Specific Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently in Quebec [R205(a) – A75] – International Mobility Program

The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with

• Employer-specific work permits with Labour Market Impact Assessment exemptions
• Conditions and validity period on work permits (temporary workers)

On June 1, 2012, in agreement with Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), IRCC determined that the work of some temporary workers present in Quebec and holding a valid Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) creates significant social, cultural or economic benefits or opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents as required by paragraph 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).

On this page

• Background
• Eligibility requirements
• Employer compliance fee
• Work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)
• Extensions

Background

Section 108 of the Règlement sur l’immigration au Québec (RIQ), which came into effect on August 2, 2018, specifies that CSQs issued after the coming into force of the section are valid for a duration of 24 months or until IRCC renders a decision on the permanent residence application.

Since August 2, 2018, MIFI no longer renews CSQs, as they are issued for 24 months and are valid for the duration of the permanent residence application, even if the 24-month period has passed. In addition, CSQs issued before August 2, 2018, are valid for the duration of the permanent residence application, even if the initial 36 months have passed.

Foreign nationals selected by Quebec under its Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ) and its Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) who currently reside in the province of Quebec may be able to have their work authorizations extended with their current employer or renewed with a new employer without having to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a work permit issued under paragraph R205(a) and exemption code A75 as the holder of a CSQ, a foreign national must

• currently reside in Quebec
• have or be eligible for restoration of status as a temporary resident
• at the time of submission, have existing authorization to work or be eligible to have authorization to work restored or approved because they either
  • have a valid work permit (including an open work permit) or held a work permit immediately before losing their status
  • have applied to extend their work permit before it expired (maintained status and authorization to work without a permit under paragraph R186(u))
  • are eligible to apply for a work permit from within Canada under an active public policy
• have obtained an offer of employment number from their employer (A#) for employment located in Quebec
• hold a CSQ under the Quebec skilled worker class; the CSQ must indicate one of the following codes in section 9, Catégorie:
  • Travailleurs qualifiés
  • IQ – Travailleurs qualifiés
  • IP – Travailleurs
  • IT – Travailleurs qualifiés
  • IZ – PEQ Travailleurs
  • IY – PEQ Étudiants
  • I6 – Travailleurs Art. 40
  • IU – Préposé aux bénéficiaires – Volet travailleur étranger
  • IR – Préposé aux bénéficiaires – Volet diplômé du QC
  • IX – Travailleur – Transformation alimentaire
  • IV – Intelligence artificielle – Volet travailleur étranger
  • IW – Intelligence artificielle – Volet diplômé du QC
  • IS – Travailleur – TI – Effets visuels
• be in one of the following situations:
  • have a valid CSQ at the time of their work permit application under this exemption if they have not yet submitted their permanent residence application
  • have submitted their permanent residence application, for which processing is still ongoing, before the expiry date of the CSQ; the work permit may be issued under this LMIA exemption, even if the CSQ is expired

For clarity, the following foreign nationals are eligible under this category:

• an applicant seeking to extend or to obtain an employer-specific work permit for an employer in the province of Quebec
• a post-graduation work permit holder who has an offer of employment in the province of Quebec
• a study permit holder with a co-op work permit who has an offer of employment in the province of Quebec
• a work permit holder in one of the following categories under the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program:
  • Working Holiday
  • Young Professionals
  • International Co-op (Internship)

The following foreign nationals are not eligible under this exemption category:

• applicants for open work permits, including spouses or common-law partners
  • See Spouses or common-law partners of Quebec selection certificate (CSQ) holders for information on spousal work permits.
• entrepreneurs and self-employed applicants
  • They may be eligible as Entrepreneurs/self-employed candidates seeking to operate a business under the LMIA exemption code C11.

Employer compliance fee

The regulations concerning the International Mobility Program provide that when hiring LMIA-exempt foreign workers, employers must pay an employer compliance fee and submit an Offer of Employment to IRCC.

A work permit application will be refused under paragraph R200(3)(f.1) if

• the employer has not paid the employer compliance fee, as per section R303.1, unless the employer has been exempted from paying the fee under subsection R303.1(5) or 303.2(2); or
• the employer has not submitted an Offer of Employment, as per section R209.11.

Refunds of the employer compliance fee must be initiated if

• the work permit application is refused; or
• the employer withdraws their offer of employment in writing prior to the issuance of the work permit and the work permit application is therefore refused.

Work permit issuance in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)

Note: If the employer has been authorized to use an IMM 5802 form instead of completing the offer of employment through the Employer Portal, the officer may need to enter some of the codes listed below.

Under the “Application” screen, officers should enter or confirm the following information in the specified fields:

Extensions

If a permanent residence application is in processing but has not been finalized, a work permit extension is considered on a case-by-case basis. The duration of an extension is 1 year. However, officers may use their discretion, depending on current processing times for Quebec skilled worker permanent residence applications.