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Quebec Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2: Business Start-up (QE2)

Category
Destination
Selection
  • Q.C: Quebec
  • S.D: Sponsor-driven
  • F.R: Francophone
Applicant
Visa
Status

Table of Contents

GSB

QC-SB

SUMMARY

The Quebec Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2 gives qualified entrepreneurs the opportunity to apply to permanently live and work in Quebec by starting or purchasing a business in the province.

To be eligible for Stream 2 of the Quebec Entrepreneur Program, applicants must meet certain criteria, including net worth, investment, experience, language proficiency and intention to settle in Quebec.

Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.

QC-SA

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements must be met if you are applying to Quebec Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2:

1- Age

You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission of the application.

2- Education

You must, at a minimum, hold a diploma corresponding to a general or vocational high school diploma in Quebec.

3- Language Ability

You can submit an application only if you declare that you have an oral knowledge of French of Level 7 or more according to the Echelle quebecoise des niveaux de competence en français (Level B2) (➨Appendix 5).

4- Financial Self-sufficiency

You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Quebec following your arrival (➨Appendix 2).

You must sign a contract in which you undertake to provide for your needs and your family’s needs for at least the first three (3) months following your arrival in Quebec.

4- Business Ownership / Operation

You must present a business project in the form of a business plan that you submit with your application. You can start your business alone or with a maximum of three (3) people who also submit an application under the Entrepreneur Program.

Your investment in the business's initial capital must represent a minimum of 25% of the value of the business. You can hold it alone or with the spouse accompanying you.

When starting your business, it is required that you allocate a minimum amount for start-up or operational expenses, as follows:

  • $300,000 CAD if your business is situated within the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.
  • $150,000 CAD if your business is located outside the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

Your business must not be involved in any of the following activities:

  • Payday loans, cheque cashing, or pawnbroking
  • Real estate development or real estate or insurance brokerage
  • Production, distribution, or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry, such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages

6- Net Worth

You must also have a minimum net worth of $300,000, alone or with your spouse or common-law partner, and you must demonstrate that this money has been legally acquired. Donations received in the six (6) months preceding the application cannot be included in the net worth. 

7- Stay in Quebec

You can submit an application for the Start-up profile if you wish to settle and operate your business in Québec that you started at least one (1) year previously. To apply for the Start-up profile, you must have lived in Québec for at least two (2) years and fulfilled the conditions of your stay.

8- Ineligibility

Your business must not be engaged in activities in the following sectors: 

  • Payday loans, cashing cheques or pledge loans; 
  • Production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry, such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massage; 
  • Real estate trading, leasing, brokerage or development. 
You are not eligible to apply under the Quebec Entrepreneur Program if you are a refugee claimant in Canada, a failed refugee claimant, had a removal order, are prohibited from entering or being in Canada, do not have status in Canada or are living illegally in your country of residence.

GCYSA

WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?

Step 1: Prepare Business Plan

You will need to submit a Business Plan as part of your application. You must submit your business plan that demonstrates that the business will be viable and likely to provide material economic benefit to the economy of Quebec as a whole or to the local economy where the business will be located.

Your business plan will be reviewed to ensure that it meets program requirements. Thus, this document should be drafted as an essential component of your application.

Step 2: Submit Application for a Quebec Selection Certificate

If you meet all minimum requirements including making your start-up and security deposits, you may submit your application under Quebec Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2.

Your application, including all the application forms, confirmation of deposits, application fees and all the supporting documents including a Narrative Document must be submitted to the government of Quebec.
Quebec requires a detailed narrative document, explaining the history of acquisition of your assets and separate narrative document for your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable).
Following submission, your application will be checked to ensure you have included all required documents and you will be sent an acknowledgement of receipt if your file is deemed complete and admissible. Any incomplete file will be returned to the candidates, along with the fees payable.
Quebec Application
Submit Application:

Ministère de l'Immigration, de la

Francisation et de l'Intégration

285, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, 4e étage

Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1T8

CANADA

Official Program Guide:
immilib.com/QE2-Guide
Quebec Application Fee:
Main applicant: $1,211
Spouse: $192
Each child: $192
Processing Time:
Not available
Document Checklist:

immilib.com/QE2-Doc

(page 31)

Contact:

Tel: 514-864-9191

Fax: 514-864-8158

immilib.com/Q-Contact

(general questions)

Subsequently, after the processing of your application has begun, you will be sent an e-mail inviting you to provide your attestation of learning about democratic values and the Quebec values. All applicants who are 18 years or over included in your permanent selection application will be required to obtain the attestation. Persons with a disability that prevents them from obtaining the attestation are exempt from this condition.
To obtain the attestation, you must successfully complete the online assessment or participate in an information session in Quebec. Once you obtain the attestation, it is valid for two (2) years.

For more information on the online assessment, see (➨immilib.com/Q-Attestation).

During the review of your application, particular attention will be paid to specific points that are:

  • education, language, stay and family in Quebec;
  • net assets and proof of their source and lawful acquisition;
  • proof of deposits; and
  • your business plan

The following are what may happen after you submit your application:

  1. Decision based on file: Your application is processed and approved or refused based on your file and no interview is required.
  2. Intent to refuse: You receive a letter asking you to provide further information/documents within sixty (60) days.
  3. Notice to attend an interview: If an interview is required, you will receive a notice stating the exact date and place and a list of documents to provide.
If your application is approved, you will be informed of the next steps to follow in your immigration process. If possible, the officer will immediately issue your Certificat de selection du Quebec (CSQ – Quebec Selection Certificate). Otherwise it will be mailed to you. The CSQ is a document stating that an applicant has officially been selected for immigration by the province of Quebec.

Step 3: Apply for Permanent Residence

After obtaining your CSQ, your next step is to submit a complete application for a permanent resident visa (➨Page) within the validity of your CSQ which is two (2) years.

You must submit your application using the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal (PR Portal) (➨ immilib.com/PR-Portal).

If your application is complete, you will receive a letter or an email confirming that your file has been received and accepted for processing. This letter is called the Acknowledge of Receipt (AOR) and will include your IRCC file number.
Once you have received your acknowledgement of receipt, you can create an online account and link your application to it. By creating an account, you will be able to receive email updates and a more detailed case status.

Step 4: Apply for Work Permit (Optional)

Upon acceptance of your application, you will receive a work permit letter of support for the early entry application along with the acceptance letter and your CSQ. This letter enables you, should you choose to apply and are not already in Québec, to request a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exempt work permit with the exemption code “C-60” (➨Page). This open work permit grants you the flexibility to arrive in Québec before obtaining permanent residence, facilitating the start of your business project.

Step 5: Landing in Quebec

If your application for permanent residence is approved, you will be asked to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven't already done so. You will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) and if you are from a country that requires a visa you will also be issued a permanent resident visa.

You will only become a Permanent Resident of Canada when you cross a Canadian port of entry. This is referred to as ‘landing in Canada' (➨Page).

You must land in Canada before the expiry date, which appears on your Canada Immigration Visa. Usually, the expiry date is one (1) year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as the Canada Immigration Visa is received.
If you arrive at the Montreal-Trudeau international Airport, you will be greeted by the personnel of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Integration who will offer direct support services to you.

Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.

QC-WSYTA

WELCOME TO QUEBEC!

GWA
QC-WA

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