The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW) is an immigration program operated by the province of Quebec for candidates who have skilled work experience and will be willing and able to make continuous contributions to Quebec’s economy as members of the workforce.
With the official language of Quebec being French, QSW doesn’t require applicants to exhibit proficiency in French, making the program attractive to English speakers who wish to reside in Quebec.
Quebec Skilled Worker – How to Apply
All QSW candidates will need to demonstrate that they meet the minimum required score on the QSW points assessment grid.
If you’ve got sufficient QSW points, you’ll submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the Arrima online portal to be considered for the program.
The Quebec government will then invite some candidates for the submission of a complete application for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate).
Upon receiving a CSQ, an applicant becomes eligible to submit a formal application for Canadian permanent residence.
Arrima Online Portal
The Arrima online portal was launched by Quebec Ministère de I’mmigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) to manage applications to the Quebec Skilled worker (QSW) program.
Candidates who want to submit an application for the QSW must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form online, which contains information regarding the candidate’s language proficiency, work experience, a field of coaching, and education.
MIFI will select candidates from this pool to submit an application for a CSQ. however, they have not yet confirmed how they’re going to determine which candidates to ask.
Upon receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) to the program, candidates will have a limited amount of time to submit their complete application.
Applications submitted for a CSQ through the Arrima portal are expected to be processed within 6 months.
Selection Factors – QSW Points Grid
In order to submit an application to the Quebec trained worker program for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate), applicants must meet the minimum required scores on the eligibility points grid below.
Please note that points for education are awarded in regard to the applicant’s area of study. Applicants applying without a spouse or common-law partner must reach a minimum of 43 points on the employability factors and 50 points total.
For applicants applying with a spouse or common-law partner, they are required to reach a minimum of 52 points on the employability factors and 59 points total.
| Factor | Points | ||
| Without spouse | With spouse | ||
| Education | 26 | 26 | |
| Experience | 8 | 8 | |
| Age | 16 | 16 | |
| Language Proficiency | 22 | 22 | |
| Connection to Quebec | 8 | 8 | |
| Accompanying Spouse Factors | 17 | 17 | |
| Valid Job Offer | 14 | 14 | |
| Employability Eligibility Score | 43 | 52 | |
| Children | 8 | 8 | |
| Capacity for financial autonomy (eliminatory) | 1 | 1 | |
| Minimum Eligibility Score | 50 | 59 | |
Factor 1: – Education
| Education | Points |
| Level of Education | |
| General secondary | 2 |
| Professional secondary | 6 |
| General post-secondary 2 years | 4 |
| Technical post-secondary 1 or 2 years | 6 |
| Technical post-secondary 3 years | 8 |
| University undergraduate 1 year | 4 |
| University undergraduate 2 years | 6 |
| University undergraduate 3 years or more | 10 |
| University graduate 1 or more years | 12 |
| Univeristy post-graduate | 14 |
| Area of Training | |
| Section A | 12 |
| Section B | 9 |
| Section C | 6 |
| Section D | 2 |
| Section E | 0 |
| Maximum | 26 |
Factor 2: – Experience
| Experience | Points |
| Length of skilled work experience | |
| Less than 6 months | 0 |
| 6 months to 11 months | 4 |
| 12 months to 23 months | 4 |
| 24 months to 35 months | 6 |
| 36 months to 47 months | 6 |
| 48 months or more | 8 |
| Maximum | 8 |
Factor 3: – Age
| Age | Points |
| 18 to 35 years | 16 |
| 36 years | 14 |
| 37 years | 12 |
| 38 years | 10 |
| 39 years | 8 |
| 40 years | 6 |
| 41 years | 4 |
| 42 years | 2 |
| 43 years or more | 0 |
| Maximum | 16 |
Factor 4: – Language Proficiency
| Language Proficiency – Principal Applicant | Points |
| French | |
| Listening and Speaking | |
| C2 | 7 |
| C1 | 6 |
| B2 | 5 |
| B1, A2, A1, or less than A1 | 0 |
| Reading and Writing | |
| C2 or C1 | 1 |
| B2, B1, A2, A1, or less than A1 | 0 |
| English | |
| Listening and Speaking | |
| CLB 9 | 2 |
| CLB 5 | 1 |
| Reading and Writing | |
| CLB 5 | 1 |
| Maximum | 22 |
Factor 5: – Connection to Quebec
| Connection to Quebec | Points |
| Trips to Quebec | |
| Study in Quebec for one full-time semester | 0 |
| Study in Quebec for two full-time semesters | 0 |
| Study in Quebec leading to a DEP/AEC of 900 to 1800 hours AND full-time work experience related to the field of study within the 6 months following the period of study | 5 |
| Study in Quebec leading to a DEP/AEC of 1800 hours or more, or a DEC, or university degree or diploma | 5 |
| 6 months of full-time work experience in Quebec while holding a work permit valid for at least one year | 5 |
| Work experience in Quebec for less than 6 months | 0 |
| Working holiday participant 3 months or more | 0 |
| Other trips 3 months or more | 2 |
| Other trips (2 weeks to less than 3 months) | 1 |
| Other trips less than 2 weeks in length | 0 |
| Family in Quebec | |
| Spouse, Parent, Sibling, Child, Grandparent | 3 |
| Maximum | 8 |
Factor 6: – Accompanying Spouse Factors
| Accompanying Spouse Factors | Points |
| Level of Education | |
| General secondary | 1 |
| Professional secondary | 2 |
| General post-secondary 2 years | 1 |
| Technical post-secondary 1 or 2 years | 2 |
| Technical post-secondary 3 years | 3 |
| University undergraduate 1 year | 1 |
| University undergraduate 2 years | 2 |
| University undergraduate 3 years or more | 3 |
| University graduate 1 or more years | 4 |
| University post-graduate | 4 |
| Area of Training | |
| Section A | 4 |
| Section B | 3 |
| Section C | 2 |
| Section D | 1 |
| Section E | 0 |
| Age | |
| less than 18 years | 0 |
| 18 to 35 years | 3 |
| 36 years | 2 |
| 37 years | 2 |
| 38 years | 2 |
| 39 years | 2 |
| 40 years | 1 |
| 41 years | 1 |
| 42 years | 1 |
| 43 years or more | 0 |
| French-language Proficiency | |
| Oral comprehension | 0, 2, or 3 |
| Spoken French | 0, 2, or 3 |
| Maximum | 17 |
Factor 7: – Valid Job Offer
| Valid Job Offer | Points |
| Valid job offer in Montreal Metropolitan Region | 8 |
| Valid Job Offer outside Montreal, by region | |
| • Capitale-Nationale • Chaudière-Appalaches • Montérégie |
14 |
| • Abitibi-Témaniscamingue • Centre-du Québec • Estrie • Lanaudière • Outaoais |
13 |
| • Bas-Saint-Laurent • Côte-Nord • Laurentides • Mauricie • Nord-du-Québec • Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
12 |
| • Gaspésie | 10 |
| Maximum | 14 |
Factor 8: – Children
| Children | Points par enfant |
| 12 years or less | 4 |
| 13 to 21 years | 2 |
| Maximum | 8 |
