Temporary Foreign Worker Program

This program allows Canadian employers to hire you as a temporary foreign worker under certain conditions.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Level 4 knowledge of spoken French, according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français, is required of people applying for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) after accumulating a three-year work stay in Québec.
A transitional measure is implemented to facilitate the transition of temporary foreign workers currently staying in Québec. Verification of knowledge of French will apply to applications for temporary selection sent as of December 17, 2028.
Exempt from this requirement are agricultural foreign workers, foreign nationals occupying a job for an office of a political division of a foreign State, and international employees of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) recognized by the Gouvernement du Québec.

For more details, consult the Web news (in French only).

Program Overview

Description of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including a summary of the authorizations required and exceptional situations.

Obtaining an offer of employment

How to take the steps to come and work in Québec as a temporary worker.

Obtaining authorizations

To come and work temporarily in Quebec, you must obtain authorization from the provincial and federal governments.

After obtaining your authorizations

Discover the steps to follow after having received the necessary authorizations for your temporary work stay.

Renewing your authorizations

To renew your authorizations to work temporarily in Québec, you must generally submit a new selection application.

When your spouse and children accompany you

Find out about employment and study opportunities for your spouse and for your children accompanying you during your work stay in Québec.

Staying in Québec permanently

If you wish to stay in Québec permanently, you could submit a permanent selection application to one of the Québec immigration programs for skilled workers.

Rights of temporary workers and obligations of the employer

Discover the rights of temporary workers and the responsibilities of a company that hires a temporary worker in Quebec.

Last update: December 17, 2025