The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) launched 3 new immigration programs on March 3, 2021, to encourage immigration in the coming weeks. The government of Quebec opened up the 3 new immigration pilots to encourage immigration to Quebec for the following sectors:
- Food processing
- Healthcare (orderlies)
- Artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects
These pilots will be valid for 5 years. The main purpose of these pilots is to help Quebec’s labor market retain skilled workers.
MIFI plans to issue 550 Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQ) through each pilot. This does not include family members of immigrants. Applicants will be required to meet the eligibility criteria for the pilot programs.
What Is the Eligibility Criteria for the New Pilot Programs?
The general eligibility requirements require you to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family members in Quebec for at least 3 months. You also need to be 18 years or older to be eligible.
You require full-time work experience obtained while holding temporary resident status in Quebec. The specific eligibility requirements for each pilot are mentioned below:
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the Pilot Program for Food Processing Workers?
The pilot program for foreign workers in the food processing sectors will come into effect on March 24, 2021. This pilot program intends to help Quebec businesses retain skilled workers to remain competitive.
To receive the CSQ through this pilot program, you will be required to demonstrate French language proficiency and have work experience in Quebec in an occupation related to food processing. You must also be currently employed at the time of application to qualify.
You will be required to meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a high school diploma or professional studies diploma obtained from a Quebec institution
- Have 24 months of full-time work experience in an eligible sector
- Demonstrate French language proficiency with a level 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
Eligible occupations include the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:
- Industrial butcher, meat cutter, poultry preparer and related workers: NOC 9462
- Laborer in food and beverage processing: NOC 9617
- Laborer in fish and seafood processing: NOC 9618
- Specialized cleaner: NOC 6732
- Machine and industrial process operator in food and beverage processing: NOC 9461
- Agricultural worker: NOC 8431
- The job title “chicken picker” and Worker in fish and seafood processing plants (NOC 9463)
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the Pilot Program for Orderlies?
Temporary foreign workers require at least 1 year of work experience in Quebec to be eligible for this pilot program. Applicants must demonstrate French language proficiency and be currently employed as an orderly in Quebec at the time of application.
This pilot program intends to fill the labor market shortages brought in by the pandemic. This program will come into effect on March 31, 2021. This pilot offers 2 different immigration streams: Work and Studies-work.
Work Stream Eligibility Requirements: To qualify for this stream, you must:
- Have a diploma related to working as an orderly obtained in a 1-year full-time study program that is equivalent to a Quebec diploma of vocational studies
- Have at least 2 years of full-time work experience as an orderly in the last 3 years before applying (at least 1 year of this work experience must be obtained in Quebec)
- Eligible occupation titles for this stream are: Nurse aide, orderly and patient service associate - NOC 3412
Having work experience in the health sector outside of Quebec will be considered for this program if it is related to basic personal care.
