Quebec Self-employed Worker Program (QSE)
- Q.C: Quebec
- S.D: Sponsor-driven
- P.S: Point System
- F.R: Francophone
- Permanent Resident
- Paused
The current application intake period for Self-employed Program is from December 28, 2022 to December 31, 2023 (➨immilib.com/QSE-Intake).
GSB
SUMMARY
The Quebec Self-employed Worker Program gives qualified self-employed professionals or tradespersons the opportunity to apply to become self-employed and permanently live and work 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.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1- Education
2- Professional Self-employed Business Experience
In the last five (5) years prior to submission of your application, you must have at least two (2) years’ professional self-employed business experience (in your own name). The experience must have been acquired in the profession or trade you intend to practice in Quebec.
Your work experience must not have been acquired in the following ineligible 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.
3- Licensing
If you wish to practice a regulated profession in Québec, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Have authorization to practice this profession in Québec
- Have training or a diploma that is partially or fully recognized by the authority that regulates your profession in Québec. Your proof of recognition must be dated no more than five (5) years from the date of submission of your application.
4- 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).
5- Deposit for Start-up
After you submit your application, you must make a startup deposit at a financial institution with an establishment in Quebec with whom you have signed a deposit agreement.
The startup deposit is to set up your business. The minimum required amount is $50,000 if you set up your business outside the Montreal metropolitan area (CMM) and minimum $25,000 is required if the business is located in the CMM.
6- Net Worth
You must also have a minimum net worth of $100,000, alone or with your spouse or common-law partner, and you must demonstrate that this money has been legally acquired. This amount excludes donations received in the six months preceding the date of submission of your application.
7- 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.
8- Ineligibility
You are not eligible to apply under the Quebec Self-employed Worker 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.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
CALCULATE YOUR SCORE
If you meet the above minimum requirement, then you must calculate your total score based on the following selection factors (➨immilib.com/QSE-Grid). To qualify for immigration to Canada as a Quebec-selected self-employed worker, a single applicant (or married with non-accompanying spouse) must score at least 63 points. If you are applying with your spouse, you must score at least 70 points in order to be eligible for the Program.
The Quebec Immigration selection factors may be summarized as follows:
| Selection Factor | Maximum Points |
| Factor 1: Education | 14 |
| Factor 2: Self-employed Work Experience | 16 |
| Factor 3: Age | 10 |
| Factor 4: Language Ability | 22 |
| Factor 5: Stay and family in Quebec | 8 |
| Factor 6: Spouse Education | 4 |
| Factor 7: Spouse Age | 3 |
| Factor 8: Spouse Language Ability | 6 |
| Factor 9: Financial Self-sufficiency | 1 |
| Factor 10: Amount of Deposit | 30 |
| Factor 11: Financial Resources | 6 |
| Selection Pass Mark for Single Applicants | 63 |
| Selection Pass Mark for Married Applicants | 70 |
Factor 1: Education
You can receive up to 14 points for the level of your education.
| Level of Education | Points |
| Doctoral (PhD) level | 14 |
| Master’s level | 12 |
| Three-year or longer university credential | 10 |
| Three-year technical post-secondary credential | 8 |
| Two-year university degree | 6 |
| One or two-year technical post-secondary credential | 6 |
| Vocational high school | 6 |
| One-year university credential | 4 |
| Two-year general post-secondary diploma | 4 |
| General high school diploma | 2 |
| No high school diploma | 0 |
| Only diplomas obtained before you submitted your application for selection are considered in awarding points for the Level of Education. | |
Factor 2: Self-employed Work Experience
| Experience | Points |
| 5 years or more | 16 |
| 4 years | 14 |
| 3 years | 10 |
| 2 years | 7 |
| Less than 2 years | Not Eligible |
Factor 3: Age
| Age | Points |
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-38 | 10 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 6 |
| 41 | 4 |
| 42 | 2 |
| 43 and over | 0 |
Factor 4: Language Ability
To be awarded point for language, you must have taken an approved test results. Test must be taken no more than two (2) years prior to submission of application. Points are awarded according to the Echelle quebecoise des niveaux de competence en français (Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) (➨Appendix 5).
