Quebec Immigration: Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP)

Arrima is an online platform used to manage immigration applications from foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to Quebec under the SWSP. It is a portal open to anyone 18 years of age or older who wishes to submit an expression of interest to apply under the SWSP.

Under the revised Quebec immigration system, as a first step, foreign national who want to immigrate to Québec under the SWSP must first express their interest by filling out an online Expression of Interest form through the Arrima Portal. On this form, individuals must provide information regarding their area of training, educational level, language skills and work experience, as well as additional information. The Ministère periodically invites individuals from the Expression of Interest bank who meet certain criteria, focusing mainly on labour market needs in the various regions of Québec. Having a validated job offer and working in targeted occupations are some of the criteria taken into consideration.

Mon projet Québec is an online system for receiving complete applications to the QSWP (now the SWSP).

Candidates who are invited to apply for permanent selection by Quebec under the SWSP must register an account on Mon projet Québec to complete the application and submit their supporting documents.

A CSQ is the document issued to successful applicants to Quebec immigration programs to show that they have been selected for immigration to Quebec. With a CSQ, a candidate can apply to the Federal government for permanent residence. The CSQ is not a permanent residence visa and cannot be utilized for entry into Canada.

A candidate can create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile at any time using the online Arrima portal.

The Government of Quebec invites candidates on an ongoing basis and according to labour market needs. This means that candidates who have submitted their profile in the Arrima pool and who best meet the economic and political priorities of the province and its regions may be selected at any time based on their socio-professional profile.

To maximize your chances of being invited, it is best to make sure your profile in Arrima is up to date.

No. Currently, the only way for a candidate to be considered for for immigration to Quebec under the SWSP is to create a profile in Arrima.

An applicant can include his or her spouse or common-law partner on the application, as well as any dependent children aged 18 or younger. It is important to note that Canada recognizes same-sex unions.

You may be able to obtain a CSQ under the SWSP provided you are awarded enough points in other categories on the selection grid to get a passing score.

No. The age of the applicant and the ages of his or her accompanying family members (if applicable) are locked in on the day the application is submitted. For the purposes of points calculation, the applicant and his or her accompanying family members (if applicable) remain the same age throughout the application.

Yes. Any changes that may affect the candidate’s application must be declared within 30 days of the change. This includes the addition of new family members, as well as any changes in address, employment, and education – this applies to the accompanying spouse as well. The candidate may gain eligibility points for these changes. It is also important to note that such these changes must be declared even if the change will not affect the points score.

Since January 1, 2020, those who submit applications under the SWSP are required to obtain an attestation of learning about democratic values and Quebec values in support of their permanent selection application.

To receive the attestation, you must successfully complete an online assessment or attend an information session with Objectif Intégration. Once obtained, the certification is valid for two years. All persons 18 years of age that are included in your application will need to obtain this certificate. More information is available on the Quebec government website.

Any change in address must be declared to the MIFI. If a candidate moves to a country with a shorter estimated processing time, he or she may be able to request a transfer of the territory treating the application.

The SWSP program is intended for prospective immigrants who wish to settle and build a life in Quebec. An application can be refused if the MIFI or the federal immigration authorities believe that the applicant does not intend to settle in Quebec.

Once a successful applicant receives a permanent resident visa, he or she (and his or her family, if applicable) must land in Quebec upon arrival in Canada. However, it is important to note that immigrants who obtain permanent residence through the SWSP have the same rights as Canadian citizens and permanent residents in other provinces to move around the country freely and without impediment.

Yes. An application can be refused at the federal processing stage for a variety of reasons. The decision to refuse an application at the federal level can be based on criminal background checks, or on the results of medical examinations. An application may also be refused if the federal immigration authorities have reason to believe any of the applicant's claims on their application are untrue, or if the authorities doubt the candidate's intention to reside in Quebec. If you have any concerns regarding criminal or medical inadmissibility to Canada, please contact us.

No. It is important to note that the selection criteria for a Quebec Skilled Worker are not the same as those for the Federal Skilled Worker Class. If an applicant obtains a CSQ, his or her application must still be submitted at the federal level for security and medical checks before permanent residence may be granted. However, qualifications are not re-assessed at the federal level, as the province will already have approved the qualifications and selected the applicant (and his or her family, if applicable) for immigration to Quebec.

No. The process of immigration to Quebec exists outside the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.

Quebec is responsible for selecting immigrants to settle within the province. In order to immigrate to Quebec, candidates must first obtain a CSQ. It is important to note that a CSQ is not a Permanent Residence Visa. Once an application for a CSQ is submitted, candidates’ qualifications are assessed at the provincial level. After receiving approval at the provincial level (CSQ is granted), the candidate must submit an application at the federal level for medical and security checks. After a candidate is approved at the federal level, he or she receives permanent residence.

Quebec is a culturally distinct province, and the only predominantly francophone province in Canada. A candidate’s chances of being selected by Quebec depend on his or her ability and willingness to settle and work in the province and adapt to life in the province. Quebec has had the right to define its own criteria for the selection of immigrants since 1991, when the province signed the Canada-Quebec Accord. This agreement between the provincial and federal governments came about in the context of rising separatist sentiment in Quebec, and although Quebec residents voted to remain part of Canada, the selection of immigrants according to Quebec's own criteria remained an important part of the province's identity. However, the right to move around Canada, as established in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is part of the Canada-Quebec Accord.

Due to its special status as the only officially Francophone province in Canada, Quebec has the unique authority to manage its own immigration programs. If you are seeking to immigrate to Quebec and live there as a skilled worker, you will not be able to apply through immigration streams such as the Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP). Instead, you must apply under the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP).