Quebec Work Permit – Ways to Acquire a Work Permit in Quebec

Are you interested in working in Quebec in Canada? Then you must be familiar that the province of Quebec follows its own rules and procedures for selecting immigrants.

The province of Quebec has taken permission from the federal government of Canada to run its own immigration programs. This is the only province in Canada that has French as an official language.

There are two ways to acquire a work permit in Quebec: temporary and permanent work permits.

Quebec Temporary Work Permit

As the name implies, a temporary work permit is a work permit valid for a set period of time that you can work in Canada. The length of your work visa is determined by your employment offer, the time specified on your LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), and the passport’s validity. If you want to work as a temporary worker in Quebec, you must first acquire a CAQ (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec).

What is Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ)?

A Quebec Acceptance Certificate is known as a CAQ (Certificat d’acceptation du Québec). This certificate permits you to stay in Quebec for a limited time. When applying for the CAQ, you must ensure that you meet all of the conditions set forth by the Quebec Ministry of Immigration (MIFI). This certificate shows how long you are permitted to work in Quebec.

However, if you intend to work for 30 days or less, or if your job is unpaid, and if your employment is excluded from the LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment), you are not required to obtain a CAQ.

What is LMIA?

LMIA or Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document required by the hiring authorities before hiring a foreign national. Canada’s LMIA process serves as evidence that no Canadian citizen or occupant is ready, willing, or suitable to fill a given post in Canada, allowing the business to engage a foreign worker.

What are the criteria that need to be fulfilled for the Quebec Temporary Worker Program?

In order to apply for this program, you must intend to stay in Quebec for at least the duration of your employment. Besides that, you should be at least 18 years or older. You must also possess the necessary French language skills. Also, you must be lawfully present in Quebec at the time of application and be financially self-sufficient.

How to obtain a Quebec temporary work permit?

Suppose you are looking to acquire temporary employment in Quebec. In that case, you should first obtain a job letter, approved by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDEC) and Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés Culturelles (MICC). Post that, you should submit an application for a work permit through the IRCC website.

Quebec Permanent Work Permit

The permanent work permit is also known as Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP). It’s for people who want to work in Quebec on a long-term basis. Regular Skilled Worker Programs are divided into Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW) and Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). You must indicate your desire to immigrate to Quebec permanently for employment in order to apply for this program. Hence, you have to acquire Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ).

What is Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ)?

A CSQ or (Certificat de sélection du Québec) is a Quebec selection certificate. This is a document that certifies that the province of Quebec has formally selected an applicant for immigration. You may only apply for PR on the IRCC website once you have obtained a CSQ.

However, please note that CSQ is only a selection document confirming that the province has formally chosen you, and it does not permit you to work in Quebec. If you ever need to file for a work permit extension in Quebec, the CSQ is crucial. Besides CSQ, you must have a valid work permit and an official employment application in Quebec for a work permit extension.

What are the criteria that need to be fulfilled for the Quebec Regular Permanent Worker Program?

You must have training and professional abilities in order to be considered for this program. Besides that, you must meet the language competence, age, and dependent characteristic standards (if applicable). You must also show that you have at least one year of specialized job experience. QSW is a points-based immigration program, which means that to be eligible, applicants must achieve a minimum score on a points assessment grid. Quebec being a French-speaking province, competency in the French language is also required for this program.

Also Check:

• Quebec Study Permit
• Quebec Immigrant Investor Program