The Quebec Entrepreneurship Program is designed for immigrants who can start a new business or acquire and operate an existing business in the province of Quebec. This program serves as an immigration pathway for entrepreneurial immigrants, allowing successful applicants to move to Quebec and carry out their business project. Like all immigration pathways in Quebec, this program allows applicants to apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Quebec Selection Certificate). Once the CSQ is obtained, applicants become eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion du Québec (MIDI) announced that the Quebec Entrepreneurship Program accepted 60 new applications between August 15, 2018, and March 31, 2019: 25 applications through Stream 1 and 35 applications through Stream 2. Applicants who have passed a French language test at an advanced intermediate level are exempt from this intake limit and may apply at any time.
Quebec Entrepreneurship Program Requirements
The program operates through two different streams, each with its own eligibility criteria:
Stream 1
In Stream 1, applicants must settle in Quebec to create and operate a business that is supported by a business accelerator, business incubator, or university entrepreneurship centre. The business project can be carried out individually or in a group, provided that no more than three members of the group are foreign nationals applying under the same immigration program.
Types of supporting organisations:
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Business accelerator: An organisation in Quebec providing support services, particularly assistance in securing financing, to entrepreneurs whose projects aim to grow innovative businesses.
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Business incubator: An organisation in Quebec that provides support services to entrepreneurs seeking to create innovative businesses.
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University entrepreneurship centre: A university-affiliated organisation providing coaching and advisory services to entrepreneurs.
Requirements for supporting organisations:
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Present a support plan listing and describing the services offered to the applicant.
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Provide an operating plan, including a budget and schedule of activities.
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Demonstrate expertise and experience relevant to the entrepreneur’s project.
Applicants must submit their application in the form of a business plan and complete all required forms and documents listed on the MIDI website.
Stream 2
In Stream 2, applicants must settle in Quebec to either create a new business or acquire and operate an existing business. Successful applicants are required to make two financial deposits:
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Security deposit of CAD $200,000 to guarantee the creation of the business; refundable upon successful implementation of the business plan.
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Startup deposit to be used for setting up the business: CAD $300,000 for businesses in Montreal and CAD $200,000 for businesses outside Montreal.
Other eligibility requirements:
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Minimum legally obtained net assets of CAD $900,000 (including assets jointly held with a spouse or common-law partner, if applicable).
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Submission of the application as a business plan.
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Ownership and control of at least 25% of equity if creating a new business; at least 51% of equity if acquiring an existing business.
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The business must not operate in the following sectors: payday loans, cheque cashing, pawnbroking, real estate development, real estate or insurance brokerage, or the production/distribution/sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services.
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Any acquired business must have been in operation for the five years prior to application.
In addition, factors such as age, language proficiency, education, financial self-sufficiency, visits to Quebec, family in Quebec, and professional training background are also considered during the evaluation process.
All applicants must submit all required forms and documents listed on the MIDI website along with their business plan.