Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) | What should you know and how does it work?
If you are considering permanent immigration to Québec for employment purposes, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) also called Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) could be the ideal option for you. To be eligible for this program, you need to express your intention to migrate to Québec for work and meet the necessary criteria established by the province. Upon meeting these criteria, you will be invited to submit an application for permanent selection.
To increase your chances of being selected, it is important to possess relevant training and professional skills that will facilitate your integration into the job market in Québec. Additionally, various factors are taken into consideration during the selection process, including your proficiency in the language, your age, the characteristics of your spouse, and the presence of children. The assessment of these factors and their respective criteria is conducted using a selection grid (PDF 136 Kb) which is available in French.
Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) | How to Apply?
Quebec’s Expression of Interest System – Arrima
To successfully submit your expression of interest for immigration to Québec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program, it is necessary to register an account on the Arrima platform.
Once registered, you can proceed to fill out and submit your expression of interest form. Remember that you have a 90-day window, starting from the date of creation, to finalize and submit the form. If the 90-day period expires, your form will be automatically deleted.
Eligibility Criteria for Quebec’s Expression of Interest
To submit an expression of interest, you must meet the following conditions:
Necessary Information to Provide
To complete the expression of interest form, you are required to provide the following information:
Additionally, you must include information about your accompanying spouse and children, regardless of whether they are accompanying you or not. Please note that your spouse has the option to submit their own expression of interest, but this should be indicated in the form.
Children under 18 years of age are not allowed to complete their own expression of interest. You should mention their details in the Family Situation section of your expression of interest form.
It is possible to update your expression of interest form at any time, even after you have submitted it.
The following documents may be helpful when completing your expression of interest:
Mon Projet Québec
Candidates invited to apply for immigration to Quebec through the QSWP must use the secure Mon projet Québec portal to apply. Mon projet Québec allows candidates to complete their application for a CSQ, make their payment online, follow the status of their application, make changes to their application, and access personal electronic messaging throughout the process.
To be among those who are selected, you must have the training and professional skills that will facilitate your job integration in Québec, such as:
People can also apply for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), with expedited processing times at the CSQ application stage. It should be noted that French proficiency is required under the PEQ.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)s requirements
As of January 1, 2020, all applicants for permanent residence through Quebec immigration programs are required to show they understand Quebec values. This can be done by passing a Quebec values test or completing a course in Quebec values.
People who intend to apply for applicants must meet the minimum required scores on the eligibility points of a selection grid as shown below. There are different eligibility factors for single applicants unlike applicants with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, and all applicants have to pass two points factors to become eligible.
Single applicants & Applicants with a spouse/common-law partner
A single (unmarried) applicant must score at least 43 points based on this system. While an applicant with a spouse or common-law partner must score a minimum of 59 points, based on the following factors:
Selection Grid
| Factors | Marking scheme | Max | Pts |
| 1. Education | Points 103 Max | Max 120 26 | |
| 1.1 Level of Education | Max | 14 | |
| a) General Secondary | 2 | ||
| b) Professional Secondary | 6 | ||
| c) General Post Secondary – CEGEP- (2 years) | 4 | ||
