Selection factors

Following decisions by the government and the Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities effective August 1, 2013, some modifications have been made to immigration rules and procedures.

For more information, consult the page Immigration rules and procedures.

Training

Education
Only studies that are completed and recognized by a diploma are taken into account in assessing your application for a Québec selection certificate.

Education level
You must hold, at a minimum, a diploma equivalent to a general or vocational high school diploma in Québec.

Area of training
Your training is assessed based on a List of areas of training. The list includes high school vocational programs, vocational college programs (minimum three years of study) and university programs recognized by a Québec diploma. The points awarded under this factor vary depending on job prospects, requirements for practicing the occupation in question, and where you obtained your diploma (in Québec or abroad).

Work experience

Your work experience must have been acquired:

• legally in Québec or abroad, in the five years prior to the date of submission of your application for a Québec selection certificate;
• in an occupation with a skill level above "D" as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC)

Level D occupations usually require a brief demonstration of the work to be performed or on-the-job training. They do not have any particular educational requirements (e.g., a job in a fast-food restaurant).

The work experience can be acquired on a part-time or full-time basis in paid employment.

Internships (paid or unpaid) carried out as part of training recognized by a diploma are accepted as work experience.

Knowledge of French and English

Your French and English proficiency will be evaluated when you apply for a Québec Selection Certificate. Good knowledge of French constitutes a definite advantage when evaluating your candidacy.

Effective December 6, 2011, all new skilled worker candidates who wish to obtain points for their French proficiency (claimants and spouses) and English proficiency (claimants only) must enclose with their immigration application the results of French and English evaluation tests recognized by the Ministère. For more information on this subject, please consult the Permanent workers - Proficiency in French or English section.

Family relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Québec

The "Family in Québec" factor is assessed based on the direct kinship (spouse, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister, grandfather or grandmother) that you or your accompanying spouse or de facto spouse have with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Québec.

Characteristics of your spouse or de facto spouse

Your spouse or de facto spouse, if accompanying you, will be assessed based on factors such as level of education, Québec diploma, area of training, length of work experience, age and language knowledge (French).

Financial self-sufficiency

You must complete the Contract respecting financial self-sufficiency and enclose it with your application for a Québec selection certificate. With this contract, you undertake to provide for your basic needs and those of persons accompanying you (spouse or de facto spouse and children) for three months following the date on which you obtain permanent resident status. You do not need to demonstrate that you have the necessary money in your bank account.

The minimum amounts that you undertake to possess are shown in the table below.

Basic needs of a family unit for the three-month period covered by the contract (effective from January 1 to December 31, 2010)
Number of children under age 18 who are accompanying you	One adult	Two adults
0	$ 2 748	$ 4 030
1	$ 3 692	$ 4 514
2	$ 4 168	$ 4 872
3	$ 4 644	$ 5 230

Add $1,281 per dependent child aged 18 or older.