Evaluation of Exceptional Talents in Strategic Economic Sectors

The purpose of evaluating talents in strategic economic sectors is to select foreign nationals with exceptional expertise who are likely to contribute to Québec’s prosperity. As a result, the process of requesting an opinion takes place before the immigration process. Foreign nationals must receive a positive opinion before they can submit an expression of interest in immigrating to Québec as part of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) stream 4: Exceptional Talents

A company that requests an evaluation of a person’s exceptional talent must:

• have an establishment in Québec;
• offer the candidate a salary of at least $170,000 per year.

In addition, the company submitting the request must not be primarily involved in the following sectors:

• Retail trade (NAICS 44–45);
• Educational services (NAICS 61);
• Health care and social assistance (NAICS 62);
• Arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71);
• Accommodation and food services (NAICS 72).

It is important to note that a company’s eligibility for the program does not guarantee a positive opinion regarding the person for whom the exceptional talent evaluation request was submitted.

In order to obtain an opinion regarding an exceptional talent, a company must first request an evaluation of the foreign national.

View the Guide de renseignements généraux.

Complete the Formulaire de demande d’avis (PDF 369 Kb) and provide the relevant requested documents, including the following:

• A duly completed employment contract for the person being evaluated;
• The company’s latest financial statements.

Send each evaluation request in a separate email. For security reasons, only PDF, PNG, and JPG files will be accepted.

Once a positive opinion has been issued, the foreign national will receive a number that they must include in their expression of interest in order to be invited to submit an application for permanent selection under the SWSP stream 4: Exceptional Talents. 

Receipt of request

• Evaluation request submitted
• Acknowledgement of receipt sent to the company
• File assigned

Request analysis

• File’s completeness assessed
• Request’s eligibility assessed
• Request analyzed (based on the criteria applicable to the company and the foreign national)

Decision and communication

• Candidates selected
• Refusal letter sent to company if candidate is unsuccessful
• Signed positive opinion sent to company if candidate is successful

Analysis criteria

Each candidate file is evaluated based on the following criteria:

• The company’s sector of activity (priority strategic economic sectors will receive additional points; see the Guide de renseignements généraux for an extensive list);
• The company’s financial health, including its working capital ratio and its long-term debt-to-equity ratio;
• The candidate’s reputation and expertise, including distinctions, recognition, and awards; contributions in terms of publications, mobilization, and dissemination; and achievements and innovations;
• The candidate’s professional background, including their previous positions and association memberships.