Quebec: Canada's French Province

Quebec is the largest Canadian province and is the only province where the official language is French. It is home to the second largest French speaking city in the world, Montreal. Quebec’s strong economy is based on skilled workers, natural resources, and innovation.

Want to immigrate to Quebec? Yes, you CAN DO it!!

Quebec is located in Eastern Canada and is made up of 17 administrative regions. The capital city, Quebec City, is home to UNESCO World Heritage treasure Old Quebec. It is known for its vibrant French culture, incredible food scene, world-class shopping, and the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico. As you’d expect, Canada’s largest province is a hotspot for nature enthusiasts. With an outstanding selection of national and regional parks, as well as more than 3000km of coastline[1] and half a million lakes[2], the province offers scenic hiking, whale and wildlife watching, and exceptional mountain biking. It is also a destination for sport hunters, fishers, and trappers.

Quebec is bordered by Ontario to the west, New Brunswick to the east, while Newfoundland and Labrador are located to the north-east of the enormous province. US states Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York all border Quebec to the south. Given its location, the Port of Montreal is a key economic powerhouse and the largest port in Eastern Canada[3]. Activity from the Port of Montreal generates more than 19,000 jobs and $2.6 billion in economic benefits annually[4].

The climate in Quebec is marked by high heat in the summer and frigid cold in the winter months. Since the province is so large, temperatures do vary depending on the precise location.  In the capital city, Quebec City, average summer temperatures range from 12°C to 20.1°C and there is quite a lot of rainfall year-round, though particularly in fall[5]. In winter, the average temperature hovers around -10°C[6], though it typically dips below -20°C for a few weeks each year.

Quebec’s main industries include manufacturing; real estate; health care and social assistance; public administration; professional, scientific and technical services; construction; retail; finance; education; wholesale trade; and transportation and warehousing[7]. The province has a relatively low unemployment rate[8] and boasts one of the highest rates of female employment in the world[9]. Generally speaking, written and spoken knowledge of English and French significantly increases the chances of finding a job in Quebec[10].

The cost of living in Quebec is relatively low. The average monthly cost to rent a 2-bed apartment in Quebec in 2020 was $856.[11] In the neighbouring province of Ontario, the average monthly rent for a 2-bed apartment was CAD$1,408.

Unlike other provinces in Canada, Quebec administers its own immigration program. Because of this, the immigration pathways and selection criteria are distinctly different to the programs offered federally and in other provinces. To immigrate to Quebec, applicants must first receive a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ) from Quebec’s immigration authority – the Ministère de l’immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Inclusion (MIFI). Applicants may apply for a CSQ under the following categories: Quebec Skilled Worker Program; Quebec Business Immigration; and the Quebec Experience Program.

Under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, applicants who wish to move to Quebec submit an expression of interest to the province that outlines their education, work experience, language proficiency, age, children, finances, and spouse’s characteristics. From there, the applicant may receive an invitation to submit a permanent selection application, with the criteria for selection being based on work experience, French language skills, education, receipt of a job offer, education in Quebec, and/or work experience in Quebec as a temporary worker.

Entrepreneurs, investors, and self-employed workers are invited to apply to immigrate to Quebec under the business immigration program. The requirements for each program vary widely. Investors must demonstrate 2 years’ management experience, net assets of at least $2 million CAD and proof of their source/lawful acquisition, and an agreement to invest $1.2 million for 5 years with Investissement Quebec[12]. Entrepreneurs are assessed based on net assets of at least $900,000 CAD and business planning and/or acceptance into a business accelerator or university entrepreneurship centre. Self-employed workers must demonstrate at least $100,000 of net assets and two years’ experience as a self-employed worker. They must also make a start-up financial deposit at a financial institution in the amount of $25,000 for businesses registered and practised outside of Montreal, and $50,000 for businesses in the Montreal region. Education, French language skills, visits to Quebec and familial ties in Quebec are also relevant under this program.

The Quebec experience program is for foreign graduates of a Quebec institution or temporary foreign workers with experience in Quebec. Foreign workers must have worked legally in Quebec during their stay, be financially self-sufficient, meet French proficiency requirements, and be legally in Quebec at the time of the application[13]. Foreign graduates must be financially self-sufficient, proficient in French, and have resided in Quebec legally. They must have earned a qualifying tertiary degree from a Quebec institution[14].

For applications under any of the above programs, the permanent selection application must also be accompanied by a completed Attestation of learning about democratic values and the Quebec values expressed by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms[15].

Successful applicants will be awarded the CSQ. After receiving the CSQ, the applicant must then submit their CSQ to the IRCC within 24 months to file for permanent residence. The IRCC will only evaluate the applicant’s health status and admissibility to Canada.

Want to immigrate to Quebec? Yes, you CAN DO it!

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