Why did the Government of Quebec introduce Arrima?

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is a popular Canadian immigration program that provides eligible foreign nationals and their families with a pathway to Canadian permanent resident status following issuance of a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de séléction du Québec, or CSQ) from the Government of Quebec.

The Arrima portal launched in September 2018 following the coming into force of the Quebec Immigration Act and regulations on August 2, which put an end to the previous “first-come, first-served” application process for the QSWP.

What is a Quebec expression of interest?

Quebec’s Immigration Ministry (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, or MIFI) adopted the Expression of Interest System to facilitate the process of applying for immigration to Quebec under the QSWP.

The new system enables anyone who meets the age requirement (18 years) to first submit an expression of interest by completing an online profile via the Arrima portal. An expression of interest profile is assessed based on information provided, such as the area of training, educational level, language skills and work experience, and other information.

What are the next steps once an invitation to apply is issued?

The application review process begins once all documents are provided by the applicant. Some applicants may be invited to attend an interview to verify the information provided in the application.