Quebec Launches 3 Permanent Immigration Pilot Programs

On October 28, 2020, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Immigration (MIFI) published a draft regulation for three permanent immigration pilot programs in the province of Quebec in the goal to attract foreign nationals with the needed skills to settle down in the province.

What are the three pilot programs?

The three pilot programs are:

1. Permanent immigration pilot program for food processing workers: Temporary foreign workers in the Quebec food processing sector can apply under this stream.

Among other factors, to be eligible under this stream, foreign workers must:

• Have French speaking proficiency that corresponds to a Level 7 on the  Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes,
• Have work experience in the province of Quebec in a qualifying job and sector for at least 24 months during the 36 months preceding the date of submission of the application,
• Hold a qualifying job in the sector at the time of submission.

The targeted positions for this pilot program are:

NOC 9462	Industrial butcher and meat cutter, poultry preparer and related worker
NOC 9617	Labourer in food and beverage processing
NOC  9618	Labourer in fish and seafood
NOC  6732	Specialized cleaner
NOC 9461	Process control and machine operator, food and beverage processing
NOC  8431	General farm worker, but only in the position of chicken catcher
NOC 9463	Fish and seafood plant worker

• Permanent immigration pilot program for orderlies: Temporary foreign workers working as an orderly in the province of Quebec can apply under this stream.

Among other factors, to be eligible under this stream, foreign workers must:

• Have French speaking proficiency that corresponds to a Level 7 on the  Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes,
• Have work experience in the province of Quebec as an orderly in the province of Québec,
• Hold a job as an orderly in Québec at the time of submission of the application.

The targeted positions for this pilot program are:

NOC 3011	Nursing coordinator and supervisor
NOC 3012	Registered nurse and registered psychiatric nurse
NOC 3124	Allied primary health practitioner
NOC 3233	Licensed practical nurse
NOC 4412	Home support worker, housekeeper and related occupations, only when the applicant primarily performs one or several of the following duties in an institutional setting: providing personal care, dispensing bedside care and personal care and administering routine medical care

• Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors: Unlike the other two programs, this pilot is composed of two separate streams:
• Artificial Intelligence,
• Information technologies and visual effects.

Each of these programs, also includes two separate profiles:

1. Francophone: To be selected under this profile, the applicant must have French oral comprehension that corresponds to a Level 7 on the  Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes.

1. Francization: To apply under this profile, the applicant must sign a francization agreement, which commits them to learning French and integrating into Quebec society.

A) Artificial Intelligence Stream: This stream is available to both foreign workers and Quebec Graduates meeting the minimal requirements.

B) Information technologies and visual effects: This stream is available to foreign workers currently employed in the province of Quebec.

The targeted positions for this stream are:

NOC 2171	Information systems analyst and consultant
NOC 5241	Graphic designer and illustrator, but only if your job is in the visual effects sector
NOC 0213	Computer and information systems manager
NOC 2173	Software engineer and designer
NOC 2133	Electrical and electronics engineer
NOC 5131	Producer, director, choreographer and related occupations, but only if your job is in the visual effects sector
NOC 2174	Computer programmer and interactive media developer
NOC 5225	Audio and video recording technician, but only if your job is in the visual effects sector
NOC 2281	Computer network technician
NOC 2241	Electrical and electronics engineering technologist and technician

How to apply to these programs?

1. Permanent immigration pilot program for food processing workers: This pilot program will open on March 24, 2021 and is planned to close on January 1, 2026. During this time, the MIFI plans to select 550 workers and their families every year. 

To apply under this stream, foreign workers must submit their application for permanent selection through the ARRIMA portal in order to obtain a Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ).

• Permanent immigration pilot program for orderlies: This pilot program will open on March 31, 2021 and is planned to close on January 1, 2026. During this time, the MIFI plans to select 550 orderlies and their families every year. 

To apply under this stream, foreign workers must submit their application for permanent selection through the ARRIMA portal in order to obtain a Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ).

• Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors: This pilot program will open on April 22, 2021 and is planned to close on January 1, 2026. During this time, the MIFI plans to select 550 applicants and their families every year, including 275 Quebec graduates and foreign workers in the artificial intelligence sector and 275 foreign workers in the information technologies and visual effects sector.

To apply under this stream, foreign workers must submit their application for permanent selection through the ARRIMA portal in order to obtain a Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ).