Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker (QSW) Program

To meet the minimum educational requirements for immigration to Canada through the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), you must have at least “a diploma corresponding to a general or vocational high school diploma in Quebec” and the diploma must have been granted during the five-year period prior to filing your application for a Quebec Selection Certificate.

If your diploma was awarded more than five years before the date you submitted your Quebec Selection Certificate application, then you must have worked in your occupation a minimum of one year within the past five years prior to filing your application for a Quebec Selection Certificate.

Furthermore, how many points toward Canadian immigration you receive for this factor will depend on your “level of training” which will be evaluated by Quebec’s provincial government based upon: (1) whether you earned a doctorate, master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, certificate from a vocational/trade school, high school diploma, etc. AND (2) based upon what you studied and the demand for this knowledge in Quebec.

You must also have the appropriate legal work experience in your country within the last five years prior to applying for the Quebec Selection Certificate and it must be in an occupation that is listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) as being a Level A, B or C occupation (i.e., these specific occupations are often in high-demand in Quebec).

Thus, the points you may receive toward Canadian immigration for your work experience will depend on your occupation and its demand in Quebec.

The authorized immigration consultants who work with Canadian Visa Expert can let you know if your occupation is among occupations that are eligible for the QSWP.

Aside from the issue of how many points you may receive for your work experience, please note that skilled foreign workers whose occupation is in a regulated profession (e.g., electricians, nurses, physicians, engineers, etc.) may need to check with the appropriate regulatory body and/or professional organization in Quebec regarding the requirements for practicing their profession.

You may also need to receive an assessment regarding your educational credentials and other professional qualifications, known as a Comparative Evaluation for Studies Done Outside Quebec (referred to in French as the Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec) to help you secure a job in your occupation if you immigrate to Quebec (a fee is charged for this expert evaluation).   

More points may be awarded for applicants whose age is within a range considered optimal by Quebec’s government in terms of how many years a skilled foreign worker will be able to be employed and contribute to the economy of Quebec after being issued a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada.

Although French and English are the two official languages of Canada, French is the predominant language used throughout the province of Quebec due to historical, cultural and other factors.

Therefore, foreign nationals who apply for Canadian immigration through the QSWP will need to be evaluated as having French language skills that are at the advanced intermediate level or above as measured by an officially recognized language assessment, such as the Test d'Evaluation de Français (TEF).

Points for the language factor may also be received for adequate English language abilities as measured by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.
A fee is charged for the TEF and IELTS exams.

If you have a family relationship with a Quebec permanent resident or Canadian citizen, or you have previously spent time in Quebec (for example, as an international student), you may be able to receive points for your “connection” to Quebec.

You must be able to support yourself and all eligible family members who accompany you to Quebec for three months after your arrival in Quebec and you will also need to sign a contract stating that you will do so.

Points may be awarded towards Quebec immigration if you have a qualifying offer of arranged employment in Quebec (i.e., a business located in Quebec has offered you a job).

You may receive points for “adaptability” based upon the preparations you have made for advancing your “socioeconomic integration” if approved for Canadian immigration and relocation to the province of Quebec (i.e., your specific plan for successfully settling in Quebec, finding suitable employment, etc.).

The government of Quebec may award additional points toward immigration if your eligible spouse/partner meets certain criteria (e.g., their education, work experience, etc.) for Quebec immigration.

Another factor that may be considered by Quebec’s government is how many children less than 22-years-old will be accompanying you to Quebec if you are approved for Canadian immigration through the QSWP.

There are various fees that must be paid as part of the application process for the QSWP, such as for the QSWP application, having your French and/or English languages abilities evaluated, receiving an assessment of your credentials, etc.

In addition to fees charged as part of the application procedure for the QSWP, there will be additional fees associated with submitting your application to the Canadian national government for a Permanent Resident (PR) Visa to Canada, such as for the PR Visa application, medical exam(s) and police certificate(s).

There may be other requirements for the QSWP, plus the government may change the criteria at any time.

The authorized immigration consultants who work with Canadian Visa Expert can evaluate you according to the latest Quebec immigration criteria and most recent Canadian immigration law.

If Quebec’s government decides that you meet the criteria it is looking for through its QSWP, it may then issue you the Quebec Selection Certificate, which will allow you to take the second major step toward immigration to Quebec, which is to apply to the Canadian national government for a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada.