Caps on Quebec International Mobility Work Permits

Summary#

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration issued ministerial instructions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that limit how many work permit applications can be processed each year under the Quebec International Mobility Program Plus. The cap is 14,700 applications for 2022 and 7,350 applications per year starting in 2023; the instructions take effect on May 24, 2022.

What it does#

• Sets a one‑year cap of 14,700 work permit applications accepted for processing under the Quebec International Mobility Program Plus for 2022.
• Sets an annual cap of 7,350 work permit applications beginning in 2023.
• Only accepts an application for processing if the foreign national:
  • resides outside Quebec when applying;
  • holds a valid Certificat de Sélection du Québec (Quebec Selection Certificate);
  • includes a letter of invitation from the province of Quebec saying they may apply under the Program; and
  • did not submit their application at a port of entry.
• Applications are considered in the order received; those received after the cap is reached or that fail to meet the conditions will be returned or otherwise disposed of and processing fees will be returned.
• These are instructions to immigration officers (issued under section 87.3 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act) to keep processing within numbers agreed between Canada and Quebec.

Who's affected#

• Foreign nationals who hold a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (Quebec Selection Certificate) and plan to apply for a work permit under the Quebec International Mobility Program Plus while living outside Quebec.
• People already in Quebec or applicants who apply at a port of entry are not eligible under these caps (they are excluded by the conditions).
• Employers in Quebec who rely on hiring through this specific program may notice fewer new processed applications.
• Immigration officers who process and decide applications under this program.

Why it matters#

• Fewer work permit applications will be processed through this Quebec‑specific stream, so eligible applicants may face tougher competition or delays in getting their application accepted for processing.
• If the cap is reached, affected applicants will have their application returned and their processing fees refunded — they will need to consider other immigration pathways or try again in a later year.
• The change reflects an agreement between federal and provincial levels about how many applications to handle each year; it shapes how many workers can enter Canada through this route.