Québec held first draw through Arrima of 2021

Québec issued 95 invitations to apply (ITAs) for immigration candidates in the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) on January 26, 2021. Invitations were sent to candidates who had an Expression of Interest (EOI) in Québec’s online portal, Arrima.

 To immigrate under the RSWP, candidates must submit an EOI through Arrima. The Ministère de l-Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) reviews the profiles and issues invitations to those who meet specific criteria based on labour market needs in Québec.

Québec’s immigration programs are managed by the province based on selection criteria and proceses that are distinct from Canada’s immigration programs.

Arrima was created in 2018 to manage the applicant pool for the RSWP and to simplify the application system. The application intake system used to be first-come, first-served basis.

Candidates who are at least eighteen (18) years old and are interested in immigrating to Québec through the RSWP must create an EOI profile in Arrima. MIFI then invites the most qualified candidates based on the current labour market needs and the person’s potential to settle in Québec.

There is a limited time to submit a complete the immigration application, pay the fees, and present all supporting documents. Once the file is submitted, the Québec immigration ministry examines the application and assigns it a score based on education level, age, language skills, and work experience. Those individuals who receive a passing score, get a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). The CSQ is a required document that certifies that a candidate has been approved for permanent selection by Québec. Individuals who receive a CSQ can apply for permanent residence with the Canadian federal government.