How to obtain the Certificat de Sélection Québec
To become a permanent resident of Quebec, you need to satisfy various selection criteria determined by the Quebec and Canadian governments. Here's a brief overview of the procedures involved.A
If Quebec chooses you to immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident, they'll give you a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). This official document from the Quebec government lets you move on to the last step of getting permanent residency. Just note that the Quebec selection decision, confirmed by the CSQ, remains valid for 24 months or until a decision on permanent residency is made at the federal level.
Getting selected by a Canadian province increases your chances of securing permanent residency. Provinces have the flexibility to pick candidates that align well with the job market and meet the immediate needs of their local economy.
Steps to obtain a CSQ
To obtain a CSQ under one of Quebec's permanent immigration programs, you must submit an expression of interest on the Arrima portal of Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (MIDI). This process is free of charge.
You'll need to wait for an invitation to apply, so make sure to keep your expression of interest up to date. It stays valid for 12 months.
If you receive an invitation, you must complete and submit the permanent selection application form and pay the fee within 60 days. A fee of CA$869 for the principal applicant and CA$186 for the principal applicant's spouse and each dependent child must be paid.
Once the ministry begins processing your application, you will receive a personalized list of documents to provide. You can consult this page to get an idea of what may be required. You will have 60 days to submit these documents. The Ministry will ask you for proof of identity, as well as proof of your personal, professional, and family situation.
The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) was reformed in 2020. Since this reform, temporary foreign workers must accumulate two years of work experience in Quebec before they can apply for the CSQ. Your periods of part-time work cannot be taken into account in the PEQ. In addition, workers who have held a C or D level position in Quebec in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2016) are no longer eligible. This is the case, for example, for waiters and fruit pickers.
In addition to their diploma, students must now have 12 months of full-time work experience in Quebec (if they have a university degree) or 18 months (if they have a college diploma), and must be employed at the time of application.
In addition, as of January 1, 2020, all applicants for permanent residence via Quebec must obtain an attestation of learning of the democratic and Quebec values expressed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This condition applies to the principal applicant and accompanying family members aged 18 and over (except in cases of physical or mental disability). To obtain it, you need to take an online test (from anywhere in the world) or attend an Objectif Intégration information session in Quebec. This procedure is free of charge. Once obtained, the attestation is valid for 2 years. The online test can only be taken after the application has been submitted. The training course, on the other hand, can be taken before or after the application is submitted.
People who obtain a CSQ while already in Quebec with a valid temporary resident permit can extend their stay in Quebec more easily. Others must continue the process of obtaining permanent residency, by applying to the federal government, before coming to Quebec.
Good to know:
The CSQ is neither a visa nor a work permit.
For business people, your application for permanent selection must be made online. See this page for more information on how to apply.
Becoming a permanent resident of Quebec
Once you've obtained your CSQ, you must apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency in the Quebec-selected skilled worker category. At this point, you'll need to submit your CSQ in addition to the other documents required.
To obtain permanent residency, you must also undergo a paid medical examination by a designated physician. You will receive instructions on this once IRCC has received your complete application. If your health, or that of anyone accompanying you to Quebec, represents a risk or burden to Canada, your application for permanent residency may be rejected.
Once your application has been accepted by the federal government, IRCC will mail you a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a Permanent Resident 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 in Canada, you'll need to provide IRCC with an address to obtain your permanent resident card.
Selection categories in Quebec
CSQ applications can be submitted for six different programs: Business people, Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ), PEQ, pilot program for food processing workers, pilot program for orderlies and pilot program for artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects workers. All three pilot programs will end on January 1, 2026. The PEQ is divided into two categories: Quebec Graduates and Temporary Foreign Workers. The program for business people is divided into three categories: the Entrepreneur Program, the Self-Employed Program and the Investor Program. In all three cases, you'll need to make a start-up deposit and/or a security deposit, and have a well-defined business project.
The conditions for obtaining the CSQ vary according to the category in which you are applying. Applications from skilled workers in the regular program are assessed on the basis of a points system. The procedure is simpler and faster for applications in the Quebec experience category. In addition, please note that the business program is subject to quotas and that applications can only be submitted on certain dates. To find out about these quotas and dates, visit the MIFI website. Candidates with an advanced intermediate level of French in oral expression and comprehension, as demonstrated by the presentation of a standardized test recognized by the Ministry, may apply at any time.
All applicants must be able to support themselves and their families for a minimum period of 3 months from the date they obtain permanent resident status. In addition, CSQ holders undertake to settle in Quebec, and not in another Canadian province, once permanent residency has been obtained.
Permanent resident status confers on the applicant the same rights as those of any Canadian citizen, with the exception of the right to vote and to obtain a Canadian passport. These rights can be granted after the applicant has spent at least 1095 days in the 5 years preceding the application in Canada, and is a permanent resident if applying for Canadian citizenship.
Good to know:
If your family members, whether spouses or children, are still abroad, and you are planning to bring them to Quebec, make sure you have already registered them on your application for permanent residence.
You will not be eligible for the PEQ if you have obtained an open work permit by accompanying a foreign student or temporary worker to Quebec.
The cost of applying for permanent residence in Quebec
For a single person, the average cost of an application for permanent residence in Canada is CAD$2,234. This fee is made up of the CSQ application fee, the IRCC permanent residence application fee – $850 CAD in September 2023 – and the Right of Permanent Residence fee – $515 CAD in September 2023. All applicants are also required to undergo a medical examination, the cost of which varies according to the country in which the examination is carried out.
Additional fees must be added for family members accompanying the principal applicant. Fees are required for the CSQ, as well as at the federal level. In addition, depending on your profile, you may have to pay translation fees if your documents are not in English or French, fees for language tests, and fees for administrative documents such as birth certificates or criminal records.
The time it takes to obtain permanent residency varies according to your profile and country of origin.
Useful links:
