Effective November 1, 2019, those wishing to immigrate to Quebec through the Quebec Experience Program’s Skilled Temporary Foreign Worker Stream, must have an occupation that is in demand on the provincial labour market. There are also other changes.
Skilled Temporary Foreign Worker (Travailleur étranger temporaire) is a stream of the Quebec Experience Program (Program de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ) created for foreigners who have worked in Quebec for at least 1 year in the last 2 years, currently work in Quebec and speak French at an intermediate level.
Effective November 1, 2019, the eligible candidates will include only workers in occupations that are in demand in the Quebec labour market:
- All candidates must have an occupation included in the official list of occupations in demand
- For occupation levels 0, A and B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC): it is required to have work experience in this profession for at least 12 months in the past 24 months before submitting an application
- For occupations of NOC levels C and D: it is required to have work experience in this profession for at least 18 months in the last 24 months before submitting an application
- For regulated professions: it is required to meet NOC job requirements and the specific conditions of a job offer
Candidates’ occupations should not belong to the following areas:
- Payday loans
- Cashing checks
- Pawnshop brokerage
- Producing, distributing and sale of pornographic products or services
- Self-employment
- Work in a company that is controlled by the candidate
Effective January 1, 2020, a few more changes will modify the Skilled Temporary Foreign Worker Stream.
In particular, there will be only three options to confirm proficiency in French:
- Standardized test results
- Fulfilment of the language requirements of a professional order
- Successful completion of at least three years of secondary or post-secondary program entirely in French
In addition, a spouse or common-law partner included in the application must also demonstrate proficiency in spoken French (level 7 or 8 according to the Echelle québécoise des niveaux de compétences en français des personnes immigrantes adultes). Previously, this requirement applied only to the main applicant.