Quebec Immigration: Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP)
Quebec holds a unique position in the Canadian immigration landscape because of its French language and cultural heritage. The province operates its own permanent immigration programs.
One of the main immigration pathways available to those wishing to settle in Quebec is the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP)—In French the Programme de sélection des traveilleurs qualifiés (PSTQ).
The previous iteration of this pathway the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), which was changed in November of 2024.
Selection under the SWSP is based on the candidates’ profile, their level of education, language skills, work experience, and possible ties to Quebec. This comprehensive CanadaVisa page outlines what you need to know about the SWSP.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Streams under the SWSP
- SWSP eligibility
- Eligibility for Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
- Eligibility for Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills stream
- Eligibility for Stream 3: Regulated Professions
- Eligibility for Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
- Immigration Process Under the SWSP
- SWSP Processing Fees
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Cohen Immigration Law for Assistance
Overview
The Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) is a well-established permanent immigration program for skilled workers in Quebec.
Similarly to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under the Express Entry system, foreign nationals who wish to immigrate through the QWSP must first declare their interest in immigrating to Quebec by completing an expression of interest (EOI) form through an online portal. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) regularly selects people from the pool of candidates and invites them to apply for permanent selection.
Candidates who are successful under the QWSP are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and can then apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will conduct a medical and criminal background check as part of its approval process.
As of November 2023, French proficiency is mandatory for both principal and sponsored applicants in the program.
On November 29th, 2024, the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) was replaced by the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP).
Streams under the SWSP
The SWSP contains four streams, each designed to target candidates at different professional capacities, be it skill levels, regulated professions, or exceptional talent.
Each stream also features its own eligibility criteria (detailed later in this webpage), which applicants must meet alongside general program eligibility factors, to be eligible for a CSQ.
These four streams are as follows:
- The Highly qualified and specialized skills stream;
- The Intermediate and manual skills stream;
- The Regulated professions stream; and
- The Exceptional talent stream.
A basic overview of requirements for these streams is detailed in the table below. More information is given further down in the table:
| Stream | Occupation | Work experience | French | Education | Additional requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills | FÉER* 0, 1, or 2 | 1 year within the past 5 years |
| Qualifying one-year diploma | N/A |
| Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills | FÉER category 3, 4, or 5 | At least 2 years of paid work experience in last 5 years |
| Qualifying degree | N/A |
| Stream 3: Regulated professions | Must be listed on Québec’s official List of Regulated Professions | N/A | Depends on FÉER level of occupation | N/A | Authorization to practice occupation in Quebec |
| Stream 4: Exceptional talent | Must show exceptional expertise in main occupation | At least 3 years of work experience in last 5 years | N/A | N/A | Must be accomplished per Quebec standards, or endorsed by Ministerial partner |
FÉER stands for Formation, Études, Expérience et Responsabilités. FÉER is the French translation of IRCC's Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system.
The TEER system falls under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, and is used to classify occupations by their skill level.
SWSP Eligibility
In order to be eligible for a CSQ under the SWSP, candidates must meet both general program eligibility, and specific stream eligibility.
General program eligibility
All applicants to the SWSP must:
- Be no less than 18 years of age;
- Intend to settle in Quebec to work in a company that:
- They do not legal or de facto control (either directly or indirectly); and
- Does not operate within prohibited areas or industries*;
- Be likely to preform the role that they were hired to do;
- Prove that the information they entered in their profile is correct, such that they meet the criteria that led to the invitation they received for permanent selection;
- Sign a Financial Self-Sufficiency Contract attesting to their capacity to provide for themselves, and (if relevant) any accompanying family members, for a period of three months after becoming a permanent resident;
- Obtain an Attestation of learning of democratic and Quebec values
- Accompanying family members who are 18 years of age or older must also obtain this attestation; and
- Comply with any conditions stipulating that they must return to their country, as detailed in the terms of a scholarship in Québec.
*Ineligible areas of employment include:
- Payday loans;
- Cheque cashing;
- Pawnbroking; or
- The production, sale, or distribution of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry.
Eligibility for Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
This stream is intended for candidates working in occupations classified under FEER 0, 1, or 2.
Work experience
Candidates must work in a FEER 0, 1 or 2 occupation, in an occupation which is not regulated in the province on Quebec (where an official licence from a regulatory body to practise in Québec is not required).
Stream three of the SWSP is designed for regulated professions.
To be eligible, foreign nationals require at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) paid work experience in the main occupation, obtained in Québec or abroad within the five years prior to application. Internships as part of a degree program may count for up to three months.
Education
A diploma that leads directly to a profession, with a minimum of one year of full-time study, equivalent in Québec to:
- A Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) or Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP);
- An Attestation of Collegial Studies (AEC) or Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) in technical studies; or
- A certificate, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate. Programs must total at least 900 hours at the secondary/college level or 30 credits at the university level.
Comparative evaluation of studies for degrees obtained outside of Quebec are not required, however can be attached to your application as supporting documentation.
French Proficiency
Oral French at level 7 or higher and written French at level 5 or higher on the Échelle québécoise. Accompanying spouses must have oral French at level 4 or higher.
Eligibility for Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills
Stream 2 is designed for workers in FEER 3, 4, or 5 occupations.
Work experience
Candidates must work in an unregulated occupation under FEER 3, 4, or 5.
To be eligible, candidates must have two years of paid work experience in their main occupation, including at least one year in Québec, within the past five years.
Experience outside Québec can count for up to one year if it is acquired in the same NOC, or broad occupational category (same first digit of the NOC code).
