Quebec immigration has three pilot programs to offer specific temporary foreign workers a pathway to permanent residency.
The pilots are aimed at food production workers, orderlies and experts in artificial intelligence, information technology and visual effects.
Each pilot program lasts for five years until 2026 and includes up to 550 candidates per year and their family members, according to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI).
Here’s how foreign nationals can qualify for the programs.
Food Production Workers Pilot
This program is aimed at those working in food or beverage production in Quebec. Among the occupations covered by the program are those with the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes and descriptions:- 6732 – Specialized cleaners
- 8431 – General farmworkers
- 9461 – Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
- 9462 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- 9463 – Fish and seafood plant workers
- 9617 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
- 9618 – Labourers in fish and seafood processing
- Have accumulated at least two years of experience in the last three years in either the food or beverage production industry.
- Currently, work full-time in either of those sectors in Quebec.
- Have a level 7 proficiency in French as measured by the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes.
- Have at least a high school diploma (DES) or diploma of vocational studies (DEP).
Orderlies Pilot Program
The Orderlies Pilot Program targets NOC 3413 for nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates. It features two streams:- Work.
- Work-study.
- Be aged 18 or older.
- Have respected the conditions of their stay in Quebec.
- Have a job as an orderly in Québec at the time of application.
- Have knowledge of oral French equivalent to Level 7.
- Intend to settle in Quebec.
- Be financially self-sufficient.
- Hold a diploma related to the occupation of orderly after full-time studies of at least one year that corresponds to a Quebec diploma of vocational studies.
- Have acquired the following work experience:
- At least two years in the last three years as an orderly in Quebec, OR
- At least one year in a health occupation related to basic personal care outside of Quebec and at least one year as an orderly in Quebec in the last three years.
- NOC 3011: Nursing coordinator and supervisor
- NOC 3012: Registered nurse and registered psychiatric nurse
- NOC 3124: Allied primary health practitioner
- NOC 3233: Licensed practical nurse
- NOC 4412: Home support worker, housekeeper and related occupations, only when the applicant primarily performs one or several of the following duties in an institutional setting: providing personal care, dispensing bedside care and personal care and administering routine medical care.
- Have obtained a Quebec diploma in vocational studies leading to the occupation of orderly in the last two years.
- Have at least one year of work experience as an orderly in Quebec in the last two years, obtained after the completion of studies.
- Acquired legally.
- Paid.
- Full time (30 hours or more per week), or equivalent.
AI, IT and Visual Effects Workers Pilot Program
This pilot program is split into two streams, one for those working in AI and the other for IT workers and those specializing in visual effects. The AI stream, which will accept up to 275 candidates, is for those who are working or having accepted a full-time job in Quebec in artificial intelligence and have either:- at least a level 7 proficiency in French as measured by the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, or;
- are enrolled in a French-language training program.
- a university degree equivalent to a bachelor’s in Quebec;
- an annual salary of at least $100,000 within the boundaries of the Montreal Urban Community (MUC) or at least $75,000 outside the MUC, and;
- either:
- two years of full-time work experience in jobs with NOC codes O,A or B within the last five years, or;
- A university degree equivalent to masters or doctoral degree from a Quebec university issued within the last year.
- a specialized graduate diploma (DESS), a masters or doctoral degree, issued in Quebec within the last two years and have lived in the province for at least half the time of that academic program;
- work experience. While no work experience is required for grads with masters or doctoral degrees, those with a DESS need to have completed at least six months of full-time work experience in an NOC category O, A, or B job with the year after graduation.
- 0213 – Computer and information systems managers
- 2133 – Electrical and electronics engineers
- 2171 – Information systems analysts and consultants
- 2173 – Software engineers and designers
- 2174 – Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- 2241 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 2281 – Computer network technicians
- 5131 – Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
- 5225 – Audio and video recording technicians
- 5241 – Graphic designers and illustrators
- at least a level 7 proficiency in French as measured by the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, or;
- be enrolled in a French-language training program.
- hold a college diploma (DEC) issued in Quebec or a bachelor’s degree granted by a Quebec university;
- have completed at least two years of full-time work experience in an admissible occupation within the last five years, and;
- either currently hold a job or have accepted a job offer in one of the acceptable occupational categories where the salary being offered is above 90 per cent of the average wage over the past three years for this occupation in Quebec as measured by the province’s ministry of employment, the Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS).
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