Last Updated on February 7, 2020

Quebec operates its own Expression of Interest immigration system under its Quebec Skilled Worker program, called Arrima. It functions in a similar way as the federal Express Entry system and replaces the former first-come, first-served process.

The system is designed to allow candidates with the best credentials to get to the front of the line for Quebec economic immigration.

According to Quebec Ministry to Immigration, diversity and Inclusion (MIDI), the Arrima portal is designed to maintain a continuous flow of new Quebec skilled workers with profiles that meet the needs of Quebec businesses.

Quebec Expression of Interest Draws

Quebec conducts periodic draws from the Expression of Interest Bank.

How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

1. Candidates submit an online expression of interest profile to the MIDI.
2. Profiles enter into an Expression of Interest pool, where they are ranked against each other and are valid for 12-months.
3. Profiles will be classified in two categories: one for candidates who are living in Quebec or have a job offer and meet specific criteria, and the another for candidates living outside Quebec and meet specific criteria.
4. The highest-ranking candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Quebec Certificate of Selection under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.
5. Quebec will conduct periodic draws, inviting candidates to apply for a Quebec certificate of selection (CSQ).
6. Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.
7. Approved candidates who receive a nomination certificate (CSQ) may then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

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Read More

• Quebec Makes Important Expression of Interest Changes With First Invitations Imminent
• Quebec Extends Deadline For Submitting An Arrima Expression of Interest
• Quebec Opens New Expression of Interest Immigration System ‘Arrima’
• Quebec Immigrants Seeing Strong Job Market Success in 2018

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What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

Candidates are ranked under many factors including education, work experience, age, language ability and time spent in Quebec. A valid job offer is also an important factor.

The qualifications of a candidate’s spouse or partner will also be considered.

Quebec publishes lists of High Demand Occupations and Areas of Training that could weigh considerably in the assessment.

According to the decision published on August 1^st, 2018, the first category refers to candidates who:

• Have a validated job offer outside the Metropolitan Community of Montreal;
• Have a validated job offer in the Metropolitan Community of Montreal;
• Are currently living in Quebec AND:
  • They have a post-graduate work permit, obtained following the graduation from an eligible study program in Quebec (diploma attesting at least 900 hours of instruction, diploma of collegial studies attesting at least 12 months of full-time studies, undergraduate degree of at least 12 months of full-time studies, or graduate degrees such as masters, specialized graduate diplomas or PhDs); or
  • They have a work permit with a validity of at least 12 months and they have worked in Quebec full-time for at least 6 months.

These candidates will be ranked based on the following criteria:

1. Age
2. Level of education
3. Diploma obtained in Quebec
4. Proficiency in French
5. Proficiency in other languages
6. Work experience in Canada or in the United States
7. Spouse/common-law partner’s qualifications: level of education and proficiency in the French language.
8. Transferability skills:
   1. Level of education with French proficiency (either the main applicant’s or the spouse’s, depending on which score is highest)
   2. Level of education with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US
   3. Foreign work experience with French proficiency
   4. Foreign work experience with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US

The second category refers to candidates who are not residing in Quebec. They will be ranked on the following criteria:

1. Age
2. Level of education
3. Are of training in-demand, as published by the government
4. Diploma obtained in Quebec
5. Proficiency in French
6. Proficiency in other languages
7. Work experience in Canada or in the United States
8. Spouse/common-law partner’s qualifications: level of education and proficiency in the French language.
9. Transferability skills:
   1. Level of education with French proficiency (either the main applicant’s or the spouse’s, depending on which score is highest)
   2. Level of education with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US
   3. Foreign work experience with French proficiency
   4. Foreign work experience with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US

What Points Are Available Under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?

Quebec has not yet published the points structure of the selection criteria above.

However, candidates selected to apply for a CSQ under the Quebec Skilled worker program must also pass the threshold for the Selection factors, which is 50 points for a single candidate and 59 points for a married candidate.

Selection factors in the point grid

Profile factor	Max points available
Education	14
Areas of training	12
Work experience	8
Age	16
Language proficiency	22
Time spent and family in Quebec	8
Spouse/common-law partner	17
Job offer	14
Accompanying children	8
Financial self-sufficiency	1

What are the new processing times?

The Quebec governments promise that under the new system the processing times will decrease from 32 months to less than 12 months.

Candidates who have received their CSQ must ask for permanent residence to the federal government, where new processing times apply.