The government of Quebec has announced that it will receive a maximum of 6,300 applications for a Quebec Selection Certificate through its Quebec Skilled Worker Program , which is due to reopen later this year.

The cap for the most recent application cycle, which was filled within four months between April 1 and July 30, 2014, was 6,500. New rules regarding the intake of and processing of new applications for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program were expected to be announced by April 1, 2015. While the government of Quebec has announced that the new regulations will be in effect for the period April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, it has not yet specified precisely when it will begin accepting applications for the program.

Another important detail is whether any changes to the current points-grid will be made. In January, 2015, Quebec released the Area of Training list that will apply to the upcoming application cycle for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. In December, an updated points-grid was announced. It remains to be seen whether any additional changes to the program will be made before it begins receiving applications.

Immigration to Quebec through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program is a two-step process. Potential candidates are assessed through a points-based system that awards points for a candidate’s age, level of education, area of training, work experience, language proficiency, connections to the province, and whether or not the candidate has a validated job offer from an employer in Quebec. Points may also be awarded for the characteristics of an applicant’s spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, if applicable.

Eligible candidates who successfully submit a complete and accurate application are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate, at which point they may apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa.

A candidate may be exempt from the program cap if he or she:

• is eligible for an submit an application under the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (Québec experience program);
• has enclosed a valid employment offer with the application for a selection certificate that was submitted under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program;
• has been informed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that it has agreed to process his or her application for permanent residence in Canada; or
• is a temporary resident and eligible to submit an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec.