Quebec economic classes: Overview of Quebec Process

Responsibilities under the Canada-Quebec Accord

Under the terms of the Canada-Quebec Accord, which was signed in 1991, Quebec is responsible for the selection of applicants destined to the province of Quebec. Those selected by the province are issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).

Canada retains responsibility for all of the following:

• determining whether immigrants are admissible to Canada by conducting security, criminal and medical background checks
• defining categories and classes of immigration, and setting the annual national immigration levels with input from Quebec
• enforcement

Canada will only admit immigrants selected by Quebec if they meet admissibility requirements under Canadian law.

The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) is the Quebec ministry that deals with immigration to that province. They are responsible for:

• assessing skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed applicants destined to Quebec against the Quebec selection criteria
• issuing a CSQ if an applicant meets Quebec selection criteria

The IRCC processing office is responsible for:

• assessing the applicant on statutory grounds once a CSQ has been issued
• issuing the permanent resident visa if all requirements are met

Quebec Selection Certificate

The CSQ is a document issued by the MIFI that indicates that an applicant has been selected by the province. A visa can only be issued by IRCC to an applicant destined to Quebec if that person already holds a CSQ issued by the MIFI.