Quebec Invites Skilled Foreign Workers To Bolster Economy

The Canadian province of Quebec has resumed its skilled worker program (QSWP), designed to welcome talented workers from around the world. Although similar to its federal equivalent, the QSWP is considered more lenient in terms of criteria. It enables the regular immigrant to move to Canada to live and work there, provided the person settles in the province of Quebec.

In 2013, Canada welcomed 258,619 immigrants, including economic migrants and refugees. In January this year, the country gave permanent residency to about 50 immigrant millionaires in return for investment.

Immigrant workers are vital to Canada to keep its economy growing.  Earlier this year, the North American country lifted its target for new permanent residents from 265,000 a year to 285,000.

The program uses a points-based system, where points are awarded for an applicant’s area of training, work experience, age and language proficiency. To qualify, applicants also need to undergo medical and security checks. Those who speak and write in French will be preferred.

“Applicants should also note that they may be awarded points for French proficiency, though it is not an eligibility requirement for the program. Applicants who do not have knowledge of French, but who have strong credentials in other areas, may still be eligible to apply,” says the government.

To qualify for immigration, a person has to meet a minimum of 49 points. More points are up for grabs for people fluent in French. Canada’s immigration policy has historically been viewed as liberal. In 2010, it welcomed its highest number of legal immigrants in more than 50 years.

The Quebec government says the application cycle will be split into two periods. The first, which will run from November 4 to December 15, 2015, will accept up to 3,500 postal applications only. The second, which will run from January 18 to March 31, 2016, will process up to 2,800 applications online.