Are you a professional or skilled tradesperson who wants to work for yourself in Québec? The Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program (Programme des travailleurs autonomes) is the province's official immigration pathway for independent workers who plan to create their own job by practising their profession or trade in Québec.
Every requirement in this guide is sourced directly from the official Québec government website (quebec.ca).
What Is the Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program?
The Self-Employed Worker Program allows qualifying foreign nationals to immigrate to Québec and work on their own account — alone or with others, with or without paid help. Unlike the Entrepreneur Program, the Self-Employed Worker Program is designed for individuals who will generate their own income through a profession or trade, rather than creating a business that employs others.
Successful applicants receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), which is required before applying to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
Who Can Apply?
You can apply if you plan to come to Québec to practise your profession or trade on your own account and you meet all the program conditions. You can practise alone or with others, and with or without paid help.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Professional Experience
At least two years of work experience in your profession, practised in your own name, within the five years preceding the date of submission.
Experience gained in ineligible sectors does not count.
2. Regulated Professions
If your profession is regulated in Québec, you must hold either:
An authorization to practise your occupation in Québec, or
Proof of partial or full recognition of equivalence of training or diploma, issued no more than five years before the date of submission.
You can consult the official list of regulated professions on quebec.ca to determine whether your occupation is affected.
3. Net Worth
A minimum net worth of CDN $100,000.
Donations received in the six months before the application are excluded.
You can share this net worth with the spouse or common-law partner included in the application.
You must demonstrate the lawful origin and accumulation of your assets.
4. Education
You must hold a diploma that corresponds, at minimum, to a Québec secondary school diploma, a vocational studies diploma, an attestation of vocational specialization, or a certificate of college studies — obtained before the date of submission.
5. Level of French
You must demonstrate spoken French at Level 7 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français. You can prove this through:
Test results from accepted providers: TCF-Québec, TCF-Canada, TCF, DALF, DELF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, or TEF.
Or, a French-language secondary school diploma from France, the French Community of Belgium, or a French-speaking canton of Switzerland.
Test results must be less than two years old at the time you submit your application.
6. Age
- At least 18 years old at the time of submission.
7. Intent to Settle
- You must intend to reside in Québec and practise your profession there.
8. Financial Self-Sufficiency
You must sign a financial self-sufficiency contract committing, for three months from the date of obtaining permanent resident status, to meet the essential needs of yourself, your accompanying family members, and your dependent children who are Canadian citizens.
9. Attestation of Québec Values
- You and your family members must obtain the attestation within 60 days of the request.
Start-up Deposit Requirements
A start-up deposit must be made at a financial institution with an establishment in Québec, in the region where you plan to practise. The amount depends on where you will work:
CDN $50,000 if you intend to practise in the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM).
CDN $25,000 if you intend to practise outside the CMM.
You will be asked to make the initial deposit a few weeks after receiving the letter confirming that your file has been opened.
Ineligible Sectors
You cannot practise your profession in the following sectors under this program:
Production, distribution, or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services
Trading, leasing, brokerage, development, or planning in the property sector
Application Process
Confirm your eligibility — check your experience, net worth, French level, and whether your profession is regulated in Québec.
Prepare your documentation — proof of experience, education, net worth, and language results.
Submit your complete application to MIFI, including all required forms and the guide to writing the narrative document.
Make the start-up deposit at a Québec-based financial institution when requested by the Ministère.
Obtain the attestation of Québec values within 60 days of the request.
Sign the financial self-sufficiency contract.
Receive your CSQ once all conditions are met.
Apply for Canadian permanent residence with IRCC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as "self-employed" experience?
Self-employed experience generally involves practising your profession in your own name — with the freedom to choose how the work is carried out, receiving the profits, and bearing the risks of loss. Experience in ineligible sectors is not accepted.
Can I include family members in my application?
Yes. You can include a spouse or common-law partner, who must also demonstrate the lawful origin and accumulation of their net worth, even if their assets are not required to reach the $100,000 threshold. Accompanying spouses aged 16+ and dependent children aged 18+ must also obtain the attestation of Québec values.
Is there an intake limit or deadline?
According to quebec.ca, you can submit an application at any time, with no maximum number of applications. Always confirm the current intake status and program rules on the official government website before applying.
Do I need to be in Québec to apply?
No. Most applicants submit their application from outside Canada. You must, however, demonstrate the clear intention to settle and work in Québec.
What happens after I get my CSQ?
A CSQ is valid for a defined period and allows you to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence through IRCC. The federal stage includes medical exams, security checks, and background verifications.
Take the Next Step in Your Québec Self-Employed Journey
The Self-Employed Worker Program is an excellent pathway for skilled professionals and tradespeople who want the flexibility of working for themselves in one of Canada's most dynamic provinces. A complete, well-documented application — with clear proof of experience, net worth, and French proficiency — is the key to a successful outcome.
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