Around 50,000 ‘economic immigrants’ become Canadian permanent residents each year through Quebec immigration programs.
Quebec is the largest province in Canada and has the country’s second biggest economy after Ontario.
Although English is the main language spoken throughout Canada, French is the primary language used in Quebec, which was originally colonized by France.
Many potential immigrants wonder: Can you live in Quebec if you only speak English?
That is a good question, since Quebec is one of the top destinations for immigrants moving to Canada.
This article will discuss immigration to Quebec, including the requirements and whether you can move to Quebec if you only speak English, so keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
QSWP: Immigration to Quebec
Overview of this Program
- The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is a points-based Canadian immigration program.
- The QSWP is for skilled foreign workers and their families who want to live and work in Quebec.
- Single applicants must receive a minimum of 50 points and applicants with a spouse need at least 59 points.
- An applicant must file an Expression of Interest (EOI) with Quebec’s online Arrima portal.
- The Quebec immigration officials will review the EOI to determine if the applicant qualifies for the QSWP.
- If an applicant gets an invitation from the QSWP, he or she can apply for the Certificat de sélection du Québec or CSQ.
- Once the CSQ has been received, he/she can apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency.
- After being approved for Canadian permanent residency, the new immigrant will move to Quebec to live and work.
QSWP Requirements
An Expression of Interest (EOI) must be filed and at least 50 points (if single) or 59 points (if married) must be received:
- Age (16 points possible)
- Work Experience (8 points possible)
- Education (26 points possible)
- Quebec Connection (8 points possible)
- Spouse Factors (17 points possible)
- Qualifying Job Offer in Quebec (14 points possible)
- Proof of Funds (1 point possible)
- French and/or English Language Proficiency (22 points possible)
The applicant for the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker program must be at least 18 years of age.
As of 2023, economic immigrants must possess intermediate French language skills or better.
If the Quebec immigration officials approve the applicant for the QSWP, an invitation will be given.
Next, the foreign worker will apply for permanent selection to receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
Governmental fees must also be paid for the principal applicant, spouse/partner and each dependent child.
The immigrant will then have 60 days to apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency.
Good health, good character, government fees and other criteria for Canadian permanent residency must be satisfied.
Once approved for Canadian permanent residency, the new immigrant(s) will live and work in the province of Quebec.
Can you immigrate to Quebec if you only speak English?
Since 2023, it is required that economic immigrants who move to Quebec will have a minimum of intermediate-level French language skills.
What cities in Canada speak English?
English and French are the two official languages of Canada and are spoken in cities and towns all across the country.
English is the primary language spoken in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria, and many other cities in Canada.
In Montreal (Quebec), around 71% of the residents speak French as their first language, 20.4% speak English as their first language and 6.7% speak both French and English as their main languages.
About 93.7% of the residents of Quebec City (Quebec) speak French and 51.9% speak English.
In Gatineau, the third largest city in Quebec, 77.2% of the residents speak French and 11% speak English.
Around 89.3% of the residents of Sherbrooke (Quebec) speak French and about 4.8% speak English.
Quebec City Language Demographics
French is the main language spoken by 93.7% of the residents of Quebec City, whereas 51.9% speak English, 5.4% speak Spanish and 4.1% speak Arabic.
How can I improve my CRS if I speak only English?
The Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is calculated for various factors, such as English and/or French language skills, previous work experience in Canada, age, factors related to a spouse or partner, etc.
If someone only speaks English, but not French, he or she could increase the Express Entry CRS score by preparing for and getting a high score on an approved language evaluation exam for English, such as the IELTS General Training Exam.
Additionally, learning the French language and then preparing for and obtaining a good score on an approved evaluation exam for the French language (such as the TEF Canada) could increase an Express Entry CRS score.
Another way to get a higher CRS score for Express Entry is to complete a higher level of education (for example, a person with a Bachelor’s Degree might earn a Master’s Degree).
Gaining Canadian work experience as a temporary foreign worker could also boost an individual’s CRS score for Express Entry immigration to Canada.
Having a spouse or partner with a certain level of education, English and/or French language skills or work experience in Canada could also improve an Express Entry CRS score.
Getting a qualifying offer of employment in Canada or receiving a nomination from a Canadian province or territory are other ways to get a substantial number of points for the Express Entry CSR score.
