Specific Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently in Quebec [R205(a) – A73] – International Mobility Program

These instructions apply to IRCC employees. Since applicants cannot submit their applications at a port of entry, the instructions do not apply to border services officers

The instructions on this page should be reviewed in conjunction with

• Employer-specific work permits with Labour Market Impact Assessment exemptions (International Mobility Program)
• Conditions and validity period on work permits (temporary workers)
• Public list of Employers who have been non-compliant

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
• 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 Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP), its Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québéc experience program) and its permanent immigration pilot programs (PP), 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

To be eligible for a work permit issued under paragraph R205(a) and administrative exemption code A73 as the holder of a CSQ, a foreign national must

• be the principal applicant on the application for permanent residence. The applicant must provide their letter of acceptance from Quebec with their name.
  • This letter entitled “Acceptation de votre demande de sélection permanente” includes the principal applicant’s individual reference number and file number.

  Principal applicants who submit their work permit application as of January 13, 2023 must provide this supporting document.

• be currently in Canada after being authorized to enter as a temporary resident under section 22 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or be eligible for restoration of status as a temporary resident
• currently reside in Quebec
• 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 subsection R186(u)) or
  • are eligible to apply for a work permit from within Canada under an active public policy
• have obtained an offer of employment number (A#) from an employer located in Quebec for employment in Quebec
• hold a CSQ in one of the two economic immigration programs for skilled workers or in one of Quebec’s three permanent immigration pilot programs (PP):
  • Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP);
  • Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program);
  • Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in food processing;
  • Permanent immigration pilot program for orderlies; and
  • Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors.
• the CSQ of applicants to the PEQ and the three pilot programs 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

• hold a CSQ when they apply for their work permit under this exemption and be in one of the following situations:
  • the CSQ is valid if they have not yet applied for permanent residence;
  • If an application for permanent residence has been submitted, it must have been received before the CSQ expired and processing of the application is ongoing.

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

• applicants applying for a work permit at a port of entry, as they must be physically in Canada as a temporary resident to be eligible
• applicants for open work permits
• spouses or common-law partners who are not principal applicants on the permanent residence application
  • 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 R205(a) with administrative code C11 or C60.

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)

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.

Related information:

• Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) holders currently outside Quebec [R205(a) – A76]
• Bridging open work permits (A75)
• Table (comparison of the different categories for CSQ holders) (PDF)