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June 10, 2025

Immigration

Justice and Rights

What are the different ways I can come to Canada?

Depending on your situation, there are generally three ways you can settle in Canada.

Temporary Residency Status

A temporary resident is a newcomer who is allowed to enter and stay in Canada on a temporary basis. They can obtain this status either as a visitor by getting a tourist visa, or by getting a temporary resident permit, such as through a work or study permit.

Temporary residents must leave Canada by the end of the period allowed by their visa or permit. They may only re-enter Canada if their permit allows them to do so or once they receive a new permit.

Permanent residents do not, however, have the right to vote in government elections, or to hold a Canadian passport.

Click here to learn more.

Permanent Residency Status

A permanent resident is a newcomer who is not yet a Canadian citizen, but who has been allowed to settle in Canada permanently by fulfilling certain obligations since their arrival.

Much like a citizen, permanent residents have the freedom to enter, stay in, and move throughout Canada. However, once granted permanent residency, newcomers must, for every five-year period afterward, live in Canada for at least two of those years (precisely 730 days) to keep their status valid.

While permanent residents may enjoy certain protections and access to government services, they do not have the right to vote in government elections, or to hold a Canadian passport.

Click here to learn more.

Refugee Status

A refugee is a person who comes to Canada and is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin out of fear for their safety. Should they return, they may face dangers to their life, like torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

Often a person in need of protection as a refugee must have a well-founded fear that they would face these dangers because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinions, or their membership in a particular social group (e.g. their sexual orientation or gender identity).

Click here to learn more.

Newcomers who obtain permanent residency or refugee status may eventually apply to become Canadian citizens once they meet certain requirements.

Newcomers in Canada with a work or study permit can also apply to be permanent residents, but would need to undergo a separate application process.

Which institutions oversee matters of immigration in Quebec and Canada?

Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI)

Called the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion until 2019, the MIFI is tasked with selecting newcomers to settle in Quebec who will be best able to integrate into and contribute to Quebec’s French-speaking society. They offer many programs through which newcomers who want to live and work in Quebec can improve their French-language skills and apply to immigrate in Canada.

Several of the programs offered by the MIFI include:

  • The Regular Skilled Worker Program;
  • The Quebec Experience Program;
  • The Businessperson Program;
  • The Family Sponsorship Program; and
  • The Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Visit the MIFI website to read through their Frequently Asked Questions, or click here to find out how to contact the department.

When contacting the MIFI via telephone:

  • If calling from Montreal: 514-864-9191
  • If calling from inside Quebec: 1-877-864-9191
  • If calling from outside Quebec: +1-514-864-9191

Press “0” to speak with a MIFI representative.

Be aware there is an automated voice recording in French explaining the services offered by the MIFI that must be listened to before the caller can request listening to this same information in English by pressing “9”.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

IRCC is the federal government body that handles all immigration applications from newcomers hoping to come and settle in Canada. It manages:

  • Granting temporary study or work permits to foreign workers and students;
  • Issuing permanent residency status to skilled workers, temporary workers and Quebec school graduates, family members of permanent residents or citizens, and newcomers on humanitarian and compassionate grounds; and
  • Accepting refugee claims by asylum seekers.

Visit the IRCC website for answers to your questions on various steps and parts of the immigration process, as well as contact information for their various office locations across the country.

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)

A federal body, the IRB reports to IRCC but remains an independent administrative tribunal. It makes decisions regarding who is able to immigrate to Canada and who, in addition, may be granted refugee status.

The Board is made up of four separate divisions, each overseeing a particular area of the immigration and refugee law regime:

Immigration Division makes rulings pertaining to:

  • Admissibility: whether newcomers will be allowed to enter Canada if they are believed to have violated any conditions or terms of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (“IRPA”); and
  • Detention: determines when and how a newcomer being detained for violations of the IRPA can be released, and whether they will be allowed to enter or remain in Canada.

Immigration Appeals Division hears appeals related to removal orders, family sponsorships, and temporary or permanent residency conditions.

Refugee Protection Division decides whether or not an individual who has already arrived in Canada will be granted refugee protection (IRCC decides for refugee claimants outside Canada).

Refugee Appeals Division hears appeals of individuals who have been denied refugee status.

Visit the IRB website for more detailed on how to navigate the four divisions and your application process.

Also see their Frequently Asked Questions page for more direct help on how to have the IRB review earlier decision on your application.

 

English-Language Rights for Newcomers

What English-language rights do I have in Canadian and Quebec immigration law?

The Government of Canada offers all its immigration services to you in both of its official languages, English and French. However, there are only certain services that are available in English if you are settling in Quebec, a province which has its own rules for certain types of immigration.

Canada’s Constitution gives the power to regulate immigration primarily to the federal government. It controls, among other matters:

  • The accepting or denying of immigration applications;
  • The issuing of visas and permits;
  • The recognizing of refugee status; and
  • The granting of Canadian permanent residency status or citizenship.

However, provincial governments have some say as to which newcomers may settle in their provinces.

The Quebec government, for instance, has its own immigration procedures to make sure that newcomers to the province will be able to integrate into its French-speaking society.

This means that newcomers to Quebec will need to meet the province’s selection requirements and all federal admission requirements to receive their visa, permit, permanent residency, or Canadian citizenship.

NOTE: On June 1, 2022, the Quebec government officially passed Bill 96, a new bill which overhauls the Charter of the French Language and imposes stricter rules and regulations on newcomers. This includes restricting the time-period in which newcomers are allowed to receive public services in English to six months following their arrival in Quebec.

These modifications could make it harder for newcomers to integrate into Quebec’s French-speaking society and access public services by not giving them enough time to learn French before their access period ends.

This rule may also impose an additional burden on all newcomers to know high-enough levels of French before they ever arrive in Quebec.

The bill was long discussed in consultations before the Committee on Culture and Education at the National Assembly. More information will be provided as new developments emerge.

 

Temporary Residency

What types of temporary residency exist in Canada?

The availability of English-language help in the application process depends largely on what kind of temporary resident you are applying to be.

The two main ways you can obtain temporary residency in Canada and settle in Quebec are by applying for: a temporary work permit (if you are a foreign worker); or a temporary study permit (if you are a foreign student).

As a foreign worker, you can apply for a temporary work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which has four pathways, or “streams” for:

  • High-wage positions (wage higher than the median hourly wage in Quebec);
  • Low-wage positions (wage lower than the median hourly wage in Quebec);
  • Agricultural workers; and
  • In-Home Caregivers.

Visit the website of the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) for more information on how to obtain a temporary work permit.

As a foreign student, you can come study in Quebec with a temporary study permit if you:

  • Have been admitted to an educational institution in the province;
  • Can prove your ability to finance your education and other connected expenses;
  • Obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate from the MIFI; and
  • Obtain a temporary study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Visit the Quebec government website for more information on the conditions you need to meet to obtain a study permit.

What language challenges might I face to come work in Quebec as a foreign worker?

If you want to apply for a temporary work permit in Canada and settle in Quebec through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, you must first apply for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). This document permits you to work temporarily in Quebec, unless you do not need it because of certain conditions.

Much of the information on how to obtain the CAQ is available online in both English and French.

However, please be aware that the information presented on the English-language webpage about the CAQ application form is out-of-date. Consult the French-language webpage if possible.

Fortunately, the English-language version and the French-language version of the CAQ application form are both up to date.

When completing the CAQ application form, do not forget to fill in and sign the section titled Autorisation donnée à l’employeur (“Authorization given to employer”) on page 6.

Filling in this section allows your future employer to present your CAQ application form to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) on your behalf.

Visit the MIFI website for more information on the supporting documents you will need to send to your employer with your CAQ application form.

Visit the MIFI’s webpages for specific instructions on the steps to apply for a CAQ as a  high-wage worker, low-wage worker, agricultural worker, or in-home caregiver.

For In-Home Caregivers applying for the CAQ, you will need to prove your language skills of either English or French.

You can show your language skills by sending your future employer proof of:

  • Your English- or French-language schooling through a photocopy or your secondary school diploma and corresponding transcript of grades; or
  • If you did not complete your secondary schooling in English or French, a photocopy of test results accepted by the MIFI (showing at least intermediate-level language skills).

These tests include:

Visit the MIFI’s webpage Supporting documents required – In-home Caregivers for more detailed information.

MIFI Decision on your Work Permit Application

If your CAQ application is rejected, you will receive a letter from MIFI explaining its reasons for that decision.

You may send evidence to convince the MIFI that it was wrong to reject your application.

Following your response to the rejection with evidence, the MIFI will review your application and may call you in for an interview.

Although the interview is conducted in French, you can request an translator, sometimes paid for by the MIFI depending on the specific details of your application.

  • You will then receive a final decision of acceptance or rejection.
  • Visit the MIFI website for more information on how to to Request a review if your CAQ application was rejected.

Once you have been granted a CAQ, you must then apply for a work permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for a temporary work permit.

Only once you receive a temporary work permit from IRCC are you legally allowed to enter Canada to work.

What language challenges might I face to come study in Quebec as a foreign student?

Unless you are registered in a training program lasting six months or less, you must first apply for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (“CAQ”) if you want to obtain a temporary study permit in Canada and settle in Quebec. The CAQ permits you to study and receive an academic degree from a Quebec school or university.

Much of the information on how to obtain the CAQ is available online in both English and French.

Visit the Quebec government’s webpage on applying for a temporary study permit for a complete step-by-step guide.

Providing proof of your French- or English-language skills is not required to obtain a CAQ for a study permit.

The application portal for a study permit on the Minitry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) website is available in English.

However, the Arrima account portal, through which you will have to submit all supporting documents needed for your study permit application, is only available in French.

MIFI Decision on your Study Permit Application

If your CAQ application is rejected, you will receive a letter from MIFI explaining its reasons for that decision.

You may send evidence to convince the MIFI that it was wrong to reject your application.

Following your response to the rejection with evidence, the MIFI will review your application and may call you in for an interview.

Although the interview is conducted in French, you can request an interpreter, sometimes paid for by the MIFI depending on the specific details of your application.

  • You will then receive a final decision of acceptance or rejection.
  • Visit the MIFI website for more information on how to request a review if your CAQ application was rejected.

Once you have been granted a CAQ, you must then apply for a temporary study permit through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for a study permit.

Only once you receive a temporary study permit from IRCC are you legally allowed to enter Canada to study.

 

Permanent Residency

What types of permanent residency exist in Canada?

The availability of English-language help in the application process depends largely on what kind of permanent resident you are applying to be.

There are many paths you can take to obtain permanent residency in Canada and settle in Quebec. These different paths are called “classes” in Quebec immigration law. There are three pathways:

Economic Class

Permanent residents under the economic class are newcomers who can show that they are able to contribute to Quebec’s economy and society after settling in the province.

Individuals who can apply for permanent residency under the economic class include:

  • Skilled workers;
  • Entrepreneurs;
  • Investors; and
  • Self-employed individuals.
Family Class

Permanent residents under the family class are newcomers the Quebec government allows to be sponsored (i.e. financially and materially supported) by a family member who is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Individuals who could apply to be sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident under the family class include:

  • Spouses (including de facto spouses and conjugal partners);
  • Dependent children (including those to be adopted);
  • Parents and Grandparents; and
  • Underage siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren.
Humanitarian Class

Permanent residents under the humanitarian class are newcomers in a situation of hardship or difficulty.

Individuals who could apply for permanent residency under the humanitarian class include:

  • Applicants who cannot meet the conditions of the Refugee Program; or
  • Individuals admitted on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Any newcomer to Quebec who applies for permanent residency under one of these three classes must be granted a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) by the provincial Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration.

