Four routes, four different gatekeepers
These routes are often grouped because they are tied to a place, but they work very differently. In each case Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final permanent residence decision. What differs is the step that comes first and who controls it.
Rural and Francophone community pilots
A designated employer's job offer and a recommendation from one of the participating communities: 14 for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and 6 for the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, with Sudbury and Timmins in both. A vacancy elsewhere in the same province does not fit the pilot.
Read the guideAtlantic Immigration Program
A job offer from an employer designated by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador, a provincial endorsement and a settlement plan. An ordinary job offer alone does not complete the process.
Read the guideQuebec skilled worker immigration
Quebec selects its own skilled workers: an Arrima expression of interest, an invitation, a permanent selection application and a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), followed by the federal application.
Read the guideQuebec business immigration
The Investor, Entrepreneur and Self-Employed Worker programs have separate mandatory conditions. Buying a business or making an investment does not by itself make you eligible.
Read the guideThe routes compared
| Community pilots (RCIP and FCIP) | Atlantic Immigration Program | Quebec skilled workers | Quebec business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where you will live | One of the participating communities | One of the four Atlantic provinces | Quebec | Quebec |
| First gatekeeper | A designated employer, then a community recommendation | A designated employer, then provincial endorsement of the job offer | Quebec, through Arrima and an invitation | Quebec, through a program-specific application |
| Document that unlocks the federal step | Community recommendation | Confirmation of provincial endorsement | CSQ | CSQ |
| Job offer needed? | Yes, from a designated employer | Yes, from a designated employer | No, but a validated offer adds points | No; you invest, start, take over a business or practise independently |
| Is there a points grid? | No national grid; each community decides how to assess candidates | No Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score | Yes, but scores and filters change each invitation round | No; mandatory conditions |
| Language | RCIP and FCIP have their own language levels (FCIP requires French) | Language level depends on the job's TEER category | French on Quebec's scale is mandatory in most streams | Spoken French level 7 on Quebec's scale |
The first question for each route
Community pilots
Is the employer designated in the community where you intend to settle? Check the community's own website for its designated employers, priority sectors and how recommendations are made.
Atlantic program
Can the employer support designation, endorsement and the settlement plan? The employer, not the candidate, applies to the province for these steps.
Quebec skilled workers
Which stream fits your occupation, and do you meet that stream's French level? Quebec assigns the stream from your main occupation.
Quebec business
Are you investing, running a business or practising independently? Each program has different money, experience and plan requirements.
What has changed recently in Quebec
- Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). It replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program on November 29, 2024. Invitations are issued by stream through Arrima.
- Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). It ended on November 19, 2025 and was then reopened temporarily for two years. The first application period runs from July 2 to October 31, 2026, and only people who met the reception criteria on November 19, 2025 can apply.
- Quebec business programs. The Investor, Entrepreneur and Self-Employed Worker programs state on Quebec's pages that applications are accepted at any time with no maximum.
Details, fees and deadlines are in the Quebec skilled worker guide and the Quebec business guide.
What to organize before comparing programs
Prepare your intended place of residence, work history with duties, language results, education, current status in Canada and any job-offer details. For a business route, add your management experience, your intended role and evidence of how your funds were acquired. This helps separate interest in a program from readiness to apply.
- A place: the community, the province or Quebec. A route is only useful if you will really settle there.
- Your work history with duties for each job, to select the right occupation code (NOC).
- Language results from an approved test, and for Quebec the French level on Quebec's scale.
- Education and, where it applies, an educational credential assessment.
- Your current status and its expiry date, and your job-offer details if you have a job.
- For business routes: management or self-employment experience and proof of the source of funds.
Employer designation, a community recommendation, an Atlantic endorsement and a CSQ serve different purposes. None replaces the final permanent residence decision by IRCC.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quebec part of the Provincial Nominee Program?
No. Quebec and Nunavut do not have a Provincial Nominee Program. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants, and you apply to Quebec first and then to IRCC.
Can I use the Atlantic program or a community pilot to settle in Quebec?
No. The Atlantic Immigration Program covers New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. The community pilots cover specific communities outside Quebec. For Quebec, use Quebec's own programs.
Do these routes require Express Entry?
No. The Atlantic program, the community pilots and Quebec programs have their own applications. You do not need an Express Entry profile or a CRS score for them.
Should I pay someone for a job offer?
No. Never pay for a job offer or an interview. A purchased job offer is not genuine and puts the whole application at risk.
Official sources
- IRCC: Rural and Francophone community pilots
- IRCC: Atlantic Immigration Program
- IRCC: How provincial nominee programs work (Quebec and Nunavut have none)
- IRCC: Quebec-selected skilled workers
- IRCC: Quebec investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons
- Quebec: Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)
- Quebec: Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
- Quebec: Immigrate to Quebec to do business