If you have been recognized as a refugee or protected person by the Immigration and Refugee Board, or had a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment approved by IRCC, and you live in Quebec, you must submit two applications at the same time: a permanent selection application to Quebec’s immigration ministry, and a permanent residence application to the federal government. You do not need to wait for your Quebec Selection Certificate before submitting the federal application, and Quebec’s certificate is currently processing in 25 to 60 days.
Who Qualifies as a Recognized Refugee or Protected Person in Quebec?
You fall into this category in one of two situations. Either the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has recognized you as a refugee under the UN Convention, or as a person in need of protection following an asylum claim, or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has approved a Pre Removal Risk Assessment on your behalf. Either decision opens the door to Quebec’s permanent selection process and to a federal permanent residence application.
How Do You Apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate?
The process runs through Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, known as MIFI, and follows three steps. First, complete and sign form A-0520-DF, which is only available in French, and which must include every family member connected to your case, including a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and any dependent child of that child, whether they are already in Quebec or living abroad. Second, gather photocopies of every document listed in Part 2 of that form, making sure each copy is legible and complete. Third, mail the completed form and supporting documents to MIFI’s Direction du regroupement familial et de l’enregistrement in Montreal.
The review itself is free of charge, and current processing times run between 25 and 60 days. As of the most recent update, MIFI reports it is working through applications received around mid August 2026, though the department has also noted an exceptionally high volume of applications from recognized refugees and protected persons, which can affect how quickly individual files move.
Do You Need to Wait for Your CSQ Before Applying for Federal Permanent Residence?
No, and this is one of the most useful things to understand early. Your Quebec Selection Certificate, or CSQ, and your federal permanent residence application can move forward at the same time. The CSQ itself is valid for 24 months, but if your federal permanent residence application is still being processed when it expires, it stays valid until IRCC makes a decision. You may still be asked to show your CSQ, even an expired one, along with proof that your federal application has already been submitted.
What Support Is Available Before and After You Receive Your CSQ?
Even before your certificate arrives, you can generally access social assistance programs, the Family Allowance and Canada Child Benefit, free part-time or full time French classes with financial support attached, free enrollment for children in preschool, primary, and secondary school, legal aid, Quebec Parental Insurance Plan benefits, the Objectif Intégration orientation sessions, foreign credential recognition support, and services offered through partner community organizations and local Services Québec offices. Throughout this period, remember that a valid work permit is required to work legally, and it must be renewed until permanent residence is finalized.
Once your CSQ is in hand, additional services open up, including a RAMQ health insurance card covering medical, hospital, and prescription drug costs, registration with Accompagnement Québec for broader integration support, access to college or university programs with a possible tuition fee waiver and student financial support, and reduced rate childcare.
What Happens If Family Members Are Abroad or Not Yet Recognized?
Family members who are not themselves recognized as refugees or protected persons, or who are living outside Canada, will not receive their Quebec Selection Certificate at the same time as you. To get theirs processed, you will need to send MIFI a copy of the letter IRCC issued requesting their certificate, along with an explanatory letter, a copy of your own certificate, and, where possible, a photocopy of their passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is Quebec’s provincial permanent selection document, required for recognized refugees and protected persons in the province before certain services, alongside proof that a federal PR application is underway.
It is valid for 24 months, and it stays valid beyond that if your federal permanent residence application is still being processed when it would otherwise expire.
No. You are not required to use a representative, and using one does not give you priority treatment. If you do choose to hire someone, confirm they are authorized to represent you.
Yes, but you must hold a valid work permit at all times, and it needs to be renewed as necessary until you obtain permanent residence.
The specific list appears in Part 2 of the form itself. You need legible, complete photocopies of every document listed there for yourself and each family member included in the application.
No, the review of this application is free of charge.
You will need to send MIFI the IRCC letter requesting their certificate, an explanatory letter, a copy of your own certificate, and passport photocopies where possible, so their file can move forward separately.
Social assistance programs, the Family Allowance and Canada Child Benefit, free French classes, free schooling for children, legal aid, and Objectif Intégration sessions are all generally available before your certificate arrives.
Navigating Quebec’s permanent selection process alongside a federal PR application can be confusing, especially with family members in different situations. Book a Quebec Refugee and Protected Persons PR consultation with ImmigCanada and get a clear, personalized checklist for your case.