  • This important document is needed to allow you to receive public services, such as healthcare, from the province while your permanent residency application is being processed by the Canadian government.
  • Depending on the class and program of your permanent residency application, you may have to apply for the CSQ at the start or later on in the process (more information below).

Once the Quebec government grants you a CSQ, you must then apply for permanent residency to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

What language challenges might I face as an English-speaking temporary resident?

If you are a temporary resident in Quebec (with either a work or study permit) and want to apply to be a permanent resident in Canada and settle in Quebec, you must first receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the provincial government. Knowing enough French to function in and contribute to Quebec society is an important condition for being granted a CSQ.

Because of this French-language requirement, few parts of the CSQ application process as a temporary worker or Quebec school graduate are available in English.

Skilled Workers With Temporary Permits

If you wish to come to Quebec permanently to work and have experience that can contribute to Quebec’s economy, you may be considered a “skilled worker”.

Quebec offers two immigration programs for skilled workers applying for a CSQ under the economic class: the Quebec Experience Program and the Regular Skilled Worker Program(RSWP).

For more information on the RSWP, see What Language Challenges Might I Face As An English-Speaking Skilled Worker?

The Quebec Experience Program (QEP)

Unlike the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP), only newcomers who are already in Quebec through a work or study permit (in other words, temporary residents who are here as workers or Quebec school graduates) can apply through the QEP to become permanent residents.

If you are a temporary worker in Quebec or a Quebec school graduate, you can always apply for permanent residency through the RSWP.

However, the QEP was designed for Quebec-based temporary students and workers as a sort of shortcut to settle permanently in the province.

Also different from the RSWP, the QEP does not:

  • Have a limit of the number of applications it can accept; or
  • Use a selection grid or system of points to award a CSQ.

Visit the Quebec government website for the complete list of conditions that Quebec temporary workers and Quebec school graduates must meet before applying to the QEP.

To apply for a CSQ under the QEP, visit the Quebec government’s webpage for a complete step-by-step guide.

French-Language Challenges for the QEP

As you prepare your QEP application, you may come across the following challenges, depending on the level of your French-language skills:

1. Completing Parts 1 and 2 of the Permanent Selection Application Form (PDF files, only available in French)

If you are a Quebec school graduate, you must download, fill in, date and sign the Quebec Graduate Stream Permanent Selection Application Form.

If you are a Quebec temporary worker, you must download, fill in, date and sign the Quebec Worker Stream Permanent Selection Application Form.

2. Gathering all Supporting Documents needed for your QEP Application

All documents are listed in Part 2 of the Permanent Selection Application Form (only indicated in French).

Some of the supporting documents needed include (depending whether you are a worker or graduate):

  • A valid passport (showing name, issue date and expiry date);
  • Your diploma;
  • Final transcript of grades;
  • Proof of job offer in Quebec; and
  • All temporary study permits and Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQs) covering the duration of your schooling in Quebec.

You will also need to include in your QEP application a document proving your French-language skills, such as:

  • A final transcript showing you completed at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary schooling entirely in French;
  • A written confirmation that you meet the language requirements of a professional order in Quebec;
  • A written confirmation that you passed a French class in a school in Quebec recognized by the MIFI (click here for a list of recognized French classes and schools, only available in French); or
  • Language tests results accepted by the MIFI.

The language tests accepted by the MIFI are the:

Your test results are valid for two years following the delivery date of the results.

QEP applicants must show that their knowledge of French is equal to Level 7 (intermediate-advanced) on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes (Échelle) (only in French).

This means that if you submit any of these test results with your QEP application, you will need a minimum grade of B2 for the test results to be accepted by the Quebec government.

For the DALF and DELF, the following grades are needed for the QEP:

  • DELF B2: 16/25 or higher for the two oral exams
  • DALF C1: 8/25 or higher for the two oral exams
  • DALF C2: 16/50 or higher for the oral exam

If your spouse or de facto spouse is coming with you to Quebec, they too must prove that their knowledge of French is equal to Level 4 on the Échelle.

Visit the Quebec government’s webpage under Knowledge of French for the Spouse to see the different ways in which your spouse or de facto spouse can prove their French-language skills to the MIFI.

NOTE: The TEF Canada and TCF-Canada tests are recognized and accepted by both the MIFI and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). These two tests are also useful for newcomers who need to prove their French-language skills, but wish to settle outside of Quebec.

3. Creating an Arrima account (application portal of Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration – MIFI)

Once you create and log into your Arrima account, click Créer un compte and follow the instructions (available only in French).

If you already have an Arrima account, then login to it and continue from there.

4. Sending all Required and Supporting Documents to the MIFI

Submitted documents can be accepted in either English or French.

All submitted documents written in a language that is not English or French must include an official translation (into English or French) done by a recognized translator, bearing their name and seal.

For more information on how to get official translations of supporting documents, visit the MIFI website.

5. Obtaining Quebec’s Democratic Values Learning Attestation

Introduced in January 2020, applicants to the QEP are required to obtain what the MIFI calls an “attestation of learning” about the democratic values expressed in Quebec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

There are two options you can choose from to obtain this “attestation of learning”:

1. Complete the Online Assessment

  • An electronic weblink will be sent to you by the MIFI after submitting your CSQ application.
  • The assessment is timed. Once you begin the assessment, you will have three hours to answer 20 questions, after which your results will be automatically sent to the MIFI.
  • The online assessment is only available in French. For more information, visit the MIFI website.

2. Complete the Objectif Intégration Information Session

  • The session consists of classes spead over many days, all of which together last a total of 24 hours.
  • You must attend the entire session.
  • At the end of the information session, your attestation will be automatically sent to the MIFI.
  • The sessions are given only in French, but instructors are allowed to answer questions and clarify information in another language if they are able to do so.
  • You can register online for the Objectif Intégration on the MIFI website (you will have to create a consultation file and make an appointment).
  • The material covered in the online assessment and the Objectif Intégration can be found in English in the MIFI’s Practical Guide (also available in French, Spanish, and Mandarin).

