How to live, work, study and settle in Québec as a foreign national. Understand temporary status, work permits, study permits, CAQ, Arrima, CSQ, permanent residence, family reunification and healthcare.
If you want to move to Québec from another country, the immigration process depends on why you are coming and how long you intend to stay. You may come temporarily to work, study or visit, or you may pursue permanent residence if your goal is to settle in Québec.
For many economic immigration applicants, Québec's process involves the provincial government first selecting the person for permanent immigration and the federal government subsequently processing the permanent-residence application. A person selected by Québec may receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), after which the federal permanent-residence process continues with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The current skilled-worker framework is the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ). Applicants generally begin with a declaration of interest in Arrima and must receive an invitation before submitting a permanent-selection application under the PSTQ.
The older Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) was replaced by the PSTQ in November 2024.
Foreign nationals may work temporarily in Québec with the appropriate authorization. Depending on the program and job, this can involve Québec authorization and a federal work permit.
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, many applicants require a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a Canadian work permit.
Learn about Québec work permitsForeign students attending eligible Québec educational institutions may need Québec authorization and a federal study permit. For many international students, this means obtaining a CAQ for studies before applying for the federal study permit.
Visitors may be authorized to enter and remain in Canada for a limited period. Visitor status does not automatically give a person the right to work or study in Québec.
Québec tourist visa guideThere is no single Québec residency application that applies to everyone. The appropriate pathway depends on factors such as your occupation, education, French-language ability, work experience, family situation and whether you are already living in Québec.
For skilled workers, the current Québec system includes the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). The program covers four streams and uses the applicant's primary occupation to determine the stream in which the person may potentially receive an invitation.
The general process can look like this:
The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) is Québec's current skilled-worker permanent-selection program. It is intended for people who want to settle permanently in Québec and work there.
The program contains four streams:
The stream that applies to an applicant depends substantially on the person's primary occupation and the applicable selection criteria. The occupation is classified using Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Applicants should check the current invitation criteria rather than relying on older Québec immigration point tables because invitation criteria can change between invitation rounds.
Explore Québec Work ImmigrationArrima is Québec's online immigration platform. It is used for several Québec immigration and integration services, including the Skilled Worker Selection Program.
For skilled-worker immigration, an applicant can submit a declaration of interest through Arrima. Québec then uses the declaration-of-interest system and applicable invitation criteria to identify candidates who may be invited to submit an application for permanent selection.
Because Québec can change invitation criteria according to labour-market and immigration priorities, candidates should always verify the current criteria before relying on information from older immigration guides.
International students who want to study in Québec generally need to complete both Québec and federal immigration steps.
After receiving a letter of admission from a designated educational institution, an international student may need to apply for temporary selection for studies and obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). The student then applies for a federal study permit.
The exact requirements depend on the program, institution, nationality and circumstances.
Working in Québec temporarily does not automatically give a person permanent residence. Temporary workers must maintain valid authorization to work and must follow the conditions attached to their status.
Under the Québec Temporary Foreign Worker Program, a worker generally needs a Québec Acceptance Certificate and a Canadian work permit when the applicable rules require them. The employer also has important responsibilities relating to the employment contract, wages, working conditions and immigration documentation.
Québec also participates in Canada's International Mobility Program, under which certain workers can obtain work authorization without the employer obtaining an LMIA.
Québec work visa and permit guideYour spouse, common-law partner and children may have different immigration options depending on your status and the program through which you came to Québec.
For temporary foreign workers, the eligibility of a spouse for an open work permit depends on the worker's circumstances, occupation, permit validity and the federal rules applicable at the time of application.
Children accompanying a temporary worker may have their own immigration and education requirements.
Permanent residents and Canadian citizens may also be able to sponsor eligible family members, subject to Québec and federal requirements.
Québec residents who are eligible for the provincial health insurance system can obtain coverage through the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Each eligible family member needs their own health insurance card.
New arrivals should apply as soon as they are eligible. As a general rule, there can be a waiting period of up to three months for certain newly arrived residents, although exceptions and international social-security agreements can apply. Private health insurance may therefore be important during any applicable waiting period.
