General Notice

With the COVID-19 crisis, what is happening with full-time and part-time French courses offered in educational institutions and community organizations?
For the most part, French courses will be held remotely until further notice. A few beginner classes will take place in the classroom.

For all classes held remotely or in the classroom, student participation and regular attendance are required.

Participation allowances will be maintained for students who are registered for courses. Allowances for childcare will be paid upon presentation of supporting documents; transportation allowances are suspended when it is a remote course.

If you are unable to participate in your classes remotely or wish to cancel your course, you must contact the Centre de contacts clientèle (information service) at 514-864-9191, for the Montréal area, or 1-877-864-9191 (toll free) everywhere else in Québec.

Can I register for online francization classes (FEL)?
Students who are registered for a course and have attained Level 4 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence des personnes immigratnes adultes are eligible for online francization (in French only) at the intermediate level. This is a complement to their education.

The reception at the Direction du registraire de la francisation located on the 2nd floor, at 1200 Boulevard Saint-Laurent in Montréal, is closed until further notice.

• If you have documents to send us, you can mail them, or drop them in our document deposit box, located on the ground floor, at 1200 Boulevard Saint-Laurent in Montréal.
  
  

The Premières démarches d’installation (PDI) and Objectif intégration (OI) information sessions resumed on August 31, 2020 in partner organizations whose layouts comply with public health directives.

The services linked to Accompagnement Québec are maintained. You can register online and complete your steps with a remote integration assistance agent by phone or by video call.

The vast majority of services provided by the MIFI’s partner organizations are maintained. You can obtain assistance over the phone, by email or by video call, depending on the organization’s preferred method of communication.

The services offered to businesses by the MIFI are maintained, and businesses can continue to formulate their application for support services using the online form (in French only).

The Québec government is taking all the necessary measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as much as possible. As a protective measure, all Journées Québec recruitment missions that had been announced have been suspended.

Is the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) still processing applications for permanent selection?
The Ministère is continuing to process applications for permanent selection, regardless of the program under which they were submitted. The government as well as all ministries are mobilized to slow the spread of the virus and limit the impact of the unprecedented crisis we are facing. The government measures implemented to respond to the current situation could affect application processing times.

Can CSQ holders who are in Québec and have lost their job renew or obtain a work permit?
To find out about the measures put in place by the federal government regarding access to the territory and the issuing and validity of work permits, consult the page Government of Canada’s Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Work permits

What happens to temporary foreign workers whose work permit is about to expire or has already expired, and who have lost their job due to COVID-19 and cannot leave the territory?
Work permits are administered by the federal government.

To find out about the measures taken by the federal government regarding access to the territory, issuing work permits and their validity, consult the page Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Foreign workers.

Assistance programs have been put in place by the federal government. For more information about support for individuals and families, consult the page Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.

The federal government has also adopted public policy related to COVID-19:

1. Temporary public policy to exempt foreign nationals in Canada from certain requirements when changing employment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
   
2. Temporary public policy to exempt certain out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
   
3. Temporary public policy to exempt certain visitors in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

What happens to temporary foreign workers who have submitted an application to prolong their work permit before the expiry of the initial work permit, and who have lost their job due to COVID-19?
Work permits are administered by the federal government.

To find out about the measures taken by the federal government regarding access to the territory, issuing work permits and their validity, consult the page Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Foreign workers.

Assistance programs have been put in place by the federal government. For more information about support for individuals and families, consult the page Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.

The federal government has also adopted public policy related to COVID-19:

1. Temporary public policy to exempt foreign nationals in Canada from certain requirements when changing employment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
   
2. Temporary public policy to exempt certain out-of-status foreign nationals in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
   
3. Temporary public policy to exempt certain visitors in Canada from immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

What happens to temporary foreign workers who had an open work permit and who have lost their job due to COVID-19?
Open work permits allow temporary foreign workers to find a new job with any other employer. Note that workers may be eligible for certain measures put in place by the federal government.

To find out about the measures taken by the federal government regarding access to the territory, issuing work permits and their validity, consult the page Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

For more information about support for individuals and families, consult the page Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.

Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program)

Can temporary foreign workers, with a valid work permit or another authorization to work in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, who have accumulated one year of full-time work experience in Québec, and who have lost their job due to COVID-19, submit a PEQ application?
To submit a PEQ application, temporary foreign workers must be holding a job when they submit their application. Once they have resumed employment, temporary foreign workers who have the required full-time experience in Québec can submit their application under the PEQ.

Can temporary foreign workers, with a valid work permit or another authorization to work in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, who had not yet accumulated 12 months of work experience when they lost their job, take into account this first work experience when applying for the Québec experience program?
Yes. The 12 months of full-time work experience required to be eligible for the Québec experience program do not have to be acquired consecutively.

Temporary foreign workers who lost their job due to COVID-19, and would have wanted to submit an application under the PEQ can therefore submit their application once they have resumed employment. In addition, they must have accumulated 12 months of full-time work in Québec during the 24 months preceding the date of submission of their application, if they held a valid work permit and were living in Québec on July 21, 2020. Otherwise, they must have acquired 24 months of full-time work experience over a period of 36 months.

Medical coverage

I am a temporary foreign worker living in Québec to occupy a job and I am currently eligible for Québec’s health insurance. What will happen to my health insurance coverage if I am laid off due to the pandemic?
Given the current exceptional circumstances, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) will maintain the health insurance coverage of temporary foreign workers as well as that of their dependents, if applicable, including coverage for those who have started the process to extend their stay in Québec.

If the permit authorizing you to work in Canada expires soon, you must contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to find out how to extend your work permit.

I am a temporary foreign worker and I have still not received my health insurance card. Can I have a screening test for COVID-19?
Foreign workers who need to go to a COVID-19 screening clinic must first call 1-877-644-4545. If their condition warrants it, they will be referred to a screening clinic where they will be tested, whether or not they have a health insurance card.

Financial assistance

Does the type of work permit (open permit, closed permit, working holiday, accompanying spouse) impact the temporary worker’s eligibility for the financial assistance programs announced by the government?
Support for individuals is a federal government program: Employment Insurance program, Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), etc. For more details, consult the page Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.

Québec businesses

I operate a business in Québec. What are my obligations to a temporary foreign worker (TFW) who will be arriving in the next few days and will have to be in quarantine?
Employers must respect what is indicated in the employment contract while adhering to the exceptional laws and measures put in place by the Québec government. It is important that the Québec government’s recommendations are respected to ensure everyone’s health and safety.

For any questions about the arrival of workers in the bio-food industry, employers can consult the page Questions and answers pertaining to employers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With regard to the federal government’s obligations (mandatory quarantine, government-approved accommodation, etc.), please consult the page Quarantine, testing and other COVID-19 measures for temporary foreign workers and employers.

Have changes or adjustments been made to the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)?
The federal government has made temporary changes to the Labour Market Impact Assessment for employers in the agriculture and food processing sectors as well as for low-wage positions.

The federal government is continuing to exercise flexibility in terms of the validity of the LMIA. Information about the assessment is available on the following page: Labour Market Impact Assessment valid for a maximum period of six months.

Submitting electronic documents — Application for temporary selection for studies

Since January 26, 2021, foreign students must submit the required supporting documents electronically after having submitted an application for temporary selection for studies. This online service is available 24/7 on the Arrima platform. Consult the page Submitting documents — Application for temporary selection for studies to find out more.

You must have on hand your file number for the Application for temporary selection for studies, which is either provided in the section “Access my file,” 48 hours after having submitted your online application.

Does the same procedure apply for renewal applications?
Yes. Foreign students must also submit their documents on the Arrima platform to renew their application for temporary selection for studies.

Study permits

What impact does the pandemic have on the renewal of study permits?
The federal government is responsible for issuing study permits. If you have any questions about study permits, please visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website.

Medical coverage

I am a foreign student in Québec and I am eligible for Québec’s health insurance plan under a social security agreement. What happens to my coverage if my studies are interrupted or disrupted due to the pandemic?
Given the current exceptional circumstances, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) will maintain coverage for foreign students who are covered by a social security agreement and who are currently eligible for Québec’s health insurance plan. The insurance will also be maintained for dependents who are accompanying the student, if applicable.

Are the MIFI’s requirements regarding the format of documents to be included with the official immigration application still in effect?
All of the documents required must be included with the application. The MIFI will exceptionally accept photocopies and non-certified copies of these documents if the applicant is unable to provide certified true copies.

Note that the reduced requirements for document formats does not apply to comparative evaluations.

Is it possible to send documents by email rather than by mail?
The MIFI is concerned about protection its clientele’s personal information. For applications submitted via the Arrima platform, in particular, under the International Student Program, the Québec Experience Program, pilot programs and the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship), documents must be submitted on Arrima. For applications submitted under other programs, all documents must be sent by mail or by a private courier service (e.g., Purolator, Fedex, UPS, DHL, etc.). Should there be a change in the procedure for submitting documents, we will notify our clientele as soon as possible.

Is it possible to submit documents in person?
Is it possible to submit documents to the Registraire de la francization in the document deposit box, located on the ground floor of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, at 1200, boulevard Saint-Laurent, in Montréal.

All other documents must be mailed to us. No documents will be received in person.

Should there be any change in the procedure for submitting documents, we will notify our clientele as soon as possible.

I have an appointment for a language evaluation in order to register for a French course. Do I have to attend this evaluation?
All interviews to evaluate language competency levels before registering for a French course are now being done over the phone. Clients have been notified as to when they will receive a call from the Direction du registraire de la francization for their language evaluation.

Will the workshops, seminars and presentations given by MIFI consultants be held?
The MIFI’s consultants have been instructed to cancel their participation in all public events and seminars for the time being. The MIFI is currently working with the organizers to reschedule these events. We are also looking at the possibility of using technological tools for virtual presentations.

Is the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration still issuing the Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)? If so, can I receive a copy by fax instead of in the mail?
The MIFI is still processing the CAQ applications it has received. Acceptance letters and CAQs are sent, in their original format, by mail. Transmission by fax is not planned.