For more information on how to obtain the Democratic Values Learning Attestation, visit the MIFI website..

6. MIFI Decision on your QEP Application

If your CSQ application is rejected through the QEP, you will receive a letter from MIFI explaining its reasons for that decision.

You may send evidence to convince the MIFI that it was wrong to reject your application.

Following your response to the rejection with evidence, the MIFI will review your application and may call you in for an interview.

Although the interview is conducted in French, you can request an interpreter, sometimes paid for by the MIFI depending on the specific details of your application.

  • After this review process is completed, you will then receive a final decision of acceptance or rejection.
  • Visit the MIFI website for more information on how to request a review if your CSQ application was rejected.

If your QEP application is accepted and you receive a CSQ, you must then apply for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for permanent residency as a skilled worker.

If your permanent residency application is rejected, you can file an appeal with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Click here for more information.

What language challenges might I face as an English-speaking skilled worker?

If you are applying to be a permanent resident in Canada and settle in Quebec as a skilled worker, you must first receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the provincial government. Knowing enough French to function in and contribute to Quebec society is an important condition for being granted a CSQ.

Because of this French-language requirement, very few parts of the CSQ application process for skilled workers are available in English.

Skilled Workers

If you wish to come to Quebec permanently to work and have experience that can contribute to Quebec’s economy, you may be considered a skilled worker.

Quebec offers two immigration programs for skilled workers applying for a CSQ under the economic class: the Regular Skilled Worker Program and the Quebec Experience Program(QEP).

For more information on the QEP, see  What Language Challenges Might I Face As An English-Speaking Temporary Permit Holder?

The Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)

To apply for a CSQ under the RSWP, visit the Quebec government’s webpage for a complete step-by-step guide.

French-Language Requirements for the RSWP

As you prepare your RSWP application, you may come across the following challenges, depending on the level of your French-language skills:

1. Creating an Arrima account (application portal of the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration – MIFI)

The Arrima web portal is only available in French. This includes the process and instructions to create an account (Créer un compte).

2. Submitting an Expression of Interest through your Arrima account

According to the MIFI, while the questionnaire is only available in French, applicants are free to submit their responses in English.

In your Expression of Interest, you must provide information about your English- and French-language skills.

Language tests results accepted by the MIFI can be helpful to prove your French-language skills. These tests include:

Your test results are valid for two years following the delivery date of the results.

RSWP applicants must show that their knowledge of French is equal to Level 7 (intermediate-advanced) on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes (PDF file only available in French).

This means that if you submit any of these test results with your RSWP application, you will need a minimum grade of B2 to receive points on the CSQ points grid (see section 5. MIFI Review Of Your RSWP Application below).

NOTE: The TEF Canada and TCF-Canada tests are recognized and accepted by both the MIFI and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). These two tests are also useful for newcomers who need to prove their French-language skills, but wish to settle outside of Quebec.

3. Sending all Required and Supporting Documents to the MIFI

Submitted documents can be accepted in either English or French.

All submitted documents written in a language that is not English or French must include an official translation (into English or French) done by a recognized translator, bearing their name and seal.

For more information on how to get official translations of supporting documents, visit the MIFI website.

4. Obtaining Quebec’s Democratic Values Learning Attestation

Introduced in January 2020, applicants to the RSWP are required to obtain what the MIFI calls an “attestation of learning” about the democratic values expressed in Quebec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

There are two ways to obtain this “attestation of learning”:

A. Complete the Online Assessment

  • An electronic weblink will be sent to you by the MIFI after submitting your CSQ application.
  • The assessment is timed. Once you begin the assessment, you will have three hours to answer 20 questions, after which your results will be automatically sent to the MIFI.
  • The online assessment is only available in French. For more information, visit the MIFI website.

B. Complete the Objectif Intégration Information Session

  • The session consists of classes spread over many days, all of which together last a total of 24 hours.
  • You must attend the entire session.
  • At the end of the information session, your attestation will be automatically sent to the MIFI.
  • The sessions are given only in French, but instructors are allowed to answer questions and clarify information in another language if they are able to do so.
  • You can register online for the Objectif Intégration on the MIFI website (you will have to create a consultation file and make an appointment).
  • The material covered in the online assessment and the Objectif Intégration can be found in English in the MIFI’s Practical Guide (also available in French, Spanish and Mandarin).

For more information on how to obtain the Democratic Values Learning Attestation, visit the MIFI website.

5. MIFI Review of your RSWP Application

After you have completed these four steps, MIFI will decide within 6 months whether to grant you a CSQ on a points-based system.

You need a total of 50 points (or 59 if you plan on coming to Quebec with a spouse or de facto spouse).

A maximum of 16 points can be awarded to you based on your French-language skills (a maximum of 2 points for how well you read and write in French, and a maximum of 14 points for how well you speak and understand spoken French).

You can use the self-assessment tool (available only in French) to estimate how many points you will receive.

A complete grid of how these points are awarded is available in English on the Quebec government website.

6. MIFI Decision on your RSWP Application

If your CSQ application is rejected through the RSWP, you will receive a letter from MIFI explaining its reasons for that decision.

You may send evidence to convince the MIFI that it was wrong to reject your application.

Following your response to the rejection with evidence, the MIFI will review your application and may call you in for an interview.

Although the interview is conducted in French, you can request an interpreter, sometimes paid for by the MIFI depending on the specific details of your application.

  • You will then receive a final decision of acceptance or rejection.
  • Visit the MIFI website for more information on how to request a review if your CSQ application was rejected.

If your RSWP application is accepted and you receive a CSQ, you must then apply for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for permanent residency as a skilled worker.

