Canada–Quebec collaboration on immigration

Under Canada’s constitution, responsibility for immigration is shared between the federal and provincial or territorial governments. The federal government is responsible for setting overall immigration levels, including the admission targets for each immigration category, issuing visas, and managing permanent residence and temporary foreign worker programs.

Under Canada’s constitution, responsibility for immigration is shared between the federal and provincial or territorial governments. The federal government is responsible for setting overall immigration levels, including the admission targets for each immigration category, issuing visas, and managing permanent residence and temporary foreign worker programs.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has immigration agreements with provinces and territories and works closely with provincial and territorial partners to ensure the immigration system is responsive to their needs, supports economic growth, addresses regional labour market needs, and helps communities across the country welcome and integrate newcomers. Provincial and territorial partners also play a key role in selecting newcomers for permanent residence.

For more information on federal, provincial and territorial agreements, please visit our web page.

Canada–Quebec Accord

Quebec plays a distinct role in Canada’s immigration system under the Canada–Quebec Accord, which came into force in 1991. The Accord reflects Quebec’s unique role in selecting immigrants and supporting their integration in the province. Its objectives include preserving Quebec’s demographic weight within Canada and supporting the integration of immigrants while respecting Quebec’s distinct identity.

Under the Accord, Quebec has the authority to

• establish its own desired immigration levels in all categories
• establish its own selection criteria for economic immigrants
• establish and assess financial criteria for family class sponsorship
• select resettled refugees (both government-assisted and privately sponsored) while sharing overall responsibility with the federal government
• deliver settlement and integration services in the province
• receive federal funding to support the delivery of settlement and integration services for permanent residents in the province

Under the Accord, the federal government maintains authority for

• selection in some permanent resident categories (for example, family), as well as certain temporary resident streams (including the International Mobility Program)
• determining the total number of immigrants to be admitted to the country in a year, taking Quebec’s requirements into account
• determining if a foreign national is admissible to Canada

Workers in Quebec

Quebec is currently facing labour shortages in a number of sectors, including health care, construction, manufacturing and services. The Accord enables the province to attract workers with skills that align with its labour market needs.

The Quebec Experience Program and its successor, the Skilled Worker Selection Program, are Quebec permanent residence programs. The province has full responsibility for these programs.

Under article 22 of the Canada–Quebec Accord, Quebec’s consent is required to admit temporary foreign workers subject to labour market impact assessment requirements. Foreign workers destined for Quebec must therefore obtain the consent of the Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration to work there temporarily. For more information, please visit Hiring temporary foreign workers in the province of Quebec.

Taking a new approach to immigration

The Government of Canada is focusing immigration on the areas where it has the greatest impact: filling labour gaps, strengthening key sectors of the economy and supporting communities across the country. Our balanced and sustainable approach will support Canada’s own workforce, while attracting and retaining the world’s best talent with the skills and experience needed to grow the economy. With this in mind, the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan reduces arrival targets for new temporary residents and stabilizes targets for permanent resident admissions. As part of the development of this plan, we consulted extensively with provinces and territories, a wide variety of stakeholders and partners, as well as other federal government departments.

Through ongoing bilateral engagement and collaboration, Canada and Quebec continue to work together to maintain an immigration system that supports economic growth, strengthens communities, and helps newcomers successfully integrate and contribute to Quebec and Canada.