Quebec Immigration Plan 2019


The Quebec immigration plan for 2019 could see up to 42,000 new permanent residents welcomed through various Quebec immigration programs. 

Canada is set to welcome 1.3 million new immigrants over the next three years.Quebec aims to welcome up to 42,000 new immigrants in 2019.

What is the Quebec Immigration Process?

Under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord, the Government of Quebec is responsible for selecting immigrants to the province. The selection process is managed by Quebec's Immigration Ministry, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI).

The Quebec Selection Certificate, or Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) is a document issued by MIDI that proves to Canada's federal government that an applicant has been selected for immigration to Quebec. Immigration candidates who are issued a CSQ can then apply for permanent resident status Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The Quebec Immigration ministry:

  • assesses foreign nationals' eligibility for a CSQ under Quebec's various economic immigration, business immigration, refugee and humanitarian categories; and
  • issues CSQs to applicants who meet the criteria for immigration to Quebec.

The Government of Canada continues to oversee the following:

  • security, criminal and medical background checks that determine the admissibility of new immigrants to Canada; and
  • creation of categories and classes of immigration, allocating and enforcing annual immigration levels while taking into consideration the number of immigrants the Government of Quebec wishes to welcome in any given year.

This page summarizes the various Quebec economic immigration programs and outlines the provincial immigration targets/ranges under each category for 2019.

This page also features a general overview of Quebec's proposed immigration plan for 2019.

What are Quebec's Economic Immigration Programs?

Foreign nationals who are interested in settling in Quebec can apply for a CSQ in one of the following economic immigration categories:

  • Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), also known as the Regular Skilled Worker Program: This is Quebec's key immigration category for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada, and reside in Quebec.
    Under this program, the Government of Quebec applies a unique points system to prioritize potential candidates for a CSQ. Points are assigned based on 'human capital factors' that include education and training, skilled work experience, proficiency in English or French, among others. 
  • Quebec Experience Class, Programme de l’expérience Québécoise (PEQ): The PEQ is a popular immigration option for international students who have obtained an eligible diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution, and skilled workers with eligible work experience in the province. 
  • Quebec Business Immigration: Foreign nationals who can prove they have the resources can apply for immigration to Quebec under a wide range of business immigration programs for investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals. Quebec aims to issue between 2,100 and 2,800 CSQs to businesspeople in 2019.

Are you eligible for selection as a Quebec Skilled Worker?

Quebec Economic Immigration Plan 2019

The table below shows total admissions, including ranges and targets per category for 2019. This table also highlights the percentage of economic admissions against the overall number of admissions under all Quebec immigration categories:

Economic Immigration category2018 2019
MinimumMaximumMinimumMaximumTarget
  • Skilled Workers
24,30025,90018,00020,10019,500
  • Business people
4,0004,3003,1003,2003,400
  • Other Economic categories
9001,000600800750
Economic immigration totals29,20031,20021,70024,30023,450
Percentage of overall: 58.4%Percentage of overall: 58.5%Percentage of overall: 57%

Percentage of overall: 57.8%

Percentage of overall: 58.6%

Under the Quebec Immigration Plan 2019, the province is allotting between 12,500 and 15,000 CSQs for economic immigration candidates. A target of 23,450 admissions is also set for economic immigration candidates for 2019, which represents 58.6 per cent of the 40,000 target for total admissions to Quebec.

The table below captures the total number of selections under each economic immigration category for 2019. This table also highlights the percentage that economic immigration selections will represent of selections through all immigration categories in 2019:

Economic Immigration category2018 2019
ExpectedMinimumMaximum
  • Skilled Workers
24,00012,50015,000
  • Business people
5,9002,1002,800
  • Other Economic categories
600600800
Economic immigration totals30,50015,20018,600 

Percentage of overall: 80.6%

Percentage of overall: 61.9%Percentage of overall: 62.5%

Quebec's Overall Immigration Plan for 2019

2018 2019
Economic Immigration category
MinimumMaximumMinimumMaximumTarget
  • Skilled Workers
24,30025,90018,00020,10019,500
  • Business people
4,0004,3003,1003,2003,400
  • Other Economic categories
9001,000600800750
Economic immigration totals29,20031,20021,70024,30023,450
Percentage of overall: 58.4%Percentage of overall: 58.5%Percentage of overall: 57%

Percentage of overall: 57.8%

Percentage of overall: 58.6%
Family reunification11,30011,7008,900

9,400

8,900
Percentage of overall: 22.6% 

Percentage of overall: 21.9%

Percentage of overall: 23.4%

Percentage of overall: 22.3%

Percentage of overall: 22.2% 
Refugees and people in similar situations 8,6009,4006,800

7,500

6,950
  • Refugees selected abroad
5,6006,0004,400

4,800

4,500
  • State-supported refugees
1,5001,6001,1501,2001,150
  • Sponsored refugees
4,1004,5003,2503,6003,350
  • Refugee recognized in Canada
2,9003,3002,4002,7002,450
Other immigration categories9001,000600800700
Percentage selected by Quebec71%72%70%71%72%
Percentage selected under an economic immigration program58%59%57%58%59%
Percentage selected with French language proficiency42%42%41%41%41%
Overall totals50,00053,30038,00040,00042,000

Find out if you are eligible for Quebec immigration.