The new Regulation Respecting Immigration to Québec (RIQ) was drawn up by the Government in order to improve Québec’s actions with regard to immigration and foster the full participation of immigrants in the development of Québec and its regions. The new regulation will enter into force on August 2 and will allow the full deployment of the Act respecting immigration to Québec. The RIQ aims to improve all the programs of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion and ensure that all the regions of Québec benefit from the contribution of immigration.
The province of Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration provided more information Wednesday about its new Expression of Interest system, which will come into effect on August 2, 2018.
Quebec Expression of Interest (EOI) will replace the current first-come, the first-served application process for its Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).
The QWSP is one Quebec's most popular economic immigration pathways and caters to skilled workers both outside Canada and those working in Quebec who wishes to settle permanently in the province.
Based on the new Expression of Interest system, any foreign national 18 years or older interested in applying to immigrate to Quebec under the QSWP will start the process by submitting an expression of interest to the province. Anyone interested in applying for immigration under the QWSP will need to:
Submit an Expression of Interest profile to Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (MIDI) and enter Quebec' Expression of Interest Bank.
a. Obtain the minimum required points of employbility and selection section
b. Submit an application for a CSQ, or certificate de sélection du Québec (CSQ), to the MIDI under the QSWP within once invited from the bank.
c.Submit a Canadian permanent residence application to the federal government.
Invitations to apply for the QWSP are not a guarantee
Based on changes to Quebec's Immigration Act, which will come into effect on the same date, additional criteria or conditions may apply when determining successful QSWP applicants.
Section 44 of the incoming act says, "criterion relating to a foreign national’s ability to successfully stay or settle in Quebec, such as training or a trade or occupation” may determine invitations. Other criteria may include “a region of destination in Québec, a country or region affected by a humanitarian crisis or the existence of an international commitment."
A candidate's Expression of Interest remains active in Quebec's Expression of Interest Bank for 12 months.
Quebec business programs
The Ministère de l’immigration, de la diversité et de l’inclusion (MIDI), has just released the latest Regulation regarding its business immigration programs, notably the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program and the Quebec Entrepreneur Program.
Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
One of the most popular business immigration programs, it is also the only immigration program requiring a passive investment currently offered in Canada. It has a fast provincial processing time and grants the applicant and his/her family with permanent residency after federal processing. For this intake, the immigrant must:
• Have net assets of at leastCan$2 million
• Invest Can$1,2 million*, guaranteed by the government of Quebec, for 5 years at 0% interest
• Have management experience for at least 2 years in the 5 years preceding the application
* The investment can be financed.
Intake Period & Quota
• The MIDI informed us that the intake period will be from September 10, 2018, to March 15, 2019
• The maximum quota is still 1,900 files.
• Francophone files are not subject to the quota system
Despite the increase in the investment amount, the industry expects a strong demand. Therefore, the quota of 1,900 applications is expected to be reached very quickly.
Québec Entrepreneur Program
The MIDI has redesigned its Entrepreneur Program closed since 2016. The program requires an active investment, which leads to a Permanent Resident Visa.
Main criteria and conditions
Hold and control, alone or with the accompanying spouse or de facto spouse, at least 25% of the equity of the enterprise the foreign national creates or at least 51% of the equity of the enterprise the foreign national acquires, the value of that participation must be equal to or greater than the amount that must serve to start up the business project Make a start-up deposit with a financial institution (minimum Can$200,000), to be used for the creation or acquisition of the enterprise along with a security deposit of Can$200,000* Participate in the daily management and operations of the business
* The Minister may confiscate the amount deposited as performance guarantee of the business project of the entrepreneur if it determines that the business project has not been carried out in accordance with section 54 of the Regulation.