Internships that are required as part of a degree may be recognized for up to three months. If the internship in Quebec must be within the same occupation, or within the broad occupational category.
Education
Candidates must have a minimum of one of the following, before submitting their application:
- A Québec high school diploma; or
- A diploma of at least one year full-time equivalent, corresponding to a DEP, ASP, or Attestation of College Studies.
If diplomas are obtained in Quebec, they must total at least 600 hours at the secondary level or 900 hours at the college level.
French Proficiency
Candidates must have spoken French proficiency at a level 5 or higher according to the Échelle québécoise.
Accompanying spouses require oral French proficiency at level 4 or higher.
Eligibility for Stream 3: Regulated Professions
This stream is reserved for candidates whose main occupation is on the List of Regulated Professions maintained by Québec’s Ministère.
Occupation requirement
A candidate's main profession must appear on the Ministère’s regulated list.
Note that occupations must be regulated as a function of the main job roles, and not simply the job title.
Some occupations are fully regulated (all associated jobs require a licence, e.g., mechanical engineers), while others are partially regulated (only certain jobs are regulated, e.g., criminologists within the social sciences).
If an occupation is fully regulated, candidates must apply through Stream 3.
If an occupation is partially regulated, candidates may have the option to apply through stream 1, 2, or 3, depending on the FEER category of their profession.
Proof from a Regulatory Authority
Candidates must hold one of the following, issued within the last five years:
- Authorization to practise in Québec;
- Proof of partial recognition of training or diploma; or
- Proof of full recognition of training or diploma.
These documents may lead to—but do not guarantee—authorization to practise.
Documents attesting to proof of partial or full recognition of training must be no older than five years from the date of submission of the application.
French Proficiency
French proficiency requirements depend on the FEER category of the profession:
- FEER 0–2: Oral French at level 7+, written French at level 5+.
- FEER 3–5: Oral French at level 5+. Spouses must have oral French at level 4 or higher.
Eligibility for Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
Stream 4 recognizes candidates with outstanding expertise likely to contribute to Québec’s prosperity.
Exceptional skills
Candidates must demonstrate exceptional talent in their field, backed by a track record of significant achievements.
More specifically candidates must:
- Demonstrate clear distinction in their primary occupation through exceptional expertise that can significantly contribute to Québec’s prosperity;
- Provide evidence of a strong record of accomplishments directly linked to their area of expertise.
Have at least three years of professional experience in their main occupation within the five years before submitting your application.
Experience gained through mandatory internships as part of a degree program may also be counted, for a maximum of three months, whether paid or unpaid.
Recognition of achievements
Candidates must either:
- Have an achievement listed on the Ministère’s official "List of Achievements"; or
- Obtain an opinion from one of the Ministère’s designated partners in a targeted field
Targeted fields and the associated designated partners are listed below:
- Strategic economic sectors: ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) (in French only);
- Research: Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ) (in French only);
- Arts: Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec (CALQ);
- Sports: Institut national du Sport du Québec (INS).
Immigration process under the SWSP
First, candidates must submit an expression of interest through the Arrima pool. Submitted profiles are scored based on factors such as age, education, language skills and work experience. The top-scoring candidates in the pool may be invited to apply for permanent selection by the Government of Quebec in regularly held draws.
Candidates invited to apply to immigrate to Quebec under the SWSP will then use the Mon Projet Quebec portal to complete and submit an application form for permanent selection. The portal allows candidates to complete their application, make their payment online, track the status of their application, make changes to their application and access a personal email throughout the process.
Candidates who are successful under the QWSP are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and can then apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will conduct a medical and criminal background check as part of its approval process.
Quebec’s Expression of Interest System
The EOI system is a two-step process for selecting skilled immigrants, whether they are abroad or already in the province.
The first step is to submit an electronic expression of interest for permanent immigration to Arrima. This is a pre-screening process that allows the government to rank interested candidates based on their human capital and labour market-related criteria.
The second step is for the government to invite the top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent immigration in regular draws from the pool. The chances of being invited in the draws depend on many factors. These include the government's annual admission targets, its processing capacity, the candidates' ranking scores in the pool, whether there is a job offer, and the targeted occupations at the time of each draw.
SWSP Processing Fees
Processing fees for the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program, effective January 1, 2025, are as follows:
Applicant | Fees |
|---|---|
Principal Applicant | CAD $921 |
Spouse, de facto spouse | CAD $197 |
Each dependant child | CAD $197 |
The Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) is a program for economic immigration candidates who intend to settle in the province of Quebec. Quebec's Ministère de l'immigration, de la francisation et de l'intégration (MIFI) invites candidates to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ) based on their Expression of Interest profile, which details their age, education, work experience, proficiency in French, among other factors.
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.
As of July 2025, candidates 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.
Note however that in the wake of immigration reductions as announced by Quebec's immigration ministry, obtaining a CSQ under the SWSP is a more competitive process, with the province emphasizing candidates that most closely meet their labour market needs.
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.
French is a necessary prerequisite for three of the four SWSP immigration streams.
Only candidates eligible for stream 4 may potentially receive a CSQ through the SWSP without French language proficiency.
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).
Contact us for Assistance
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CanadaVisa.com was founded as the online presence of Cohen Immigration Law. Since its launch in 1994, CanadaVisa has grown into one of the globe's most trusted resources on Canadian immigration. If you want to immigrate to Canada through Quebec's skilled workers programs or another skilled worker pathway, the first step is to complete a free CanadaVisa assessment form. If you are eligible for Quebec or Canadian immigration, a member of the Cohen Immigration Law team will reach out to provide you with as much assistance as possible.
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