Latest Arrima Draw: Quebec welcomes health workers and educators

Quebec invited 536 experienced individuals for a permanent position

On September 30th, Quebec welcomed 536 immigration applicants to apply for permanent residence. This is the second round of invites issued under the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), which began in September.

In the most recent draw, invited candidates with a score of at least 562 in the Arrima pool are required to apply for permanent selection by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation, et de l'Intégration (MIFI).

The most recent Arrima invites also targeted individuals who have a legitimate employment offer outside the Montréal Metropolitan Area and work in occupations currently in high demand in Quebec. The government has published the following list of targeted occupations:

NOC 0312 - Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses;

NOC 3233 - Licensed practical nurses;

NOC 3413 - Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates;

NOC 4031 - Secondary school teachers;

NOC 4032 - Elementary school and kindergarten teachers;

NOC 4214 - Early childhood educators and assistants;

 Quebec appears to have stepped up the pace recently, sending out record amounts of invites via Arrima after sending out invitations at most, once a month for much of the year. For example, in August, Quebec held weekly Arrima draws in which the number of invited candidates crossed 500, significantly higher than any other draw held this year.

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The draw on September 30th is Quebec's ninth of the year. The province has now invited a total of 3,200 applicants to apply for permanent selection.

 What exactly is the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?

The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program is designed for skilled workers who are more likely to establish themselves economically in Quebec. The program is popular among skilled professionals and overseas graduates who want to work in Quebec permanently.

Candidates who are asked to apply for permanent selection have 60 days to submit their applications and pay processing costs. Quebec strives to process complete applications within six months, beginning with the receipt of all needed paperwork. All forms and documents are included in this category.

Successful candidates will be awarded a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ or Quebec Selection Certificate). They can then use this certificate to apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residency.

Applicants who want to settle in Quebec are evaluated differently from those who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. This is just because Quebec's immigration policies are separate from Canada's federal programs and are administered by the state.