| d) Technical Post Secondary -College– 1 or 2 year | 6 | ||
| e) Technical Post Secondary -College– 3 years | 8 | ||
| f) Undergraduate University – 1 year | 4 | ||
| g) Undergraduate University – 2 years | 6 | ||
| 1. Education & Training Cut-off score =2 | h) Undergraduate University – 3 years + | 10 | |
| i) Graduated Diploma-Master Degree – 1 year + | 12 | ||
| j) Doctoral Degree | 14 | ||
| 1.2 Area of training | Max | 12 | |
| (Quebec diploma or equivalent) from the list | |||
| a) Section A – part I or II | 12 | ||
| b) Section B – part I or II | 9 | ||
| c) Section C – part I or II | 6 | ||
| d) Section D – part II | 2 | ||
| e) Section E – part I | 0 | ||
| 2. Professional Experience | Max | 8 | |
| a) Less than 6 months | |||
| 2. Experience | b) 6 to 23 months | 4 | |
| c) 24 to 35 months | 6 | ||
| d) 36 to 47 months | 6 | ||
| e) 48 months or more | 8 | ||
| 3. Age | Max | 16 | |
| 18 to 35 years old | 16 | ||
| 36 years old | 14 | ||
| 37 years old | 12 | ||
| 3. Age | 38 years old | 10 | |
| 39 years old | 8 | ||
| 40 years old | 6 | ||
| 41 years old | 4 | ||
| 42 years old | 2 | ||
| 43+ years old | 0 | ||
| 4. Languages | Max | 22 | |
| 4.1 French | Max | 16 | |
| a) Listening (Compréhension orale) | 7 | ||
| b) Speaking (Expression orale) | 7 | ||
| b) Reading (Compréhension écrite) | 1 | ||
| 4. Languages | b) Writing (Expression écrite) | 1 | |
| 4.2 English | Max | 6 | |
| a) Listening | 2 | ||
| b) Speaking | 2 | ||
| b) Reading | 1 | ||
| b) Writing | 1 | ||
| 5.1 Stay in Quebec & Family in Quebec | Max | 8 | |
| 5.1 Stay in Quebec | Max | 5 | |
| a) Study + diploma DEP/AEC 900 h +work experience 6 months in the area of training | 5 | ||
| 5. Stay in Quebec and Family in Quebec | b) Study + diploma DEC/university undergraduate and graduate degrees | 5 | |
| c) Work permit 1 year + work experience 6 months | 5 | ||
| d) Other stay 3 months + | 2 | ||
| e) Other stays 2 weeks to 3 months | 1 | ||
| 5.2 Family in Quebec | Max | 3 | |
| a)Father/mother/sibling/children /spouse | 3 | ||
| b) Grand-parents | 3 | ||
| 6. Spouse’s Characteristics | Max | 17 | |
| 6.1 Education | Max | 8 | |
| 6.1.1 Level of Education | Max | 4 | |
| a) General Secondary | 1 | ||
| b) Professional Secondary | 2 | ||
| c) General Post Secondary – CEGEP- (2 years) | 1 | ||
| d) Technical Post Secondary -College– 1 or 2 year | 2 | ||
| e) Technical Post Secondary -College– 3 years | 3 | ||
| g) Undergraduate University – 2 years | 1 | ||
| h) Undergraduate University – 3 years + | 3 | ||
| i) Graduated Diploma-Master Degree – 1 year + | 4 | ||
| j) Doctoral Degree | 4 | ||
| 6. Spouse’s Characteristic | 6.1.2 Area of training | Max | 4 |
| a) Section A – part I or II | 4 | ||
| b) Section B – part I or II | 3 | ||
| c) Section C – part I or II | 2 | ||
| d) Section D – part II | 1 | ||
| e) Section E – part I | 0 | ||
| 6.2 Age | Max | 3 | |
| 18 to 35 years old | 3 | ||
| 36 to 39 years old | 2 | ||
| 40 to 42 years old | 1 | ||
| 43+ years old | 0 | ||
| 6.3 French | Max | 6 | |
| Listening | 3 | ||
| Speaking | 3 | ||
| 7. Job Offer | Max | 14 | |
| a) Validated job offer in GMR | 8 | ||
| a) Validated job offer outside GMR | 14 | ||
| Gaspésie | 10 | ||
| Bas-St-Laurent | |||
| Côte Nord | |||
| Laurentides | |||
| Mauricie | |||
| 7. Job Offer | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean | 12 | |
| Abitibi-Témiscamingue | |||
| Centre-de-Québec | |||
| Estrie | |||
| Lanaudière | |||
| Outaouais | 13 | ||
| Capital-Nationale | |||
| Chaudière-Appalaches | |||
| Montérégie | |||
| Single applicants without suppose | 43 or 52 | ||
| 8. Children | Max | 8 | |
| 8. Children | 12 years old and less – per child | 4 | |
| 13 to 21 years old – per child | 2 | ||
| 9. Financial Self-Sufficiency | 9. Financial Self-Sufficiency | Max | 1 |
| Contractual subscription | 1 |
Processing
To immigrate to Canada through the Quebec Regular Skilled Workers Program (RSWP), to become permanent residents of Canada and live in Quebec. You must apply in the following 2 stages:
- Apply to the Government of Quebec for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ)).
- The Province of Quebec will assess you, using its own rules.
- The certificate shows that the Province of Quebec has accepted you as an immigrant.
- If the Province of Quebec chooses you and gives you a CSQ, you must apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.
Processing time – Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program
15 to 17 months
These processing time instructions are for your application for permanent residence only.
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