Quebec Permanent Immigration Pilot Programs
Quebec has introduced several permanent immigration pilot programs to address persistent labour shortages in key sectors of the provincial economy. These programs offer targeted pathways to permanent residence for qualified foreign workers and Quebec graduates.
The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) plans to issue up to 600 Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) per year, per pilot program, excluding accompanying family members.
All three pilot programs are in effect from November 2023 until January 1, 2026.
Overview of Quebec Immigration Pilot Programs
Quebec’s permanent immigration pilot programs are designed to attract and retain workers in sectors experiencing critical labour shortages. The three active pilot programs are:
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Food Processing
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Orderlies
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Visual Effects
Each program has its own eligibility criteria, occupation lists, and requirements.
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Food Processing
This pilot program provides a pathway to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers employed in eligible food and beverage manufacturing sectors in Quebec.
General Requirements
Applicants must:
Be at least 18 years of age
Intend to settle in Quebec to work
Have complied with the conditions of their stay in Quebec
Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least the first three months after arrival
Education Requirements
Applicants must hold:
A diploma equivalent to at least a Quebec high school diploma; or
A Quebec vocational diploma obtained through a full-time program of study of at least one year
Work Experience Requirements
Applicants must:
Hold a full-time job in an eligible food processing sector in Quebec;
Have accumulated at least 24 months of full-time, paid work experience in Quebec in the 36 months preceding the application;
Work experience or employment must fall under one of the following NAICS sectors:
NAICS 311 – Food manufacturing
NAICS 3121 – Beverage manufacturing
Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate French proficiency at level 7 (advanced intermediate) on the Quebec scale or equivalent.
Targeted Occupations (NOC)
Eligible occupations include:
NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers
NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
NOC 95107 – Labourers in fish and seafood processing
NOC 65311 – Specialty cleaners
NOC 94140 – Machine and process operators in food and beverage processing
NOC 85100 – Labourers in the care of livestock (chicken gatherers only)
NOC 94142 – Workers in fish and seafood processing plants
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Orderlies
This program targets individuals already working in Quebec as orderlies, nurse aides, or patient service associates. It includes two streams:
Work Stream
Work-Study Stream
General Requirements (Both Streams)
Applicants must:
Be at least 18 years old
Intend to settle in Quebec to work for an employer they do not control
Have complied with the conditions of their stay in Quebec
Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least three months
Demonstrate French proficiency at level 7 on the Quebec scale or equivalent
Work Stream – Specific Conditions
Education Requirements
Applicants must hold:
A diploma related to the occupation of orderly obtained through a full-time program of at least one year
The diploma must correspond to a Quebec Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP)
Work Experience Requirements
Applicants must have either:
At least 24 months of full-time work experience as an orderly in Quebec in the past 36 months; or
At least 12 months of health-related work experience outside Quebec and 12 months as an orderly in Quebec during the same period
All work experience must be legal, paid, and full-time.
Targeted Occupation
NOC 33102 – Nurse aide, orderly, and patient service associate
Eligible foreign experience may also come from:
NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses
NOC 31302 – Nurse practitioners
NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
Work-Study Stream – Specific Conditions
Education Requirements
Applicants must:
Have obtained a Quebec Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) in an eligible orderly occupation within the last 24 months
Have completed the Institutional and Home Care Assistance Program
Work Experience Requirements
Applicants must:
Have accumulated at least 12 months of full-time work experience as an orderly in Quebec after completing their studies
Hold a valid work permit and be employed by a Quebec employer
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Visual Effects
This program aims to attract Quebec graduates and foreign talent working in high-demand technology sectors.
Program Streams
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Information Technology and Visual Effects (IT/VE)
Each stream selects up to 300 applicants annually.
General Requirements (Both Streams)
Applicants must:
Be at least 18 years old
Intend to settle in Quebec to work for an employer they do not control
Have complied with the conditions of their stay in Quebec (if applicable)
Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least three months
Language Profiles
Each stream includes:
French-speaker profile: French proficiency at level 7
Non-French-speaker (Francization) profile: automatic enrollment in Accompagnement Québec, a free integration and French-learning program
Artificial Intelligence Stream – Specific Conditions
Foreign Workers
Applicants must meet one of the following:
Hold a bachelor’s degree equivalent and at least one year of full-time work experience in the past five years in a NOC 0, A, or B occupation; or
Hold a master’s degree or PhD obtained within the last year and have a job offer in Quebec’s AI sector with:
Minimum salary of $75,000 outside Montréal; or
$100,000 within the Montréal metropolitan area
Quebec Graduates
Applicants must:
Hold a DESS, master’s degree, or PhD from a Quebec institution issued within the past 24 months
Hold or have accepted a full-time job in the AI sector
Have lived in Quebec for at least half the duration of their studies
Information Technology and Visual Effects Stream – Specific Conditions
Education Requirements
Applicants must hold:
A diploma equivalent to a Quebec technical college diploma (DEC); or
A Quebec bachelor’s degree
Work Experience Requirements
Applicants must:
Have at least two years of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation
Hold or accept a full-time job with a wage equal to or above the average wage for the occupation as published by Emploi-Québec
Targeted Occupations (NOC)
Eligible occupations include:
Computer and information systems managers
Software engineers and developers
Information systems analysts
Electrical and electronics engineers and technologists
Computer network technicians
Producers, directors, graphic designers, and audio-visual technicians
Ineligible Employment Sectors (All Pilot Programs)
Applicants cannot be employed in:
Payday loans, cheque cashing, or pawnbroking
Production, distribution, or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services
Application Process for Quebec Pilot Programs
Quebec permanent immigration pilot programs follow a two-step immigration process:
Apply to Quebec through Arrima to obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence after receiving the CSQ