It is important to update your Express Entry online profile, so that the CRS score can be re-calculated and, hopefully, the points increased.
Conclusion
Approximately 50,000 immigrants are welcomed to live and work in Quebec as new Canadian permanent residents each year.
The points-based Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is one of the key Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in Quebec.
Since Quebec was originally colonized by France hundreds of years ago, French is the primary language spoken in Quebec, while English is the main language used in the rest of Canada.
Therefore, if you want to live and work in Quebec as a skilled foreign worker, it is generally required for you to have at least intermediate French language skills, even though many people who live in Quebec also speak English.
Knowing the French language will also make it easier to find work in Quebec, make friends, do banking, go shopping, travel, etc.
It is worth noting that French-speakers also have opportunities to live in Canada’s other provinces and territories.
For example, French-speakers are considered a priority category for receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency under the Express Entry Canadian immigration system, because Canada’s national government wants to increase the number of people who speak French outside of Quebec.
Thus, if you are eligible for a Canadian immigration program that qualifies for Express Entry, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and you also have good French language skills, you could get priority when the Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are issued.
The QSWP, FSWP and other Canadian immigration programs each have their own eligibility requirements and application procedure; so how can you know which one is the best match for you?
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility for Canadian immigration and also guide you through each step of the application process if you qualify.
Whether you speak English or French, Canada is a great place that offers immigrants a high quality of life, including good job opportunities, free or subsidized public healthcare, access to world-class education, and the option to become a Canadian citizen.
The first step of the process is to find out which specific Canadian immigration program you are eligible to apply for.
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Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
Can you live in Canada only knowing English?
Yes, you can live in Canada knowing only English, since English is one of the two official languages in Canada (French is the other). The English language is spoken in every province and territory in Canada, including in Quebec where French is the primary language. According to the 2021 Census data, 75.5% of people living in Canada speak English, while 21.4% speak French.
Can you live in Montreal only knowing English?
Yes, you can live in Montreal only knowing English, since 20.4% of Montreal’s residents speak English as their first language and 6.7% speak both French and English as their main languages. Nonetheless, the majority of people who live in Montreal, Canada’s second largest city, speak French, so knowing the French language is practical and advantageous.
Can you work in Quebec if you only speak English?
It is possible to work in Quebec if you only speak English, however, you will be limited in your job opportunities since most employers in Quebec prefer to hire employees who either speak French or who speak French and English.
Can you move to Canada if you don't speak French?
Yes, you can move to Canada if you don’t speak French, however, you would need to speak English instead. English and French are both official languages in Canada. Skilled foreign workers who want to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents will generally need to prove that they have a certain level of English or French language skills by getting a particular score on an authorized language evaluation test for English (such as the IELTS General Training Exam) or French (such as the TEF Canada). The minimum test score required will depend on which Canadian immigration program an economic immigrant is applying for.
Is English declining in Quebec?
According to the 2021 Census data, there are over one million people living in Quebec who indicated that English is their first official language out of the province’s population of 8.5 million residents. Furthermore, the 2021 Census data also indicates that the percentage of Quebec residents with English as their first official language is increasing.
Why are there no English signs in Quebec?
There is a language law in Quebec (known as the Charter of the French Language) that requires all signs to be in the French language, except when a symbol or pictograph does not satisfy the public safety or health criteria. In 2018, Quebec started replacing many French-language road signs with pictographs for safety reasons.
Do most people in Quebec speak French?
Yes, approximately 95% of the people living in Quebec speak French and around 71.2% have indicated that French is their first language.
Is it rude to speak English in Quebec?
In general, it is not rude to speak English in Quebec and many people who live in Quebec will change to the English language if someone speaks to them in English or they hear an English-sounding accent. This depends, of course, on whether the particular Quebec resident speaks English. Nonetheless, it is a good idea and practical to learn French words and phrases if you plan to travel to Quebec or live there.
Can I work in Quebec without speaking French?
Yes, it is possible to work in Quebec without speaking French, although job opportunities will be limited since most employers there prefer to hire French speakers or individuals who speak both French and English. If you want to move to Quebec as a skilled foreign worker, you will generally need to have at least intermediate French language skills (as of 2023).
What percent of Quebec speaks English?
According to the 2021 Census data, 13.0% of the people who live in Quebec speak English and 46.4% speak both French and English.
