The Quebec immigration ministry has announced Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) applications can be submitted online via the Arrima platform as of Tuesday January 12.
The Arrima platform – previously used mainly to submit profiles to the Quebec Expression of Interest system – can now be used for applications, supporting documents and to pay required fees.
As of January 26, 2021, all PEQ applications must be submitted electronically through Arrima. Paper applications will no longer be accepted.
Candidates have been able to submit applications for the Quebec Foreign Student Program through Arrima since spring 2020. This will become mandatory as of January 26, says the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI).
Application Fee Increases
MIFI recently announced increases to application fees for its temporary and permanent programs for 2021.
As of January 1, fees increased by 1.26 percent compared to the fees for 2020.
The fees cover the Quebec immigration programs for skilled workers, business immigration, temporary workers and foreign students.
Other fees include those for labour market assessments, immigration consultants and credential recognition.
Consult the table below to compare the 2020 and 2021 fees.
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Quebec Immigration Application Fees, 2020 and 2021
| Up to December 31, 2020 | As of January 1, 2021 | ||
| PERMAMENT IMMIGRATION | |||
| Application for permanent selection | |||
| Business people | Investors | $15,763 | $15,962 |
| Entrepreneur and self-employed worker | $1,099 | $1,113 | |
| Skilled worker | $812 | $822 | |
| Each accompanying family member of the principal applicant (except in the case of an application under the Investor Program) | $174 | $176 | |
| Employer submitting a request for validation of a permanent job offer | $202 | $205 | |
| Request for an undertaking as a guarantor of a foreign national of the family group | |||
| Commitment for the first foreign national | $289 | $293 | |
| For each other foreign national | $116 | $117 | |
| TEMPORARY IMMIGRATION | |||
| Application for temporary selection | |||
| Temporary worker | $202 | $205 | |
| Employer requesting an assessment of the effects of the job offer on the Quebec labour market | $202 | $205 | |
| Foreign student | $116 | $117 | |
| Person in temporary stay for medical attention | $116 | $117 | |
| IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT | |||
| Application for recognition as an immigration consultant | $1,681 | $1702 | |
| Request for renewal of recognition | $1,367 | $1384 | |
| CREDENTIAL RECOGNITION | |||
| Comparative evaluation of studies conducted outside Quebec | $121 | $123 | |
Quebec Immigration Levels
Quebec expects to welcome between 13,000 and 18,000 fewer immigrants than planned in 2020, a deficit it will make up in the next two years, the provincial government said recently.
The coronavirus pandemic’s impact on Quebec immigration levels means 2020 admissions will fall to a maximum of 30,500 newcomers, 70 percent of the expected total. The number could drop as low as 25,600 new permanent residents, just 59 percent of the planned admissions.
The French-speaking province plans to make up the 2020 shortfall over the next two years.
It will start by welcoming up to 47,500 newcomers in 2021, with 7,000 immigrants added from the 2020 shortfall.
Quebec’s 2021 Immigration Levels Plan
| Results | Plan 2020 | Forecast 2020 | Plan 2021 | ||||||
| 2018 | 2019 | MIN | MAX | MIN | MAX | Rebalancing | MIN | MAX | |
| Economic | 29,192 | 23,129 | 25,500 | 26,300 | 14,000 | 17,000 | 4,600 | 27,500 | 29,300 |
| – Skilled Workers | 24,129 | 19,098 | 21,600 | 22,000 | 12,800 | 15,000 | 3,500 | 22,900 | 24,200 |
| – Business | 4,204 | 3,387 | 3,300 | 3,600 | 1,000 | 1,600 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 4,300 |
| – Other Economic | 859 | 644 | 600 | 700 | 200 | 400 | 100 | 600 | 800 |
| Family Reunification | 12,286 | 9,686 | 9,900 | 10,200 | 6,700 | 7,100 | 1,550 | 9,700 | 10,200 |
| Refugees | 8,834 | 7,248 | 7,200 | 7,500 | 4,400 | 5,800 | 850 | 6,900 | 7,500 |
| Other Immigrants | 811 | 502 | 400 | 500 | 500 | 600 | 0 | 400 | 500 |
| TOTAL | 51,123 | 40,565 | 43,000 | 44,500 | 25,600 | 30,500 | 7,000 | 44,500 | 47,500 |