How to obtain a work permit in Quebec
If you're planning to live and work in Quebec, you'll have to obtain the right work permit. Expat.com provides a guide on the necessary steps in their article.
Quebec is known for its immigration-friendly policies, actively inviting skilled workers who are fluent in French each year. If you're interested in making Quebec your home, there are several avenues available for you.
To work in Quebec, it's essential to apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN), a unique identification number required for securing employment, opening a bank account, and complying with tax regulations.
You cannot apply for your SIN outside Canada. To obtain one, you must go to your local Service Canada Centre with your passport and proof of your status in Canada. Your SIN number will be given to you directly at the counter. The process is free of charge.
For more information on the SIN and how to obtain one, visit the Service Canada site.
Good to know:
Most applicants for permanent residence, visitor visas, study permits, and work permits are now required to provide their biometric data. If you have already provided your biometric data as part of another visa or permit application, it will remain valid for 10 years. However, if you apply for permanent residence on or after June 14, 2023, you will have to provide your biometric data again, even if you have provided it within the last 10 years.
Permanent resident visa in Quebec
Permanent resident status allows you to settle in the province for an unlimited period of time. It provides unrestricted access to the Quebec labor market and guarantees holders the same rights as Quebec nationals in terms of health, social benefits, education, and employment.
Permanent residency does not, however, entitle you to vote, or to hold certain jobs that require high-level security clearance. Even with permanent residency, you cannot remain in Canada if you are convicted of a serious criminal offence.
Procedure for obtaining a permanent resident visa in Quebec
The procedure for obtaining a permanent resident visa in Quebec depends on your profile. To find out more, visit the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration du Québec (MIFI) website.
Quebec Experience Program
If you have a Quebec diploma and have been working in Quebec full-time for at least 12 months, or are currently working in Quebec full-time for at least 24 months, you can apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) through the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). This CSQ will enable you to apply for permanent residency at the federal level. It will also allow you to stay in Quebec after your current permit expires, provided you have a valid job offer. For a list of the documents you'll need to provide, see this page. Please note that not all jobs are eligible for the PEQ.
Regular skilled worker program in Quebec
To apply for permanent residency through the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program, candidates can submit an expression of interest at any time on the Arrima portal. This procedure is free of charge, and the declaration will remain valid for 12 months. The Quebec government then selects candidates who have submitted an expression of interest, based on labor needs in La Belle Province and candidate profiles. Preference is given to French-speaking candidates and those whose profile matches the job market. Selection is based on a grid of factors and criteria, each of which is assigned a score. You will be allocated points for each of the applicable selection factors and criteria. These factors and criteria include, for example, age, level of education, fluency in French, previous stays in Quebec, etc.
You will then have to wait until you are invited by the authorities to submit an application for permanent selection. If you receive an invitation, you will then have 60 days to send the required documents and pay the fees for the examination of your application. Your selection application may be accepted on the basis of your file, but you may also be asked to attend an interview. Please note that you will need to send your diplomas, civil status documents, proof of employment and proof of your level of French. All documents written in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a translation from a recognized translator.
Good to know:
The fee for processing a CSQ application via PEQ is $869 CAD for the principal applicant and $186 CAD for the principal applicant's spouse, common-law partner and each child (September 2023).
Permanent visa in Quebec
Once you've been selected by the Quebec government, the final step in the immigration process is admission by the Canadian federal government. This is when you apply for your permanent resident visa.
You will need to enclose your CSQ with your visa application, as well as supporting documents such as medical certificates, a criminal record extract for each country in which you have lived for more than 6 months, and payment of fees. As of September 2023, processing times are 15 months, and it takes at least CA$1,365 to obtain permanent resident status in Canada. Note that a permanent selection decision by Quebec is valid for 24 months, or until a decision is rendered at the federal level.
Once all these steps have been completed, and upon acceptance by the Canadian federal government, the latter will mail you a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CDRP) and a Permanent Resident Visa if you come from a country that requires a visa. Citizens of certain countries that have signed an agreement with Canada, such as France, do not need a visa and simply receive a CDRP.
Once you have obtained permanent resident status, you will receive your permanent resident card at your address in Canada. Please note that you have 180 days to send your address to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), once you have arrived in Canada. If you miss this deadline, you'll have to pay a CAD$50 fee and apply for a new card. The permanent resident card, valid for five years, is a piece of identification in its own right. A fee of $ 50 CA applies for its renewal. For more information, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Temporary work permits in Quebec
To apply for a temporary work visa in Quebec, you must first secure a work contract in the province. To avoid competing with Canadians on the local job market, the Human Resources Department (HRD) of the company wishing to hire you must certify the job offer with Human Resources Canada and carry out a Labour Market Impact Study (LMIS). Both procedures are subject to a fee.
The company wishing to employ you must post the job offer on the Québec Emploi website, so that local workers can eventually apply.
If the response to the EIMT is favorable, the foreign candidate must apply to the MIFI for temporary selection. A fee of CA$216 applies to this application.
Once you have your temporary selection, you must apply for a work permit from the Canadian government. You may have to pass medical and security checks.
Good to know:
Employers wishing to hire you will be exempt from the EIMT if you have obtained a CSQ for permanent residence or a young professional permit.
Working Holiday Permit (WHP) in Canada
The WHP Canada is a temporary, open-ended work permit that allows nationals aged 18 to 30 (or 35 if you're French) from some 30 countries to work in Canada. This program is part of International Experience Canada (IEC), which enables young people to gain work experience in Canada. You don't need to have a job offer to benefit from this program.
To apply for a WHP in Canada, you must register online with EIC's applicant pool and wait for the Canadian government to open an invitation round. You can only apply if the Canadian government draws lots and invites you to apply.
As of November 2014, the duration of the Canada WHP is 24 months for applicants from the UK and France. Other countries included in the program are Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland. Conditions may differ depending on the applicant's nationality. You can determine your eligibility here.
To complete your application, you'll need to provide the following documents: a photocopy of your passport, a CV, four passport-size photos, a financial statement certifying that you'll be able to support yourself to the tune of CAD$2,500, and police certificates from the countries in which you've lived.
You'll also need to provide proof of health insurance for the duration of your stay. If you wish to work in a hospital or educational environment, a medical examination may be required.
If your application is accepted, present the letter of acceptance you received to the immigration authorities as soon as you arrive in Canada. Immigration officials will also ask you for proof of health, hospitalization and repatriation insurance, which you must take out before departure.
The WHP is non-renewable: you can apply only once, unless you use the services of a recognized organization such as SWAP for a second WHP. You'll have to join a waiting list, with no guarantee of being selected. What's more, this option is expensive.
In general, you can only extend your participation or modify your work permit under International Experience Canada in very specific situations.
An administrative fee of C$261 in September 2023 is applicable for a WHP application, plus a fee for biometric data collection services.
The Young Professionals Permit in Quebec
The Young Professionals Permit is a closed work permit for young people whose country has a bilateral agreement with Canada, and who have a job offer from a Canadian employer. The position must be related to their field of study or career path. To obtain a Young Professionals Permit, you'll need to register in EIC's pool of candidates, as you would for a WHP, and wait to be drawn and receive an invitation to apply. Your employer will have to create a profile on the employer portal, create a job offer, pay a compliance fee of CAD$230 and give you the job offer number, which you'll have to enter in your application once you've received an invitation. If you receive an invitation, you will also have to pay a fee of $161 CAD. Note that the Young Professionals Permit does not allow you to change employers at will. As with the WHP, you'll need to take out health, hospitalization and repatriation insurance for 24 months, which is the maximum duration of the Young Professionals Permit.
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