If your permanent residency application is rejected, you can file an appeal with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Click here for more information.

What language challenges might I face as an English-speaking businessperson?

If you are applying to be a permanent resident in Canada and settle in Quebec through the economic class, you must first receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the provincial government. Knowing enough French to function in and contribute to Quebec’s economy is an important condition for being granted a CSQ through the businessperson program (i.e. as an entrepreneur, investor, or self-employed individual).

Even with this language requirement, lots of information on the CSQ application process as a businessperson is available in English.

Entrepreneurs

If you are coming to settle in Quebec to create or operate a business in the province, then you may be considered an entrepreneur.

The Quebec government offers newcomers two pathways, or “streams”, to obtain a CSQ as an entrepreneur.

For more detailed information, visit the MIFI’s webpage explaining how to become eligible for their Entrepreneur Program.

To access the forms you will need to fill out, click here.

NOTE: Applications under Stream 2 of the Entrepreneur Program have been temporarily closed. For more information, click here.

Investors

If you are coming to settle in Quebec to make a large investment in its economic development, then you may be considered an investor.

For more detailed information about the size of investment needed, visit the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (“MIFI”) webpage explaining how to become eligible for their  Investor Program.

To access the forms you will need to fill out, click here.

NOTE: The Investor Program is currently under review and will remain closed until April 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Self-Employed Individuals

If you are coming to settle in Quebec to practice a profession or trade , then you may be considered a self-employed person.

For more detailed information, visit the MIFI’s webpage explaining how to become eligible for their Self-Employed Worker Program.

To access the forms you will need to fill out, click here.

To find out if the maximum number of applications accepted has been reached for the latest application period, click here.

French-Language Requirements for MIFI Businessperson Programs

Like the RSWP (for skilled workers) and QEP (for temporary workers and Quebec school graduates), CSQ applicants through a Businessperson Program will need to complete a standardized French-language test approved and accepted by the MIFI. These tests are listed on the MIFI website.

Your test results are valid for two years following the delivery date of the results.

Businessperson program applicants must show that their knowledge of French is equal to Level 7 (intermediate-advanced) on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes (PDF file available only in French).

This means that if you submit any of these test results with your QEP application, you will need a minimum grade of B2 for the test results to be accepted by the Quebec government.

English-Language Requirements for MIFI Businessperson Programs

CSQ applicants through a Businessperson Program can also choose to strengthen their application by proving their English-language skills.

More information on how and where to book an English-language test is available on the MIFI website.

Though never given the same importance as proof of French-language skills, showing knowledge of English will still benefit a Businessperson Program application.

MIFI Decision on your Businessperson Program Application

If your CSQ application is rejected through the Businessperson Program, you will receive a letter from the MIFI explaining its reasons for that decision.

You may send evidence to convince the MIFI that it was wrong to reject your application.

Following your response to the rejection with evidence, the MIFI will review your application and may call you in for an interview.

Although the interview is conducted in French, you can request an interpreter, sometimes paid for by the MIFI depending on the specific details of your application.

  • You will then receive a final decision of acceptance or rejection.
  • Visit the MIFI website for more information on how to request a review if your CSQ application was rejected.

If your Businessperson Program application is accepted and you receive a CSQ, you must then apply for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for permanent residency as a skilled worker.

If your permanent residency application is rejected, you can file an appeal with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Click here for more information.

What language challenges might I face as an English-speaker with family in Quebec?

If you are applying to be a permanent resident in Canada and settle in Quebec through the family class, you must be sponsored (i.e. financially and materially supported) by a family member who is already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Much of the information on how to apply for permanent residency through the family class is available online in both English and French.

However, most of the documents that need to be filled in and sent to Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) by both the sponsor and the sponsored newcomer are only available in French.

Newcomers who can apply to be sponsored by a family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident settled in Quebec include:

  • Spouses (including de facto spouses and conjugal partners);
  • Dependent children (including those in the process of being adopted);
  • Parents and Grandparents; or
  • Underage siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren.

Visit the MIFI website for:

  • Detailed information on who can sponsor a close relative for permanent residency in Quebec.
  • Step-by-step instructions on how to apply to sponsor a close relative for permanent residency in Quebec.
    • Consult the Sponsor’s Guide for more specific information on your sponsor’s obligations (PDF file, available only in French).
    • Consult the Sponsored Person’s Guide for information on your sponsor’s obligations as well as your responsibilies throughout the application process (PDF file, available only in French).
French-Language Challenges of the MIFI’s Family Sponsorship Program

The first step in being sponsored by a family member settled in Quebec is having your sponsorship application accepted by the MIFI. During this process, you may come across the following difficulties, depending on your and your sponsor’s French-language skills:

1. Completing and signing the Application for Permanent Selection – Family Reunification Class and delivering it to your sponsor (PDF file, available only in French).

2. Your sponsor completing the proper Undertaking Application Kit.

Most kit documents that are needed to be filled in and signed are PDF files, available only in French.

A Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) will be granted to you once your sponsor’s undertaking application has been accepted by the MIFI.

Once you have obtained a CSQ, you can then apply for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for permanent residency under the family sponsorship program.

 

Refugee & Humanitarian Status

What language challenges might I face to be declared a refugee and obtain permanent residency in Quebec?

The Quebec government’s role in the selection of refugees varies depending on whether the newcomer is making a refugee claim from inside or outside of Canada. The information on how to apply for refugee status through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is available online in both English and French. However, the forms that need to be filled in and sent to Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) are only available in French.

The MIFI also considers if a refugee will be able to integrate into Quebec’s French-speaking society in its selection process. However, this language consideration is weighed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the seriousness of the refugee’s particular situation.

Use of French for Refugee Claimants Outside of Canada

If you are currently outside of Canada and hoping to come to Quebec as a refugee, then you will first need to be declared eligible for refugee status by IRCC.

