The Quebec Entrepreneur Program provides an opportunity of permanent residency for skilled businessmen and entrepreneurs.
In order to gain the permanent residency under this program, candidates must be able to effectively establish their business in the Canadian market.
Note: The Quebec government began accepting 25 new applications under Component One and 35 new applications under Component Two of the Quebec Entrepreneur Program on August 15, 2018. The in-take period will continue until October 31, 2019.
The Quebec Entrepreneur Program
Entrepreneurs willing to immigrate Quebec can apply under any one of the two components of the program.
Component One is based on newly established businesses or startups in the province with the support of a business incubator / accelerator or university in the province.
Component Two is based on operated businesses funded by owners.
- According to the Quebec Immigration Ministry the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) , entrepreneurs willing to obtain permanent residency in Quebec must be 18 years of age or older and must operate a business according to the requirements of the Entrepreneur Program. Optionally, candidates can obtain additional points for French language proficiency, it is not mandatory to apply to the program.
- Quebec Entrepreneur Program applicants must submit a business project. The project is an important for the assessment of an application. The candidates might require to sit for an interview. The final step to completing the program is to sit for a selection interview.
- All Quebec Entrepreneur applicants are required to state their intention to reside in Quebec.
Requirements for Quebec Entrepreneur Program: Component One
- To be considered for selection, foreign nationals who want to apply under Component One of the Entrepreneur Program will need to meet the passing score of 41 points under all factors in the Quebec Economic Class selection grid for the Quebec Entrepreneur Program.
- Candidates under Component One of the Quebec Entrepreneur Program can score for factors such as education level, training, language proficiency in French and English, age and stay duration and family in Quebec. There are no additional points given for applicants with a spouse or common-law partner.
The following are the minimum standards for securing the cut-off threshold for the program:
| Factor | Minimum requirements |
|---|---|
| Education level | Secondary school general diploma |
| Financial Self-sufficiency | Submit a contract to prove financial self-sufficiency |
| Business project | Provide a service offer from an enterprise incubator / accelerator or university entrepreneurship centre and demonstrate successful evaluation of the business project |
Requirements for Quebec Entrepreneur Program: Component Two
- In order to be considered for selection foreign nationals who want to apply under Component Two of the Quebec Entrepreneur Program will have to obtain the passing score of 81 points in all 13 factors under Quebec’s Economic Class selection grid.
- Candidates under Component Two of Quebec’s Entrepreneur Program are given points for factors including education level, training, language proficiency in French and English, age and stay duration and family in Quebec.
The following are the minimum standards for securing the cut-off threshold for Component Two:
| Factor | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Education level | Secondary school general diploma |
| Financial self-sufficiency | Submit a contract to prove financial self-sufficiency. |
| Business project | Demonstrate successful evaluation of the business project. |
| Deposit for startup | Provide a start-up deposit of $300,000 for a business in the metropolitan area of Montreal and a deposit of $200,000 for a business outside the metropolitan area of Montreal. |
| Business ownership/operation | Holds and controls, alone or with the accompanying spouse or common-law partner, at least 25% of the equity of the enterprise he or she creates or at least 51% of the equity of the enterprise he or she acquires. The value of an applicant’s financial contribution must be equal to or greater than the amount that must serve to start up the business project. |
| Minimum net worth | Have at least financial resources of $900,000 |
The applicant can definitely operate the business with a spouse or common-law partner, there are no extra points awarded for an applicant with a spouse or common-law partner.
The MIDI expects candidates applying under Component Two to submit a performance guarantee deposit of $200,000 . The deposit is refundable if certain required conditions are accepted.