Permanent Residence

Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) has two main pathways:

Temporary Foreign Worker Stream

This pathway is for foreign workers who are employed in Quebec, have acquired 2 years of full-time, skilled work experience in Quebec and who are proficient in spoken French (level 7 of the Québec scale of French proficiency levels). Spouses require a beginner level of spoken French (level 4 of the Québec scale of French proficiency levels).

Graduate Stream

This pathway is for foreign students who have graduated from eligible Quebec educational institutions. Eligible candidates must notably demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written French. For the complete requirements, please refer to the Ministry’s guidelines.

For more information, please refer to the Quebec website.

Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)

The Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) is designed for individuals who wish to immigrate to Quebec as skilled workers, whether they are already in Quebec or abroad. It works through an invitation-based system. Interested applicants should first complete an expression of interest in immigrating to Quebec in Arrima. The Quebec government periodically invites candidates to apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec.

Chances of selection can be increased through a Validated Job Offer. Employees seeking to obtain a Validated Job Offer from McGill University should refer to the Validated Job Offer Policy.

The RSWP has minimum French language requirements for both the principal applicant and the accompanying spouse.

For more information, please refer to the Quebec website.

Validated Job Offer

Purpose

A foreign national wishing to immigrate permanently to Quebec must first obtain a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) from the Quebec government.

The Validated Job Offer (VJO) is an employer-driven application process that allows Quebec employers to offer full-time jobs to foreign workers in support of their interest to immigrate permanently to Quebec. This means that employees cannot themselves pursue the VJO application process on their account.

By submitting a VJO, the employer undertakes to reserve the job for the employee throughout their application for selection for permanent residence. This will involve obtaining approval from the Department’s Chair or the Dean of the Faculty, as the case may be.

Foreign workers with a VJO who submit an Expression of Interest in ARRIMA may have an increased chance of being invited to apply for a CSQ through the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP).

Applicants must have declared a knowledge of oral French equivalent to level 7 of the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (level B2) to be invited to apply for a CSQ in ARRIMA.

Policy

McGill University is willing to support VJO applications of employees who have or will have, within two months of submitting the VJO application, proof that they meet the minimum French language requirement to be invited to apply for permanent selection.

The job offered must be reserved for the employee throughout their application for selection for permanent residence. This process can take a few years.

Important: A substantial change in circumstance can result in the withdrawal of the VJO and this can negatively impact the employee’s application for a CSQ.

A VJO is valid for 18 months and the current RSWP is in effect until November 29, 2024, after which it will be replaced by the Qualified Worker Selection Program (QWSP). It has not yet been announced how the VJO will be considered under the new QWSP.

There is NO GUARANTEE that the VJO application will be approved and/or that the employee will be invited to apply for a CSQ in ARRIMA. It is the employee’s responsibility to verify their eligibility for selection under the RSWP.

For more information, please refer to this article for the Validated Job Offer procedure. If you have any questions regarding the VJO process, please contact Immigration Services: immigration.apo [at] mcgill.ca.

Family Sponsorship

The Family Sponsorship Program allows permanent residents living in Canada and Canadian citizens to sponsor their married spouse, common-law partner or dependent children for permanent residence.

There are no minimum language requirements for family sponsorship.