Visit the IRCC website for detailed information on what conditions make you eligible for refugee status and how to file a claim from outside Canada.

Once you are declared eligible by the IRCC to come to Canada as a refugee, you can apply to the MIFI to be able to settle in Quebec.

One way this can be done is if you are privately sponsored. The Quebec government offers refugees wanting to come to the province the option of participating in a Collective Sponsorship Program (CSP) if the refugee can be sponsored by:

  • A group of two to five people; or
  • A non-profit organization.

Visit the Quebec government website for:

As you prepare your CSP application, you may come across the following difficulties, depending on you and your sponsor’s French-language skills:

1. Your sponsor creating an Arrima account (application portal of the MIFI).

The account portal is only available in French. This includes the process and instructions to create an account (Créer un compte).

2. Your sponsor filling in and submitting the Step 1 of the undertaking application – Legal person form. PDF file, available only in French.

Once your CSP application has been accepted, you will need to obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the Quebec government to be allowed to come to Canada and settle in Quebec.

This process will include travelling to Quebec for an interview to see how easily you may integrate into Quebec’s French-speaking society.

Although the interview is conducted in French, you can request a translator, sometimes paid for by the MIFI depending on the specific details of your application.

Visit the MIFI website for more detailed information on:

The needed application form is available only in French.

Use of French for Refugee Claimants Inside of Canada

If you are already in Quebec and want to obtain permanent residency through the refugee class, then you will first need to be declared eligible for refugee status by IRCC as an asylum seeker.

Visit the IRCC website for detailed information on what conditions make you eligible to file a refugee claim from inside Canada, how to file a claim, and what to do if your claim is rejected.

Please remember that the conditions to be recognized as a refugee are different for newcomers who are already in Canada compared to those who file a claim while outside the country.

Once you are recognized as a refugee within Canada, you must submit your application to the MIFI for the CSQ. Below is a list of some of the challenges you may face, depending on your French-language skills:

1. Filling in and submitting the Application for permanent selection – refugee class or protected person (and their family members), a PDF file, available only in French.

This form must be sent by mail with the other requested documents in the application to the following address:

Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration
Direction de l’immigration familiale et humanitaire
285, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, 4e étage
Montreal (Québec) H2Y 1T8

Visit the MIFI website for the step-by-step procedure on settling in Quebec after being recognized as a refugee within Canada.

For a refugee claim, you do not need to wait until you receive your CSQ to apply for permanent residency with IRCC.

Visit the IRCC website to complete your application.

What language challenges might I face to become a permanent resident on humanitarian or compassionate grounds?

If you cannot apply for permanent residency in Canada as a refugee, you may be able to become a permanent resident in Quebec through the humanitarian class. Much of the information on how to apply for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds (HCG) is available online in both English and French.

HCG Claims versus Refugee Claims

Unlike when filing a refugee claim, being accepted as a permanent resident on HCG is determined on a case-by-case basis. There is no standard list of conditions you must meet.

When deciding whether to grant a newcomer permanent residency on HCG, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will usually consider factors like:

  • How long you have been settled in Canada;
  • Your work history in Canada; and
  • The strength of your family ties and social network in Canada.

Visit the IRCC website for a complete explanation of HCG and how to apply.

If your application for permanent residency on HCG is accepted by IRCC, you can then apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to stay in Quebec.

During the application process, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) will have to determine whether you are in a “special hardship” situation. Some of the factors the MIFI will consider in its decision include:

  • Whether your physical or psychological well-being will be negatively affected if you could not live in Quebec;
  • Whether returning to your country of origin would threaten your personal safety;
  • If you are already well established in Quebec without significant ties to your country of origin; and
  • How well integrated you are into Quebec and its French-speaking society, and how much you contribute to its economy.

If your HCG application is accepted and you receive a CSQ from the MIFI, you must then apply for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As a federal institution, IRCC’s services and procedures are available to newcomers in both English and French.

Visit IRCC’s website to learn about the process and how to apply for permanent residency.

If your permanent residency application is rejected, you do not have the right to file an appeal with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. However, you do have the right to file a judicial review of the rejection.

Click here for more information.

 

Becoming a Citizen

Who is a citizen of Canada?

Generally, a Canadian citizen is someone who:

  • Was born in Canada;
  • Has a parent who was a Canadian citizen at the time of their birth; or
  • Has acquired Canadian citizenship through the immigration process.

The Canadian government recognizes dual citizenship. More specifically, Canadian citizens do not lose their citizenship status should they obtain or retain their citizenship from another state.

Please know that your Canadian citizenship can be revoked if it was obtained or retained through an act of fraud or purposely hiding or altering information needed to complete the process of becoming a citizen.

How do I obtain Canadian citizenship?

The Government of Canada offers all its immigration services to you in both of its official languages, English and French. Since the process to become a citizen is overseen by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), every step of the process can be completed in both official languages.

Steps to Citizenship

Generally, to qualify for Canadian citizenship, you must:

  • Be a permanent resident of Canada;
  • Have lived in Canada for at least three of the last five years (precisely 1,095 days) before the date you submitted your application for citizenship;
  • Have filed tax returns in Canada for at least three of the last five years before the date you submitted your application for citizenship;
  • Pass the Citizenship Test and interview; and
  • Prove either your French- or English-language skills.

Visit the IRCC website for a step-by-step guide on how to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Exceptions for Minors

You do not need to take the Citizenship Test if you are under the age of 18.

Additionally, you generally do not need to pass an interview (except in some cases) if you are:

  • Under the age of 18 with a Canadian parent or a parent applying for citizenship at the same time as you; or
  • Under the age of 14.

For more information on particular exceptions in the citizenship process for minors, click here.

What must I do to pass the Citizenship Test and Interview?

Among other factors, the Citizenship Test examines a newcomer’s knowledge of Canada’s geography, history, economy, and legal system. During the interview, your French- or English-language skills will also be evaluated by the citizenship official. Given by the federal government, you have the choice to complete the test and interview in either English or French.

To help you prepare for the test, you can use the government’s official Study Guide offered online for free.

Visit the government website for more detailed information on where, when and how you can complete the Citizenship Test and Interview.

How do I prove my Canadian official-language skills?

Newcomers between the ages of 18 and 54 must prove their French- or English-language skills to obtain Canadian citizenship.

The following documents can be submitted as proof of English-language skills with your citizenship application:

  • Diploma, certificate, or transcript proving you completed or are attending a secondary or post-secondary school program in English or French (either within or outside of Canada); or
  • Certification you completed the LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada or CLIC (Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada) training.

If not, the following documents may be considered as proof of French- or English-language skills:

  • Certification you completed a language course offered by the province in which you live or plan to live (for newcomers settling in Quebec, see the section on Improving your French); or
  • Results from a language test accepted by IRCC (click here for information on the tests you can take and the grades needed).

For more detailed information on how you can prove your French- or English-language skills to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, visit their website.

 

Improve Your French

How can I improve my French-language skills to better settle and integrate into Quebec society?

Different pathways to immigrate to Canada and settle in Quebec demand different levels of French-language skill. For instance, the level of French needed by a newcomer settling in Quebec as a skilled worker will be much higher and more important for accepting their application than the level of French needed by a newcomer applying for refugee status.

Nevertheless, the ability of all newcomers settling in Quebec to learn French is a crucial part of their integration into the province. To promote the use of French amongst newcomers to Quebec, several institutions can help you learn French well enough to join the province’s job market and participate in public life.

French-Language Learning Resources Outside Canada

If you are living outside Canada and have not yet obtained temporary residency or obtained a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), you can still take French courses offered by language school partners of the Quebec government.

Under certain conditions, you may even be able to be reimbursed for your expenses up to $1,800.

French-Language Learning Resources in Quebec

If you have already obtained a CAQ, or a work or study permit, the Quebec government offers several kinds of courses, at beginner, intermediary and advanced levels, to improve your French-language skills.

Full-time Courses:

  • Click here for more information and to find out how to register.
  • The application (be it the online version or PDF form) is available in both English and French.

Part-time Courses:

  • Click here for more information and to find out how to register.
  • The interactive map of educational facilities that give part-time French courses is only available in French.

Online Courses:

  • Click here for more information and to find out how to register.
  • The MIFI registration portal (Francisation en ligne) is only available in French.

Online Courses with In-Person Support:

  • Click here for more information and to find out how to register.
  • The interactive map of educational facilities that give in-person support is only available in French.

Specialized Courses by Field of Employment:

  • Click here for more information and to find out how to register.
  • The interactive map of educational facilities that give in-person support is only available in French.

For more free help to improve your French for daily use, visit the Quebec government’s webpage on French Tools and Resources.

 

Newcomer Resources

Legal Clinics

Centre de justice de proximité du Grand Montréal – CJP

514-227-3782, option 4

Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9am–5pm

The CJP of Greater Montreal provides free legal information in English on general housing law matters. The lawyers on staff only provide legal information, not specific advice. They are currently taking questions only by telephone or video calls.

Visit CJP website for more detailed information.

Head & Hands – H&H

514-481-0277

info@headandhands.ca

Opening Hours: Monday & Friday, 12–5pm; Wednesday & Thursday, 12–6pm

The H&H provides you free legal advice in many areas, including housing, for youth between 12 to 25 years old. Clients over the age of 25 are encouraged to make a $20 donation.

Visit the H&H website for more information on their Legal Programs and Services.

Legal Information Clinic at McGill – LICM

514-398-6792

Opening Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 9am–5pm; Tuesday & Thursday 11am–7pm; Friday 9am–3pm

Operated by law students, this legal clinic can answer your questions on residential leases and housing rights. The clinic can also help you better understand the procedure at the TAL, such as how to:

  • Open an application;
  • Prepare for a hearing;
  • Seek alternative methods to resolve tenant-landlord disputes; or
  • Contest a decision made by the TAL board.

The LICM also has senior volunteers that can accompany you to the TAL to explain the complaint process and attend hearings for moral support.

The Clinic provides you with the option to register to attend Know Your Rights information sessions on many areas of law, including housing and tenant-landlord relations (announcements made on their social media pages).

Visit the LICM website for more information.

Mile End Legal Clinic – MELC

514-507-3054

info@melc.ca

Opening Hours: Wednesday, 4–7pm

The MELC offers you free legal assistance in lots of areas, including housing. First consultation is usually with a law student providing legal information.

Follow-up consultations may be with a volunteer lawyer who can give you specific advice to the client, though the MELC does not represent clients at the TAL.

NOTE: the Park Extension Legal Clinic (open Monday, 3–6pm) and Tyndale St-Georges Legal Clinic (Monday, 6–7pm) are also affiliated with the MELC.

Visit the MELC website for more information.

YWCA Legal Information Clinic – YLIC

514-866-9941, ext. 293

infojuridique@ydesfemmesmtl.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm

The YLIC offers women legal information in various domains. They also can help in finding employment and long-term shelter for vulnerable women. They can also help with writing demand letters and filling out certain legal documents.

The Clinic offers each client three 30-minute sessions per year (either free or with a fee up to $20, depending on the client’s financial situation).

Visit the YLIC website for more information.

Immigration Centres & Organizations

Accueil Liaison pour arrivants – ALPA

514-255-3900

info@alpaong.com

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday 8am–4pm

ALPA helps newcomers acquire important documents upon their arrival in Quebec (such as RAMQ, social insurance number, driver’s license, etc.) and can help them through several immigration processes, like family sponsorship or obtaining a work permit or permanent residency.

Since there are no lawyers who work on-site, ALPA cannot provide you with legal advice. They can help you in English, French and Spanish.

