Quebec Entrepreneur Program

This is an idea program for applicants who have a genuine interest to settle in the province of Quebec and have the required business or managerial skills that would enable them to establish (or acquire) a business in Quebec, offering at least one new employment for a resident in Quebec (citizen or permanent resident).

On 28 March 2018, the Quebec government announced changes to this program, dividing the 3 general categories (agriculture, commercial and industrial) into 2 program components. The details of these program components have been elucidated below:

1st Component: Under this component, the Ministère de l’Immigration, et de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) may select entrepreneurs who:

• Have secured a passing score under the Quebec Economic Class selection grid; AND
• Have the intention to settle in Quebec to operate/manage the business which the applicant establishes (by himself or herself alone, as well as in partnership); AND
• Have received an offer of service from an enterprise accelerator, incubator, or a university entrepreneurship centre.

2nd Component: Under this component, the Ministère de l’Immigration, et de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) may select entrepreneurs who:

• Holds (along with his or her spouse or common-law partner) at least 25% of the total equity of the business he or she has established, or, at least 51% of the total equity of the business he or she has acquired, accounting to a minimum of C$100,000; AND
• Holds the total equity which is greater than or equal to the start up cost identified for the business under consideration; AND
• Participate in the business in a managerial capacity, or have active involvement in the day-to-day activities of the business under consideration; AND
• Establishes or acquires the business that does not carry out restricted commercial activity; AND
• Is willing to provide a start-up deposit as well as a performance guarantee security deposit; AND
• Secures at least the minimum score in this entrepreneur program selection grid.

Please see the table below for the complete requirements of this program: