Canada

Quebec Immigrant Investor Program

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is Canada's only passive investor immigration pathway, enabling high-net-worth foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence through a government-guaranteed capital investment without any requirement to manage or operate a business. Administered by the Ministere de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Integration (MIFI) for provincial selection and by IRCC for federal permanent residence, the program operates under Quebec's special authority over economic immigrant selection granted by the Canada-Quebec Accord of 1991. After a suspension from 2019 to 2023, the program relaunched on January 1, 2024, with significantly updated requirements including higher investment thresholds, mandatory French proficiency, and a compulsory residency obligation in Quebec.

• Legally acquired net assets of at least CAD $2,000,000 (may include spouse's assets; excludes donations received in the 6 months before application)
• At least 2 years of management experience within the past 5 years
• French oral proficiency at level 7 on the Echelle quebecoise (equivalent to B2), from an approved test less than 2 years old
• Minimum secondary school diploma equivalent, obtained before the application filing date
• Signed investment agreement with an authorized financial intermediary from the MIFI-approved list
• Attestation of learning about democratic and Quebec values
• Must settle in Quebec for at least 12 months within the first 2 years

The investment consists of two components paid through the authorized financial intermediary within 120 days of the Minister's request:

• CAD $1,000,000 five-year term investment with IQ Immigrants Investisseurs Inc. (a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec), fully guaranteed by the Government of Quebec and returned without interest at maturity
• CAD $200,000 non-refundable financial contribution to IQ Immigrants Investisseurs Inc.

The process follows two stages. First, the applicant signs an investment agreement with an authorized financial intermediary and submits the Quebec application by mail to MIFI in Montreal with all supporting documents and the non-refundable application fee of CAD $18,241 (2026 rate). MIFI performs a completeness review, assesses net worth documentation, management experience, and compliance, and may call applicants for an interview. Upon approval, a notice of intent to select triggers the investment obligation and allows the applicant to apply for a work permit to settle in Quebec during processing. After the intermediary confirms payment, the Certificat de selection du Quebec (CSQ) is issued. The applicant then submits a federal permanent residence application to IRCC within one year.

The Quebec selection stage takes approximately 9-12 months to receive the CSQ. The federal permanent residence stage varies, historically 3-4 years for Quebec business class applications.

The principal applicant must reside in Quebec for at least 6 consecutive months within the first 2 years after obtaining the work permit, with the remaining 6 months completable by the applicant or their spouse. As permanent residents, holders must also maintain 730 days of physical presence in Canada within every 5-year period to keep their status.

Spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be included at no additional Quebec fee. At the federal level, the spouse pays CAD $950 processing plus CAD $575 right of permanent residence fee, and each dependent child pays CAD $260. All family members must pass federal medical and security checks. Family members aged 16+ (spouse) and 18+ (dependent children) must obtain the attestation of learning about democratic and Quebec values.

Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after accumulating 1,095 days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada within a 5-year period.

Permanent residents who are tax residents of Quebec must file both federal (CRA) and Quebec (Revenu Quebec) tax returns on worldwide income. Quebec residents on December 31 of a given year who were resident throughout the year are subject to both federal and provincial income tax.

• Management experience acquired in payday loans, pledge loans, or adult entertainment sectors is excluded
• The applicant cannot change financial intermediaries after filing, except for reasons attributable to the intermediary
• The Quebec application fee is non-refundable even if the application is rejected
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no cap
• This is the only passive investor immigration program in Canada; the federal Immigrant Investor Program was terminated in 2014

Links

• https://www.quebec.ca/en/immigration/permanent/immigrate-business/investors/conditions
• https://www.quebec.ca/en/immigration/permanent/immigrate-business/investors/applying
• https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/quebec-business.html

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