Visit their website for more information.

AGIR Montreal

514-255-3900

soutien.support@agirmontreal.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday 10am–4pm (in-person meetings by appointment only)

Offers support services to LGBTQ+ migrants in Montreal. These services include social activities, group counselling, and accompaniment to help navigate language barriers when accessing government services. They can help you in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Visit their website for more information.

Carrefour d’aide aux nouveaux arrivants – CANA

514-382-0735

infocana@cana-montreal.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–12pm & 1–4:30pm (in-person and virtual appointments available)

CANA helps with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process, such as for work permits, family sponsorship and permanent residency.

As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice, but they can refer you to an immigration lawyer. Application costs will be charged to the client. Provides assistance in English, French and Spanish.

Visit their website for more information.

Hirondelle

514-281-2038

communication@hirondelle.qc.ca

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (no in-person appointments due to COVID-19 except for exceptional circumstances)

Provides legal information and help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process. Focus their help mainly on newcomers who have been in Canada for less than five years and have already received the Quebec Selection Certificate.

As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice. The organization cannot assist refugee claimants. Provides assistance in English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Visit their website for more information.

Immigrant Workers Centre

514-342-2111

Opening Hours: Monday 1–5pm; Tuesday 1–8pm; Wednesday 1–5pm; Thursday 1–8pm (In-person consultations by appointment only)

Provides legal information about employment and labour rights to immigrants and newly arrived individuals. Also offers occasional consultations with a lawyer through their referral service. Service offered in other languages besides French and English.

Visit their website for more information.

La Maisonnée aide aux immigrants – LMAI

514-271-3533

info@lamaisonnee.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (in-person appointments available)

LMAI helps with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process, such as for study permits, refugee claims and permanent residency.

In addition, LMAI assists foreign students with have already obtained a CSQ, refugee claimants who have been in Quebec for less than one year, and permanent residency applicants who have been in Canada for less than five years. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Créole and Farsi.

Visit their website for more information (only available in French).

The Refugee Centre

514-846-0005

info@therefugeecentre.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm

Offers a variety of support options and services for refugees and immigrants based in and around Montreal, including:

  • Business development;
  • Language classes;
  • Web development and coding courses;
  • Academic assistance;
  • Cultural and Social orientation;
  • Health and Wellness support; and
  • Legal aid services.

The Refugee Centre can also help newcomers fill in documents needed to apply for a CSQ, or permanent residency. They also offer help to asylum seekers applying for refugee status, and in certain circumstances, can offer legal support when submitting applications to be Immigration and Refugee Board. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, among other languages.

Visit their website for more information and to book an appointment.

Services communautaires aux réfugiés et immigrants – CSRI

514-387-4477

info@migrantmontreal.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (in-person appointments available)

CSRI provides help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process.

Though the organization has no lawyer on-site and cannot offer legal advice, CSRI personnel can refer you to an immigration or refugee lawyer. Provides assistance in English, French and Spanish.

Visit their website for more information.

YES Employment and Entrepreneurship

514-878-9788

info@yesmontreal.ca

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday 9am–5pm

Provides guidance to help English-speaking newcomers aged between 18 to 40 find jobs in Quebec. Services include CV and Cover Letter translation, French-language courses, employment counselling and career mentorship, and other workshops. Most are completely free, while some have a nominal fee.

Visit their website for more information.

Help Lines

Emergency Lawyer Immigration

1-866-954-3525

Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, every day of the week

Created by the Barreau du Québec, this telephone service can get into immediate contact with an immigration lawyer to assist you with any immigration-related emergencies.

Assistance for Ukrainians Newly Arrived in Quebec

The following organizations can help Ukrainian refugees or asylum seekers settle in Quebec. Among the guidance they provide, they can help with finding housing, obtaining a work permit, or helping to enroll your child in school (as well as determing if your child qualifies to attend English-language school under humanitarian grounds).

To enroll your child in school in Quebec, you will need to present proof of your CUAET (Canadian-Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel) to the local school board or school service centre. For more information, click here.

Hirondelle

514-281-2038

communication@hirondelle.qc.ca

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–12pm & 1–5pm (no in-person appointments due to COVID-19 except for exceptional circumstances)

Provides legal information and help with filling in forms and documents part of the immigration process. Focus their help mainly on newcomers who have been in Canada for less than five years and have already received the Quebec Selection Certificate. They also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds.

As the personnel are not lawyers, they cannot offer legal advice. The organization cannot assist refugee claimants. Provides assistance in English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Visit their website for more information.

Immigrant and Refugee Assistance Centre

514-856-3511

info@caci-bc.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–9:30pm

This Montreal-based organization provides many support options and services for refugees and immigrants, including:

  • Finding housing and daycare;
  • Language and integration classes; and
  • Employment assistance.

They also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, among other languages.

Visit their website for more information.

The Refugee Centre

514-846-0005

info@therefugeecentre.org

Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm

Offers a variety of support options and services for refugees and immigrants based in and around Montreal, including:

  • Business development;
  • Language classes;
  • Web development and coding courses;
  • Academic assistance;
  • Cultural and Social orientation;
  • Health and Wellness support; and
  • Legal aid services.

The Refugee Centre can also help newcomers fill in documents needed to apply for a CSQ, or permanent residency. They also offer help to asylum seekers applying for refugee status, and in certain circumstances, can offer legal support when submitting applications to be Immigration and Refugee Board.

As part of their orientation services, they also help parents figure out if their child can qualify to attend English-language school in Quebec on humanitarian grounds. Provides assistance in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, among other languages.

Visit their website for more information and to book an appointment.

Éducaloi

This neutral non-profit provides information on a wide variety of legal topics, including the rights and responsibilities of newcomers.

Its printable guide, Immigration Status and Social Services, has information for newcomers about public services available to them.

Éducaloi’s website also has a page devoted to the rights of LGBTQ+ newcomers.

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