Immigration rules and procedures
The rules governing the transmission, intake and processing of permanent selection applications pertain to applications submitted by economic immigration candidates and the undertaking applications submitted under the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship).
Note that under the Québec Immigration Act, a permanent immigration pilot program allows for the selection of up to 550 principal applicants per year.
Maximum number of applications
| Immigration Program | Maximum number of applications to receive | Application intake period* |
|---|---|---|
Permanent immigration pilot programs |
||
Food processing workers |
600 |
From November 23, 2023 to December 31, 2024 |
Orderlies |
600 |
From November 23, 2023 to December 31, 2024 |
Workers in the artificial intelligence (AI), information technologies and visual effects (IT/VE) sectors |
700
|
From November 23, 2023 to December 31, 2024 |
Humanitarian immigration |
||
Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective sponsorship) |
825 for legal persons and groups of 2 to 5 natural persons* |
From May 9 to June 6, 2023 |
* The details regarding this program are specified on the Collective sponsorship of a refugee who is abroad page.
Skilled workers
If you wish to immigrate to Québec under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP), you can submit an expression of interest through Arrima. Only applicants who have been invited by the minister can submit an application for permanent selection under this program. For the latest information on Arrima and invitations, go to the Arrima section of the MIFI website.
Applicants who wish to submit an application under the de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ - Québec experience program) may do so at any time, on the Arrima plartform, by following the instructions related to the PEQ.
Permanent immigration pilot programs
If you would like to immigrate to Québec under one of the three permanent immigration pilot programs, you must submit your application on the Arrima platform during the application intake period.
- Permanent immigration pilot program for food processing workers
This pilot program may allow you to settle in Québec permanently if you are a temporary foreign worker in the food processing sector. For more information, consult the program description and the selection conditions. - Permanent immigration pilot program for orderlies
This pilot program may allow you to settle in Québec permanently if you are a temporary foreign worker who is working as an orderly in Québec. For more information, consult the program description and the selection conditions. - Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors
This pilot program may allow you to settle in Québec permanently if you are a temporary foreign worker or a Québec graduate. On December 1, 2023, at 4:15 p.m., the maximum number of applications for the period from November 23, 2023, to December 31, 2024, was reached for the Francization profile in the information technology and visual effects component. For more information, consult the program description and the selection conditions.
All applications for permanent selection under these three pilot programs must be completed on the Arrima platform.
Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective sponsorship)
The maximum number of undertaking applications that can be received under the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective sponsorship) is set at 825.
Groups of 2 to 5 natural persons and legal persons can submit undertaking applications from May 9 to June 6, 2023.
The maximum number of undertaking applications to receive from all of the applicants (sponsors) and the maximum number of applications that each sponsor can submit is indicated in the following table.
Classes and subclasses |
Maximum number of applications per sponsor** |
Maximum number of applications for all of the applicants |
|---|---|---|
Persons in class E (experienced) |
20 |
200 |
Persons in class R (regular) |
10 |
|
Legal persons in subclass ES (specific experience) who solely sponsor persons who will settle outside the Montréal Metropolitan Community (MMC) |
30 |
200 |
Legal persons in subclass RS (regular specific) who solely sponsor persons who will settle outside the Montréal Metropolitan Community (MMC) |
15 |
|
Groups of 2 to 5 natural persons |
2* |
425 |
Total (all categories combined) |
A maximum of 825 undertaking applications |
|
* Every group of 2 to 5 natural persons can send a maximum of 2 applications. Moreover, a person cannot be part of more than one group of 2 to 5 persons sending an application.
** Consult the conditions by category of sponsors on the Program page
All undertaking applications must be submitted electronically via the Arrima platform, with one application per submission.
If the number of admissible applications submitted from all of the applicants (sponsors) is greater than the maximum indicated in the table above, a random draw will determine which ones the minister will receive within the timeframe indicated by her. Each random draw will be conducted under the supervision of an external auditor in the presence of witnesses.
The submission of undertaking applications is a two-step process with undertaking forms and, at each step, supporting documents are required.
To find out about the intake conditions and the admissibility requirements for undertaking applications, and to obtain more information about the program, consult the Collective sponsorship of a refugee who is abroad page.
To find out about the procedure for submitting an undertaking application, consult the Start your sponsorship process page.
For an undertaking application to be accepted, each legal person or member of the group of 2 to 5 natural persons must abide by all the conditions of the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship).