According to the Canada-Quebec Agreement, this province has its own selection criteria for business immigrants.

Quebec’s exclusive power over selection is guided by criteria it has determined in light of its immigration objectives. To be selected, a candidate must meet the requirements of one of three immigration programs for businesspeople (entrepreneur, investor, self-employed worker).

The main difference between Quebec Immigration process and the Federal one, is that there is first a selection process. If selected, the candidate will be issued a CSQ - Quebec selection certificate, the official immigration document issued by the Government of Quebec. For the admission of business immigrants is responsible the Government of Canada Canada, which admits to Quebec only those business applicants that the province has selected. To be admitted candidates and their family members must pass the required medical examination and security checks.

To be selected by Quebec, the prospective candidates must meet one of the following definitions of business immigrant:

• Investor
• Entrepreneur
• Self-employed

Investors program

To be eligible for this program the candidate must:

• Have legally obtained net assets of at least C$1,600,000,
• Intend to settle in Quebec and sign an agreement to invest C$800,000
• Have at least two years (in the last 5) of experience in management of a commercial, farming or industrial business, or in a legal professional business where the staff, excluding the investor, occupies at least the equivalent of two full-time jobs;

Please note that the net assets also include the amounts received by donation, but not less than six months before the date on which the application was filed.

The investment of C$800,000 is for five years and is guaranteed by the Government of Quebec. At the end of the five year term, within 30 days, the applicant will be reimbursed the C$800,000 without interest. You also have the possibility to obtain financing from a Canadian financial institution. There are various financial institutions we deal with and we can assist you in obtaining an investor loan.

Entrepreneur

To be eligible for this program, you must:

• have legally obtained net assets of at least C$300,000
• have at least two years experience in running a business in the last 5 years in a lawful and profitable business (agricultural, industrial or commercial) that you manage, controlling at least 25% of the capital equity.

Upon your arrival in Quebec, you must comply, for at least one year during the three years after obtaining permanent resident status, with the following conditions:

• create or acquire an agricultural, commercial or industrial business established in Quebec where you hold at least 25% of the capital equity with a value of at least C$100,000 and which will employ, on a permanent basis and for a minimum of 30 hours a week, a Quebec resident other than yourself and accompanying family members. Please note that the agricultural entrepreneur does not have the obligation to create or maintain full-time employment;
• participate in the daily management and operations of the business.

Self-employed worker program

This program is for persons who intend to come to Quebec in order to create their own job by practicing a profession or trade on their own account. They must have legally obtained net assets of at least C$100,000 and at least two years of full-time experience as a self-employed worker in the profession or trade they plan to practise in Quebec.

In some cases, the candidate might be required first to obtain preliminary evaluation of their qualifications from the appropriate regulatory body, according to the profession they want to practise.

To find out if you qualify, please complete our FREE ASSESSMENT FORM.