Temporary workers should pay particular attention to the validity period of their work authorization because their RAMQ eligibility and card validity can be connected to their immigration status.
French is Québec's official language and plays an important role in immigration and integration. French-language requirements can form part of certain Québec immigration pathways.
For example, the current PSTQ invitation system can include specific French-language thresholds depending on the stream and invitation round. The applicable requirements should therefore be checked against the current Québec government rules rather than assuming that one French-language score applies to every applicant.
Temporary foreign workers should also be aware that Québec has introduced a future French-language requirement for certain CAQ applications after accumulated work experience in Québec, with a transitional measure currently postponing verification until December 17, 2028 for the affected group. Certain exemptions apply.
Immigration status is only one part of settling in Québec. You will also need housing, transportation, banking, healthcare registration and other everyday services.
Housing costs vary considerably between Montréal, Québec City, Laval, Longueuil, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and smaller communities. Before moving, compare rent, transportation, taxes, utilities and employment opportunities rather than looking only at the advertised rent.
Québec rent pricesQuébec's largest metropolitan area has a large international population, extensive public transportation and a broad labour market. French is important for everyday life and many jobs.
Québec City combines a major public-sector and service economy with universities, tourism, technology and other industries. French is particularly important in daily life and employment.
These suburban areas provide access to the Montréal metropolitan labour market while offering different housing options from central Montréal.
Cities such as Sherbrooke, Gatineau, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay and Rimouski offer alternatives to Montréal and Québec City. Employment opportunities and immigration pathways can vary by region and occupation.
Living in Québec generally involves both federal and provincial tax obligations. Your tax situation depends on factors such as your residency status for tax purposes, income, employment, family situation and other circumstances.
Immigration status and tax residency are not necessarily the same thing. A person should therefore avoid assuming that obtaining a work permit or permanent resident status automatically determines their tax-residency status.
New residents should keep records of employment income, housing expenses, tax documents and immigration documents.
Canadian permanent residents generally have the right to live, work and study anywhere in Canada. They can also receive many social benefits for which they qualify and are protected under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Permanent residents must obey Canadian laws and pay applicable taxes. They also need to satisfy the permanent-resident residency obligation to maintain their status.
The current federal rule generally requires a permanent resident to be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days during the previous five years, subject to rules that allow certain time outside Canada to count.
The exact documents depend on the immigration pathway, but applicants should commonly be prepared to provide some combination of:
Documents not written in French or English may require an appropriate translation depending on the application and authority receiving the document.
Temporary status is normally time-limited. If you are working or studying in Québec temporarily, monitor the expiry dates of your work permit, study permit, CAQ and other relevant documents.
For temporary foreign workers who need to renew their authorization, Québec currently recommends beginning the renewal process well before the existing work permit expires. The exact procedure depends on the worker's program and circumstances.
A person who allows their status or work authorization to expire can face serious immigration and employment consequences.
You do not necessarily need to hire a paid immigration representative to submit an immigration application. If you decide to use a representative, verify that the person is authorized to provide immigration services under the applicable rules.
Temporary foreign workers should also be careful with recruitment agencies. Québec advises workers to verify recruitment agencies and job offers and warns that workers should not be required to surrender personal documents such as passports or health cards.
Foreign nationals from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and other regions may have different immigration requirements depending on their citizenship, current location, occupation and intended purpose of stay.
There is no single "foreigner residency permit" for everyone. The correct process depends on whether you want to:
Québec has special immigration responsibilities that distinguish it from most other Canadian provinces. For many economic immigrants destined for Québec, the province handles the selection stage while the federal government handles the permanent-residence admission stage.
Québec also does not operate a Provincial Nominee Program. Canada's federal Provincial Nominee Program pages specifically identify Québec as a province without a PNP.
This is important because generic Canadian immigration articles sometimes describe provincial nomination as though it applies equally to Québec. It does not. Applicants intending to settle in Québec should use Québec's own immigration pathways and official Québec rules.
Typical structure:
Profile / eligibility → Arrima declaration of interest → Invitation → Québec permanent selection application → CSQ → Federal permanent-residence application → Permanent resident status
This is a simplified overview. Not every immigration pathway follows exactly the same sequence.