After you apply
If you live in Quebec
Apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) as soon as your asylum claim or pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) is accepted. You can do this while you apply for permanent residence.
You need a CSQ to get health insurance from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) and other provincial services.
Apply for a CSQ (opens in a new tab)
If you have any questions, contact MIFI’s Client Services Centre (available in French only).
If you were granted protected person status by the IRB, IRCC does not need you to have your CSQ to grant you permanent resident status in Canada.
If you were granted protected person status as a result of a positive PRRA, IRCC needs you to have your CSQ in order to grant you permanent resident status in Canada.
Any family members who will be living in Quebec and who are not protected persons need their CSQ to get permanent resident status.
The CSQ is valid for 24 months. However, if you have a permanent residence application in process, your CSQ will remain valid until IRCC makes a decision, even if the CSQ has expired. If we need you to have your CSQ to grant you permanent resident status and MIFI refuses your CSQ application, we will continue to process your permanent residence application only if you no longer live in the province of Quebec.
On this page
- If you want to withdraw your application
- How we review your application
- Get your fingerprints and photo taken
- Keep your information up to date
- If you want to apply for an immigration loan
- Check your application status
- Work, study and get health care while you wait
- How do I get back my seized passport or travel document?
- Travelling outside of Canada
If you want to withdraw your application
You can withdraw your permanent residence application through our web form.
Withdraw or cancel your application
Even if you withdraw your permanent residence application, you still have protected person status and can stay in Canada as a protected person.
How we review your application
We check that you have:
- filled out your permanent residence application completely and correctly
- paid your processing fees
- included all required documents
- met all the requirements
We’ll contact you to:
- confirm that we received your application via email or by mail depending on how you submitted your application
- ask you to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
- ask you for more documents, if necessary
- set up an interview, if necessary
- tell you what you need to do and what will happen next
If applicable, we’ll transfer your family members' applications to the processing office responsible for processing them.
Get your fingerprints and photo taken
If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you may need to give your fingerprints and have your photo taken (biometrics).
- When you submit your application, you must pay the biometrics fee for anyone who is included in your application and who is not a protected person. Otherwise, you may experience delays.
- Make an appointment as soon as you get the letter from us that tells you to give your biometrics.
- You have 30 days from the date on the letter to give your biometrics.
Learn more about giving biometrics.
Keep your information up to date
Make sure you tell us if there are any changes to:
- your contact information
- your family situation (like a marriage, birth, divorce or death)
If you don’t, it could delay processing.
Update your personal information
If you want to apply for an immigration loan
You might be eligible for an immigration loan as a protected person applying for permanent residence.
The loan covers costs associated with transportation for your family members outside Canada.
You can only get an immigration loan if:
- you’ve been refused one from a traditional lending institution
- you can repay the loan
- you’re in need
Check your application status
If you have applied online, you can use the application status tracker to get the most up-to-date and detailed information about the status of your application.
Work, study and get health care while you wait
Work while you wait for a decision
As a protected person, you need a work permit to work in Canada.
If you already have a work permit
Apply for an extension before it expires. This lets you keep working under the same conditions as your current permit, even if it expires.
Once your work permit is extended, you will also have to renew your social insurance number (SIN).
If you don’t have a work permit
You can apply for one for free as a protected person.
As soon as you receive your work permit, you should apply for a SIN (required by employers to pay employees). Once you have your SIN, you can look for a job locally and register with the Job Bank.
Study while you wait for a decision
If you want to study in Canada for more than 6 months, you need a study permit.
You can apply for one for free as a protected person.
Minor children don’t need a study permit to go to kindergarten, elementary school or secondary school. Their refugee protection identity document can be used for school registration, even if expired.
Access to temporary health care coverage
When you become a protected person, you should apply for provincial or territorial health insurance.
While waiting for provincial or territorial health insurance, as a protected person, you can receive health care for up to 90 days through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). This coverage starts from the date you are granted protected person status by the IRB or IRCC.
Your health care coverage through the IFHP ends when one of the following happens:
- you get provincial or territorial health insurance or
- 90 days pass from the date you were granted protected person status
Learn more about health care coverage
How do I get back my seized passport or travel document?
Your seized passport or other travel document will be returned to you by mail after you become a permanent resident.
Travelling outside of Canada
If you want to leave Canada while your application for permanent residence is being processed, you can apply for a refugee travel document.
This travel document cannot be used to go to your country of persecution.
Protected person status is based on a well-founded fear of persecution, torture or danger in your home country. Travelling back may suggest you are no longer afraid, which goes against your claim.
If you return to your country of persecution, you may lose your protected person status and could be removed from Canada.