Programme des personnes sélectionnées pour considérations humanitaires (Program for persons selected on the basis of humanitarian considerations)

This program is for people residing in Québec who are experiencing a particularly distressful situation and who have not been recognized as refugees or humanitarian-protected persons.

You must prove that you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are experiencing a particularly distressful situation;
• You have the capacity to integrate into Québec society (e.g., knowledge of the language, ability to contribute to the economy, family and social ties, knowledge of the province);
• There would be significant negative impacts to your physical or psychological wellbeing if you could not stay in Québec;
• You would suffer serious harm if returned to your country of origin.

You may also prove, where applicable, that there would be significant negative impacts to the physical or psychological wellbeing of your family members who have legally settled in Québec if you could not stay in the province.

First, you must apply for permanent residence on the basis of humanitarian considerations with IRCC: Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations – Canada.ca.

If IRCC approves your application in principle at stage one, IRCC will send your application to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) (Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration).

There is no need for you to contact the MIFI at this stage. The MIFI will send you the documents below at the email address you provided to IRCC. No action is required on your part for this.

• The “Invitation to Apply for Permanent Selection – Programme des personnes sélectionnées pour considérations humanitaires” letter;
• The form bearing your name;
• The list of documents to send to the MIFI.

After receiving an email from the MIFI containing your “Invitation to Apply for Permanent Selection”, the form, and the list of required documents, please:

1. Complete the form in block letters, then date and sign it;

2. Attach the required documents.

You must send photocopies of all pages of the required documents. Originals will not be returned. Make sure that all photocopies are:

• Legible;
• Complete;
• Accurate.

Keep the originals of all documents you submit.

3. Send the application and required documents by mail.

You can include your family members who already reside in Québec in your application for permanent selection.

Your family members residing abroad cannot be included in your application for permanent selection, but you still need to enter their names in the application for permanent selection form.

Your family members are the following people:

• Your spouse or de facto spouse:
• Your dependent children;
• Your spouse’s or de facto spouse’s dependent children;
• The dependent children of those children

A “dependent child” is:

• Your child under age 22. They cannot be married or have a de facto spouse;
• Your child age 22 or older who meets the following two criteria:
  • Is unable to meet their needs because of a physical or mental condition;
  • Has consistently depended on one of their parents for most of their financial needs since they turned 22.

Your application for permanent selection is processed free of charge by the Gouvernement du Québec.

You must notify IRCC of any changes in your situation after submitting your application, within 30 days of the change. IRCC will then send this information to the MIFI.

Your application must be complete in order to be processed. To be admissible, it must contain the following:

• The completed, dated, and signed application for permanent selection form;
• The required documents.

If any of these items are missing from your file, your application will not be processed. You will have 60 days to provide the missing documents. Otherwise, your application will be rejected.

There are three possible scenarios after the MIFI has processed your application for permanent selection:

1. Your application is selected

If you meet all of the program conditions and an interview is not needed, you will receive:

• Your Certificat de Sélection du Québec (Québec Selection Certificate), as well as those of any accompanying family members. Your Québec Selection Certificate will be valid for 24 months (Important: If you have an application for permanent residence that is still being processed, you do not need to renew your Québec Selection Certificate, even if it is about to expire. Your Québec Selection Certificate will remain valid until the IRCC makes a decision.);
• Information about next steps in your immigration process.

The MIFI will notify IRCC that your application has been selected. There is no need for you to contact IRCC at this stage. IRCC will contact you to finalize the processing of your permanent residence application (medical exam, security screening, and criminal record check).

2. Your application is refused

You will receive a letter informing you that your application for permanent selection will be refused if you do not meet all of the program conditions.

You may, within 60 days, submit additional documents or evidence showing that you meet all of the program conditions.

If you answer within the stipulated timeframe, the processing of your application will resume. You will then be notified of the acceptance or refusal thereof.

Failure to answer within the stipulated timeframe will result in the refusal of your application.

3. Your application is rejected

You will receive a letter informing you that your application for permanent selection has been rejected if:

• The Ministère has reason to question the authenticity of some of the information or documents you provided;
• The required supporting documentation has not been added to your application within the stipulated timeframe;
• You did not attend your interview on the date sent to you, if applicable.

You must provide convincing evidence to address the reasons for rejection listed in the letter.

If you answer within the stipulated timeframe, the processing of your application will resume. You may also be scheduled for an interview, following which you will receive an acceptance or rejection decision.

If you do not answer within the stipulated timeframe, your application will be rejected. You have the option, under certain conditions, to request an administrative review.

You will not receive priority or special treatment if you use the services of an immigration professional.

Should you still decide to use the services of a person to represent you, whether paid or unpaid, consult the page Get represented in your immigration procedures.

Integrating into Québec and accessible services

Following the approval in principle of your application by IRCC at stage one, and even before receiving your CSQ, you can continue integrating into Québec and access several services. You can:

• Register with Accompagnement Québec (Québec Support), immigrant integration services;
• Access integration services from partner community organizations;
• Read the Settle and integrate in Québec guide;
• Sign up for free part-time or full-time French lessons, and in some cases, access financial assistance;
• Have your skills acquired abroad recognized;
• Register your children for preschool, elementary, and secondary school, free of charge;
• Apply for legal aid;
• Sign up for the Québec Parental Insurance Plan;
• Sign up for Objectif Intégration (Mission Integration) information sessions, if you speak French;
• Get a job using the services offered by the gouvernement du Québec. Select “Employnent assistance” and enter your postal code. 

After receiving your CSQ, you can:

• Get your health insurance card from the Régie de l’assurance maladie (RAMQ) (Québec Health Insurance Plan);
• Register for a college or university course (depending on your situation, you may be exempt from differential tuition fees);
• Access childcare at a reduced contribution;
• Access social assistance, social security, and Objectif Emploi (Mission Employment).

After obtaining permanent residence in Canada, you can:

• Access family assistance programs like the family allowance.

You will need to provide your individual reference number along with your file number when you contact the MIFI.