To prove your language abilities you must take any of the following approved tests:
- French: TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, TCF, TCF Quebec, DELF and DALF
- English: IELTS General
To find out the equivalent level for any of the above approved tests, see (➨Appendix 5).
Factor 5: Stay and Family in Quebec
You can get maximum of 8 points for stay and family in Quebec:
| Stay in Quebec | Points |
| Stay for study for at least 1 regular full-time semester if study is the main activity | 5 |
| Stay for work purposes with work permit of at least 1 year and full-time work experience of 6 months or more | 5 |
| Stay to work for at least 3 months if work is the main activity | 5 |
| Stay in the context of a youth exchange program to which an international agreement entered into by Quebec or Canada, if work is the main activity for at least 6 months | 5 |
| Stay for business for at least 1 week | 2 |
| Other stays of 3 months or more | 2 |
| Other stays of 2 weeks to 3 months | 1 |
| Family in Quebec | Points |
| Close family relative in Quebec (Spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, and step-family members or in-laws of the same relationships) | 3 |
Factor 6: Spouse Education
| Spouse Level of Education | Points |
| Doctoral (PhD) level | 4 |
| Master’s level | 4 |
| Three-year or longer university credential | 3 |
| Three-year technical post-secondary credential | 3 |
| Two-year university degree | 2 |
| One or two-year technical post-secondary credential | 2 |
| Vocational high school | 2 |
| One-year university credential | 1 |
| Two-year general post-secondary diploma | 1 |
| General high school diploma | 1 |
| No high school diploma | 0 |
Factor 7: Spouse Age
| Spouse Age | Points |
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-35 | 3 |
| 36-42 | 2 |
| 43 and over | 0 |
Factor 8: Spouse Language Ability
| Spouse’s French | Points | |||
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| C2 (Level 11,12) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| C1 (Level 9,10) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| B2 (Level 7,8) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| B1 or lower | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Factor 9: Financial Self-sufficiency
| Meet Financial Self-sufficiency | Points |
| Yes | 1 |
| No | Not Eligible |
Factor 10: Amount of Deposit
| Amount of Start-up Deposit | Points |
| $50,000 if business located in CMM, $25,000 if business located outside CMM | 30 |
Factor 11: Financial Resources
| Net Assets | Points |
| $200,000 or more | 6 |
| $125,000 | 5 |
| $100,000 | 4 |
| Less than $100,000 | Nor Eligible |
| Your Total Score | |
| Pass Mark for Applicants Without Spouse | 63 |
| Pass Mark for Applicants With Spouse | 70 |
GCYSA
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Step 1: Start-up Deposit
Step 2: Submit Application for a Quebec Selection Certificate
| Quebec Application | |
| Submit Application: | |
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MDirection du regroupement familial et de l’enregistrement Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration 207-1200, boulevard Saint-Laurent Montréal (Québec) H2X 0C9 CANADA |
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| Official Program Guide: | |
| immilib.com/QSE-Guide | |
| Quebec Application Fee: | |
| Main applicant: | $1,211 |
| Spouse: | $192 |
| Each child: | $192 |
| Processing Time: | |
| Not available | |
| Document Checklist: | |
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(page 25) |
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| Contact: | |
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Tel: 514-864-9191 Fax: 514-864-8158 (general questions) |
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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. The members of your family accompanying you must also obtain an attestation, specifically your spouse aged 16 years or older and your dependent children aged 18 years or older. Persons with a disability that prevents them from obtaining the attestation are exempt from this condition.
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, experience, language, stay and family in Quebec;
- net assets and proof of their source and lawful acquisition; and
- proof of start-up deposit.
- Decision based on file: Your application is processed and approved or refused based on your file and no interview is required.
- Intent to refuse: You receive a letter asking you to provide further information/documents within sixty (60) days.
- 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.
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).
Step 4: Landing in Quebec
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).
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.
WELCOME TO QUEBEC!
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