements for both the provincial selection and the federal admission processes.
Quebec Immigration Programs
All of Quebec’s immigration programs use the same two-step process of provincial selection followed by federal admission. Quebec offers a range of immigration programs for several different types of applicants. Please consult the list below to learn more about Quebec’s various immigration options:
- Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) or PSTQ
- Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) – Now Closed
- Quebec Investor Program
- Quebec Entrepreneur Program
- Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program
After CSQ: Federal Stage
Obtaining a CSQ means that a person has officially been selected by the province of Quebec for immigration. However, this does not guarantee that a person will become a Canadian permanent resident. Rather, it means that they move onto the second part of the Quebec immigration process which is the federal application for Canadian permanent residence.
At the federal stage, the applicant must prepare an application for permanent residence as outlined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This is an online application process that must be done through the permanent residence portal on the government of Canada website. If you are unable to apply online due to a disability or other extenuating circumstances, you can request for the application by paper, braille or large print.
If the application is approved at the federal level, then the applicant and all accompanying family members will receive Canadian permanent residence. The federal stage application requires significant documentation which will vary based on the qualifications and personal history of individual applicants. Applicants should be prepared to provide documentation supporting their claimed education, work experience, and language proficiency.
All adults included on a permanent resident application will also be asked to complete police clearance checks for their countries of residence (past and present) and all family members included on an application will have to undergo a medical exam. Serious criminal and medical problems can be grounds for inadmissibility to Canada.
CSQ Validity Period
A CSQ is valid for up to two years from the date of application and cannot be renewed. You must apply for Permanent Residence (PR) within this two-year period. If you’ve already submitted your PR application and it’s being processed, but your CSQ expires during this time, it will not affect your application process since you applied within the two-year window.
Working With a CSQ
A CSQ does not authorize a person to work in Quebec. However, if a person has a CSQ, they may be eligible to apply for an extension of an existing work permit in Quebec. To do so, the candidate must already possess a valid work permit in Quebec, a CSQ, and must have an official job offer from a Quebec employer. If a person meets this criteria, they can apply to MIFI for an extension of their work permit.
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