Quebec Investor Program

To be eligible for the Quebec Investor Program program, you must:

• Have, as an individual or with your spouse, including common law partner, net assets of at least $1,600,000 CAD obtained legally, not including any amount received by donation less than six months before the date on which the application was filed.
• Have experience managing a legal farming, commercial or industrial business, or a legal professional business, where the staff, not including the investor, comprises at least the equivalent of two full time positions, or for an international agency or a government or one of its developments or agencies.

*Quebec defines management experience as exercising duties related to the planning, management and control of financial resources and of human or material resources under your authority. This experience must be for at least two years of the last five years preceding the application for a selection certificate. Quebec will not consider any experience acquired in the context of an apprenticeship, training or specialization process attested to by a diploma.

• Intend to settle in Quebec and sign an agreement to invest $800,000 CAD with a financial intermediary (broker or trust company) approved to participate in the Quebec Investor Program. This investment agreement is one of the documents that must be submitted with the Application for a Quebec Selection Certificate.

The intake period for applications submitted under the Quebec Investor Program is from August 31, 2015 to January 29, 2016. Only 1750 applications will be accepted. However, candidates with an advanced intermediate level in French are not subject to this cap. In fact, their applications will be given priority processing.

The assessment of your application will take into account other important factors such as your age, nature and duration of your professional training and your language abilities. All immediate members of your family, i.e. your spouse and dependent children are included in your application and will have the same status as the principal applicant.

The Quebec Government guarantees the investment of $800,000 for a five-year term. Financial intermediaries such as brokers and trust companies may finance this investment.

The revenues generated by your investment will then be used to finance two of Quebec’s business assistance programs, namely the Business Assistance – Immigrant Investor Program and the Job Integration Assistance Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities.

At the end of the five year term, within 30 days, the broker or trust company will reimburse the $800,000 CAD without interest. However, this amount may vary if you secured financing for the investment.

It is also important to note the changes made to the procedures for processing applications for a selection certificate under the Investor Program. The Minister will ensure that all files are complete before starting its assessment. This means that the application must include all forms as well as supporting and mandatory documents.

The Quebec government application fee for the program has increased to $15,000 CAN.