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Policy & Admin

Rent increases: a new calculation method since 2026

Quebec has modernized, for the first time in 40 years, how rent increases are calculated. Simpler, more predictable — here's what changes for you.

Vieauqc TeamAugust 31, 2026

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A new method since January 1, 2026. For the first time in more than 40 years, Quebec has modernized the way rent increases are calculated.…
What changes in the calculation. The method now rests mainly on changes in the cost of living — the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured over three years — with a few…
An increase is neither automatic nor mandatory. A landlord who wants to raise the rent must send you a lease-modification notice within the set deadlines.…

A new method since January 1, 2026. For the first time in more than 40 years, Quebec has modernized the way rent increases are calculated. The changes to the Regulation respecting the criteria for fixing rent apply to lease-modification notices given since January 1, 2026, according to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL). The stated goal: a simpler and more predictable calculation.

What changes in the calculation. The method now rests mainly on changes in the cost of living — the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured over three years — with a few added factors such as municipal taxes, insurance and a share of maintenance expenses. The TAL publishes the applicable rate each year, so check the current year's figure rather than relying on a rough estimate.

An increase is neither automatic nor mandatory. A landlord who wants to raise the rent must send you a lease-modification notice within the set deadlines. You can accept it, refuse it or negotiate. If you refuse and the landlord maintains the request, the TAL sets the rent — and the calculation serves as the reference for that decision.

The lease and the notice were also revised. Alongside this, the lease form and the lease-modification notice were updated. When you sign a new lease or receive a notice, make sure you use the official, up-to-date version, available from the TAL.

Good to know for newcomers. Receiving a notice of increase does not mean you must pay the amount asked without discussion. Check the year's rate on the TAL website, respond to the notice within the deadline (do not ignore it), and keep a written record. To learn your protections as a tenant, see our guide to tenant rights in Quebec.

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Workplace health and safety: new protections in every workplace as of October 1, 2026

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Vieauqc TeamAugust 31, 2026

Policy & Admin

Workplace health and safety: new protections in every workplace as of October 1, 2026

All employers must put prevention mechanisms in place. For a worker, that means a safer workplace and a say in safety.

A reform that affects every workplace. Quebec has modernized its occupational health and safety regime, and a new Regulation respecting prevention and participation mechanisms now applies. All employers must meet their obligations no later than October 1, 2026, according to the CNESST (in French). In other words, prevention is no longer just for big construction sites: it becomes mandatory everywhere. What every workplace must have. The obligations depend on the size of the establishment. A workplace with 19 workers or fewer must designate a health and safety liaison officer and set up an action plan to identify risks and establish prevention measures. A workplace with 20 workers or more must form a health and safety committee and put in place a fuller prevention program. In both cases, workers take part. What it changes for you. In practice, your employer must identify the hazards of your job and plan measures to reduce them — and there is now, in your workplace, a person or a…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Quebec Labour Standards: Your Rights as an Employee

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

International students: 24 hours a week, the work limit not to exceed

With a study permit, you can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during study sessions. Going over that limit breaks your permit conditions.

The rule. Since November 8, 2024, an international student whose study permit authorizes off-campus work can work up to 24 hours a week during a study session. It is a permanent rule that applies in 2026, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The start of the school year is a good time to revisit it. Does it apply to you? Yes, if you are a full-time student in an eligible program at a designated institution, and your study permit carries the condition allowing off-campus work. You also need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work. If your older permit still says 20 hours, you are nonetheless allowed 24: the new limit takes precedence. What you must respect. During study sessions, do not exceed 24 hours of off-campus work per week — all your jobs combined. During scheduled breaks (winter and summer holidays, reading week), you can work full-time with no limit, provided you are enrolled full-time before and after the break. On-campus work is not capped. The risk…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The CAQ, Study Permit and Student Work in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

October 5, 2026 provincial election: who can vote, and how to make sure you can

Quebec elects its government on October 5. Voting requires Canadian citizenship — not just permanent residence — and your name must be on the list of electors.

Quebec votes on October 5. On Monday, October 5, 2026, Quebec holds its provincial general election to choose the 125 members of the National Assembly. It is a fixed-date election, and Élections Québec sets out how it works. On election day, polling stations are open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The first thing to check: your right to vote. To vote in a provincial election, you must meet four conditions, according to Élections Québec: be a Canadian citizen, be 18 or older on election day, have lived in Quebec for at least six months, and not have lost your election rights. Each condition must be met. Permanent residence does not mean the right to vote. This is the key point for many newcomers: Canadian citizenship is required. A permanent resident, or someone on a work or study permit, cannot vote in provincial elections, even after years of living and paying taxes in Quebec. The right to vote opens the day you become a Canadian citizen. Your name must be on the list of electors.…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Canadian Citizenship: Application, Test and Ceremony

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Study permit for French-speaking students: a federal pilot that does not cover Quebec

Ottawa is easing access for French-speaking students from Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, but only outside Quebec. In Quebec, the CAQ applies.

A federal program for French-speaking students. The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot is run by the federal government (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). Launched on August 26, 2024 and extended to August 2027, it opens a path to permanent residence for French-speaking international students coming to study in French in Canada, per the federal public policy. The key point: it does not apply to Quebec. The program targets "Francophone minority communities" — that is, the majority-anglophone provinces. Participating institutions are located outside Quebec — in Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and elsewhere. Quebec, where French is the majority language, is excluded and runs its own immigration. If your plan is to study in Quebec, this program does not concern you. Who it is designed for. It is aimed at French-speaking citizens of certain member countries of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie in Africa, the Middle East, and the…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The CAQ, Study Permit and Student Work in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Starting a business in Quebec: 244 government funding programs to discover

A single official tool lists government funding for businesses, self-employed workers, co-ops and non-profits. Here's how to make it work for you.

One starting point. Want to start a business in Quebec? The government lists financial support for businesses, self-employed workers, co-ops and non-profit organizations in a single official search tool (available in French only). It lists over 240 aids — 244 as of mid-August 2026 — from start-up funding to sector programs. Use this gateway first, before looking anywhere else. How to filter. The tool sorts by type of support: grants or contributions (207 results), wage subsidies or trainee subsidies (18), loans or loan guarantees (10), scholarships (5), allowances (6), advice and mentoring (13). You can also filter by business sector (for example "community support": 46 results) and by administrative region. One category concerns you directly: "start-up support", which groups 11 programs for creating your business. Each entry lists the responsible agency, the conditions and the steps to follow. Grant or loan? That's the first question to settle. A grant is money you don't repay, but…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Self-Employed in Quebec: Registering and Invoicing

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Starting a non-profit in Quebec: where to find the grants

The same official directory that covers businesses also covers non-profits — 46 programs for community support. Here's how to find them and prepare your application.

The same directory, extended to organizations. Want to start a non-profit organization (NPO) in Quebec? The official financial-assistance search tool (French only) covers more than businesses: it also lists support for self-employed workers, co-operatives and non-profit organizations. It lists 244 programs as of mid-August 2026, including 46 in the "community support" sector. A concrete program to start with. The Programme de soutien financier aux orientations gouvernementales en action communautaire et en action bénévole (French only) pays wage subsidies to community organizations, in every region of Quebec. The general criteria give a good idea of what the government expects from an NPO: it must be a non-profit organization, rooted in its community, maintain an associative and democratic life, and remain free to set its own mission. The program has five components, from rights promotion to governance support. How to filter the directory. In the tool, select the "community support"…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Community Resources for Newcomers in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

CAQ for Studies: 100% Online via Arrima, $135 Fee

The CAQ for studies is applied for entirely online, and the attestation letter you receive also serves as the provincial letter for your study permit.

The CAQ for studies. The Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for studies — Quebec's Acceptance Certificate — is the provincial authorization you need to study in Quebec. The application is provincial: you file it with Quebec's immigration ministry, not with the federal government. It is done entirely online, and the Government of Quebec describes every step on its official page. An online form, with no save. To apply for the CAQ for studies, you fill out the online application for temporary selection for studies. Before you start, you create an account on Quebec's Arrima platform. The form cannot be saved: you must complete it in a single sitting. After submitting, you have one hour to pay the fees, or the application is not considered submitted. You then receive your file number within 48 hours, and you have 15 days to submit the required documents. The fee: $135. Reviewing your application costs $135 as of January 1, 2026. The amount is adjusted every January 1, is paid by…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The CAQ, Study Permit and Student Work in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamAugust 15, 2026

Policy & Admin

Canadian citizenship test: 20 questions, 45 minutes, 15 correct answers to pass

Here are the rules currently in force for the citizenship test: who must take it, how it works online, and what happens if you fail.

The test, the last step before the ceremony. The Canadian citizenship test is the knowledge exam that comes before the oath-taking ceremony. This is a federal measure: the rules are the same across Canada, including Quebec. The figures below are those in force as of August 2026, according to the Government of Canada. Who must take it. In most cases, you must take the test if you are between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your citizenship application. People under 18, those 55 and older, and those who have been granted an exemption do not have to take it, IRCC explains. Format and pass mark. The test has 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions, in French or English, and lasts 45 minutes. To pass, you must answer at least 15 of the 20 questions correctly. You get a maximum of three attempts to pass the test, per the official page. An online test, monitored by webcam. Most applicants are invited to take the test online. You receive an invitation by email and have 30…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Canadian Citizenship: Application, Test and Ceremony

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Canadian passports: fees went up on March 31, 2026, and will be adjusted every year

Passport fees rose on March 31, 2026 and will now be adjusted every year. Here are the new rates for adults, children and expedited services.

The March 31, 2026 increase. Passport fees in Canada went up on March 31, 2026, according to the Government of Canada. This is a federal measure, so it applies across Canada, including Quebec. Since that date, fees are adjusted every year under the Service Fees Act. The amounts below are the current rates for applications made in Canada. The new rates in Canada. For adults (16 and up), the 10-year passport now costs $163.50 (it was $160 before March 31) and the 5-year passport $122.50 ($120 before). A child passport (ages 0 to 15) costs $58.50 ($57 before) and is valid for 5 years at most. The 10-year passport costs only $41 more than the 5-year one, for twice the validity. Rates abroad. Canadians who apply outside Canada pay higher amounts: $266.25 for the 10-year passport, $194.25 for the 5-year one, and $102.50 for a child passport, per the official fee-change table. Expedited services. Urgent pickup (passport ready by the end of the next business day) costs an extra $125.75, up…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Applying for a Canadian Passport in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamAugust 15, 2026

Policy & Admin

Early childhood: Ottawa invests up to $5.4M for early childhood educators

The federal government launches an initiative to recruit and retain early childhood educators, as child care spaces keep growing.

An August 10 announcement. The federal government has launched a new initiative to support early childhood educators, funded under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. This is a federal measure, so it applies across Canada, including Quebec. The investment reaches up to $5.4 million until March 31, 2027, according to Employment and Social Development Canada. What the initiative will do. The funding aims to support the hiring and retention of early childhood educators by updating the National Occupational Standards, improving labour market information and modernizing workforce tools. Three organizations will deliver the initiative: Colleges and Institutes Canada, the Canadian Child Care Federation and the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne. The context. Since 2021, the federal government has announced more than $58 billion to provinces and territories until March 2031 to build the early learning and child care system. On June 19, 2026, it added…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Subsidized Daycare in Quebec: How to Get a Spot

Cost of Living Travel Things to Do Sports Food & Drink Everyday Life Quirky Quebec

Vieauqc TeamAugust 13, 2026

Policy & Admin

Temporary measures for Palestinians: extended through 2027

The federal government extends temporary measures for Palestinians in Canada to December 30, 2027, and for those arriving until September 30, 2027.

An extension announced. On July 31, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced an extension of the temporary measures for Palestinians, which were set to end on July 31, 2026. This is a federal measure, so it applies across Canada, including Quebec. The details are in IRCC's official notice. What is extended. The measures have two components, both ending December 30, 2027. First, people in Canada who received an open work permit under the earlier measures may now apply to extend it (standard fees apply). Visitor or study permit extensions go through IRCC's usual channels. For those arriving. Eligible Palestinians who arrive in Canada on or before September 30, 2027 and did not apply under the earlier measures may apply from within Canada for fee-exempt study permits, open work permits, temporary resident permits or temporary resident status extensions. Who is affected. As of May 31, 2026, there were 2,383 valid work permits and 236 valid study permits…

Read the full story →

Vieauqc TeamAugust 12, 2026

Policy & Admin

Work Permits in Canada: Types, Fees, and How to Apply

Learn about the types of work permits, associated fees, and how to apply or extend your work authorization in Canada.

Federal work permits. This measure is federal, so it applies across Canada, including Quebec. You can obtain a work permit to work in Canada. There are different types of work permits. You can get one from outside Canada, from inside Canada, or at the border. The current fees for a work permit are indicated on the official work permit from outside Canada page. The current fees for a work permit from inside Canada are also indicated on the official page. The current fees for a work permit at the border are indicated on the official page. Extend or change conditions. If you need to extend your work permit or change its conditions, you should check the current fees on the official extend or change conditions page. You must submit your application at least 30 calendar days before your current permit expires. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). If you have completed your studies in Canada, you can apply for a post-graduation work permit. The current PGWP fees are indicated on the…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The Work Permit in Quebec: Process, Rights and Recourse

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Canada Disability Benefit: up to $204.20 a month, plus a supplement starting September

The federal benefit for people with disabilities aged 18-64 pays up to $204.20 a month, plus $150 in September 2026. The eligibility step you can't skip.

Do you live with a disability and are you between 18 and 64? The federal government pays direct support, the Canada Disability Benefit, separate from Quebec's programs. It's worth knowing, because many eligible people never claim it. The maximum amount is $204.20 a month. According to the Government of Canada's How much you could receive page, that's the maximum for the July 2026 to June 2027 period. The benefit is income-tested: the maximum goes to the lowest incomes and decreases as family income rises. So two people won't necessarily get the same amount. A one-time $150 supplement arrives in September 2026. Per the same page, starting in September 2026, you may receive an additional amount to help offset the cost of obtaining the Disability Tax Credit. This supplement is fixed at $150 and paid as a single lump sum. The eligibility step you can't skip: the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). It's the gateway. To receive the benefit, you must have an approved DTC, have filed your 2025…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Filing Taxes in Quebec for Newcomers

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Dental Care: the Federal Plan Is Open to All Ages, and 2026-2027 Applications Are Open

The Canadian Dental Care Plan accepts uninsured adults of any age. Here's who qualifies, what you pay, and why June 1 matters.

The dentist is expensive, and many newcomers have no dental insurance. That's exactly the gap filled by the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), a federal program that helps pay for dental care for people without private coverage. Because the measure is federal, it applies everywhere in Canada, Quebec included. There is no longer any age condition — and that is not new in 2026. The plan rolled out by age group starting in 2023. Adults aged 18 to 64, the last group able to enrol, could do so in May 2025, with coverage starting as early as June 1, 2025: according to the Health Canada news release of March 22, 2025, applications opened May 1 for ages 55 to 64, May 15 for ages 18 to 34, and May 29 for ages 35 to 54. What is true in 2026 is something else: applications for the 2026-2027 benefit year are currently open. Four conditions, all at once. According to the Government of Canada's Do you qualify page, you're eligible if: you have no access to private dental insurance (through your…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Going to the Dentist in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamAugust 15, 2026

Policy & Admin

IRCC Processing Times in 2026: What to Expect

Citizenship, certificate, PR card: the figures IRCC posted in August 2026, and how to get the one that actually applies to you.

Once the application is sent, the wait is often the hardest part. Here are the figures IRCC posted in August 2026 — and, above all, how to get the one that actually applies to you. This is a federal matter. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processes these applications for the whole country, Quebec included. There are two calculation methods, not one. This is the key to reading these numbers correctly. Per IRCC, some times are backward-looking: they measure how long it took to process 80% of complete applications in the past — that's the permanent resident card. Others are forward-looking: they are estimated from the number of applications already in inventory, the volume IRCC expects to process each month, and the targets in the annual immigration levels plan — that's citizenship and permanent residence. A forward-looking time is therefore a projection, not an observed average. The figures as of August 10 and August 12, 2026. From IRCC's official tool: -…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Canadian Citizenship: Application, Test and Ceremony

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Exchanging a Foreign Driver's Licence: the SAAQ Steps

Some countries let you get a Quebec licence without an exam. Here's how the SAAQ exchange works.

You arrived with a driver's licence from your country and wonder whether you have to start over? Not necessarily. The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) recognizes certain foreign licences and lets you exchange them. The general rule. After settling in Quebec, you can drive on your valid foreign licence for your first six consecutive months of residency; after that, you need a Quebec licence. To exchange, the SAAQ sets two conditions, not one: your main residence must be in Quebec, and you must hold Canadian citizenship or a right to stay in Canada of more than six months. Countries with an agreement. Quebec has signed reciprocity agreements with about a dozen administrations, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Switzerland and Taiwan. For all of these administrations — not just France and Belgium — the exchange for a class 5 licence happens without…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Exchange a Foreign Driver's Licence at the SAAQ

Vieauqc TeamJuly 27, 2026

Policy & Admin

2026 Federal Immigration and Citizenship Fees: What Went Up

Permanent residence, citizenship, permits: the federal government raised several fees in 2026. Here are the up-to-date amounts for newcomers.

If you plan to file for permanent residence or citizenship this year, your budget has changed. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) adjusted several fees in spring 2026. This is a federal measure. It applies everywhere in Canada, Quebec included: even if you were selected by Quebec, you pay these federal fees to Ottawa for your permanent-residence application, on top of the separate provincial fees tied to the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Permanent residence. As of April 30, 2026, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) rose from $575 to $600, and the principal-applicant processing fee for economic streams (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program) from $950 to $990, per IRCC's official list of fee changes. For a single person, the base cost therefore reaches $1,590 — the exact figure on IRCC's fee list. Citizenship. As of March 31, 2026, the Right of Citizenship fee increased from $119.75 to $123, IRCC confirmed. The adult application processing fee…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Renew or Replace Your PR Card in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamJuly 27, 2026

Policy & Admin

The federal government extends some Quebec workers' permits by a year

A federal measure lets some temporary workers awaiting Quebec selection keep their job for up to 12 more months.

What this is. On March 13, 2026, the federal government announced a temporary measure to stop foreign workers in Quebec from losing their right to work while they wait to be selected for permanent residence. It is a federal measure — run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal immigration department — but it is aimed specifically at Quebec workers. So if you are working in Quebec on a temporary permit, it concerns you directly. What it grants. The measure lets workers who hold an employer-specific work permit — a permit tied to a single employer, as opposed to an open work permit that allows you to work for any employer — keep working for their current employer for up to 12 more months. The new permit falls under the International Mobility Program and is therefore exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the step an employer normally has to complete to hire a foreign worker. Who it is for. It is not for everyone. You must have been invited…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The Work Permit in Quebec: Process, Rights and Recourse

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

The PEQ reopens: a four-month window for your permanent residence

Closed since November 2025, the PEQ is accepting applications again from July 2 to October 31, 2026, with no cap. Who qualifies and why to move fast.

This is one of the best pieces of news of the year for graduates and workers settled in Quebec. The PEQ (Quebec Experience Program), a fast track to permanent residence, closed on November 19, 2025. It is temporarily reopening from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028, according to the Quebec government. And the first window to file an application is open right now. The date to remember: October 31, 2026. The Ministry is accepting applications from July 2 to October 31, 2026, filed online through the Arrima platform (Quebec's immigration portal), with intake opening at 8:30 AM Montreal time. The good news: there is no cap on the number of applications accepted during this window. You aren't fighting for a limited spot — but the door closes at the end of October. Two profiles qualify, and the reference date is the same for both: November 19, 2025. The Quebec Graduate stream is for those who had already earned an eligible Quebec diploma by that date — a bachelor's, master's, doctorate,…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The Work Permit in Quebec: Process, Rights and Recourse

Vieauqc TeamJuly 27, 2026

Policy & Admin

Open Work Permits: The Federal Government Widens Spousal Access in 2026

In 2026 the federal government opened work permits to more spouses of temporary workers, including several measures that directly affect Quebec.

Good news for families. In 2026, the federal government — that is, Ottawa, which runs immigration for all of Canada — widened access to open work permits for the spouses and common-law partners of certain temporary workers. An open work permit (OWP) lets a person work for almost any employer, with no job offer required first. It's the opposite of a closed permit, which ties you to a single boss. A federal measure, but with a strong Quebec angle. Because the decision comes from Ottawa, it applies across Canada. But the 2026 changes target workers specifically recruited or selected by Quebec. If your spouse or partner works here as a temporary worker, it's worth checking whether you now qualify. First, the base rule. According to the federal eligibility page, a spousal open work permit is mainly for people whose partner holds a skilled job — at TEER 0 or 1 (TEER is the federal grid that ranks jobs by skill level), or in select TEER 2 or 3 occupations — under the International Mobility…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The Work Permit in Quebec: Process, Rights and Recourse

Cost of Living Travel Things to Do Sports Food & Drink Everyday Life Quirky Quebec

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Post-graduation work permit 2026: the eligible-program list stays frozen

Ottawa is adding and removing zero programs from the PGWP list in 2026. The rules in force (field of study, language test) to know before enrolling.

The post-graduation work permit — the PGWP — is the permit that lets an international graduate work in Canada after finishing their studies. One key thing to understand: it is a federal permit, issued by Ottawa (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), not by Quebec. The rule therefore applies across Canada, Quebec students included. A decision made in Ottawa changes the game for a college student in Chicoutimi just as much as for a student in Toronto. The 2026 news is mostly good news: nothing changes. IRCC confirmed on January 15, 2026 that it will not update its list of PGWP-eligible study programs this year — no fields of study added or removed for the rest of 2026. The list currently holds 1,107 eligible programs, and the 178 programs that had been slated for removal will instead stay on it. This freeze matters because the list had been moving a lot. Ottawa had reshuffled it repeatedly since 2024, and a program's eligibility can decide whether you get to stay and work. A…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The CAQ, Study Permit and Student Work in Quebec

Vieauqc TeamJuly 28, 2026

Policy & Admin

Quebec Lowers Its Targets: Aiming for Permanent Residence in 2026-2029

The new immigration plan targets roughly 45,000 permanent residents a year. Fewer spots, ranked selection: what it changes for you.

If your goal is to become a permanent resident of Quebec — meaning the right to live and work here without a permit to renew — the immigration plan tabled in November 2025 has made your path narrower. In its 2026-2029 immigration plan, Quebec is lowering its targets and now aims for roughly 45,000 permanent admissions per year. A "target" (or seuil) is simply the number of people the province agrees to welcome over a given period. What actually changes. Of those 45,000 spots planned for 2026, most go to economic immigration — skilled workers. The rest is split among family reunification, refugees, and a few other categories. In plain terms, fewer doors open each year, and the biggest one rewards professional skills and knowledge of French. Why Quebec is cutting its targets. The government says it wants to ease pressure on housing, public services, and its capacity to integrate newcomers in French. It also aims to reduce the temporary immigration it controls: by 2029, a maximum of…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Immigration Lawyer or Consultant: Which to Choose?

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Parent and grandparent sponsorship: the federal government closes the door to new applications

No new sponsorship applications have been accepted since July 15, 2026, with no reopening date. What's still possible to bring your parents over.

It's one of the most consequential immigration announcements of the year for immigrant families: since July 15, 2026, the federal government has stopped accepting new applications to sponsor parents or grandparents. This is a federal measure, so it applies across Canada, Quebec included. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is no longer receiving new interest-to-sponsor forms and is no longer inviting potential sponsors to apply, according to the official notice on Canada.ca. The pause is in effect until further notice — no reopening date has been announced. What's paused, and what isn't. The pause targets the intake of new applications. Files already submitted continue to be processed: the government still plans to admit up to 15,000 people as permanent residents through this program in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. In other words, if your file is already in the system, it isn't cancelled — it moves forward. Why now. The program is…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Family Sponsorship in Quebec: Bringing Your Loved Ones

Vieauqc TeamJuly 27, 2026

Policy & Admin

Family reunification: Quebec will accept only 15,700 applications through 2028

New intake period, per-category caps, mail-only filing and a staggered schedule: what the June 23 order changes for sponsoring a relative.

While the federal government suspends parent and grandparent sponsorship, Quebec has reopened its own door — but with a counter running. A ministerial order published on June 23, 2026 sets a new intake period for family reunification undertaking applications, from July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028, with a maximum of 15,700 applications for the whole period, according to Québec.ca. Two caps, very unequal. The 15,700 spots aren't interchangeable. They break down into 13,300 applications to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, and only 2,400 applications for parents, grandparents and other eligible relatives. The gap says a lot about priorities: spousal sponsorship gets more than five times as many spots. A cap that really closes. This isn't an indicative target. Once a category hits its maximum, the Ministry can no longer receive applications in that category, and excess applications are returned unprocessed, with no fees charged, Québec.ca states. Filing "just in…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Family Sponsorship in Quebec: Bringing Your Loved Ones

Vieauqc TeamJuly 28, 2026

Policy & Admin

Immigrating to Quebec as a skilled worker: Arrima and the PSTQ

How the Arrima expression of interest and the skilled worker selection program work.

To immigrate to Quebec permanently as a skilled worker, the main gateway is the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) — the Skilled Worker Selection Program — managed by the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI). The process begins with an expression of interest in the online portal Arrima. What Arrima is. Arrima is the portal where you submit your expression of interest. The PSTQ is the program that sets the eligibility criteria, the selection grid, and the points. In other words: Arrima is the tool, the PSTQ is the program, the expression of interest is filed in Arrima. The expression of interest. You create an online profile and fill it in according to your characteristics: education, work experience, French proficiency, age, a job offer if you have one, and so on. From the moment you create your expression of interest, you have 90 days to complete and submit it, or it is deleted, the government notes. Once submitted, the expression of…

Read the full story →Go deeper: The Work Permit in Quebec: Process, Rights and Recourse

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Policy & Admin

Rent Increases in Quebec: Your Rights and How to Refuse

How the TAL's estimate works, and what you can do when a landlord proposes an increase.

In Quebec, a landlord can propose a rent increase when a lease is renewed, but cannot impose one without following specific rules. The Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) — Quebec's rental board — governs these increases and each year publishes a reference calculation method. The TAL estimate. The Tribunal offers an online calculation tool — the applicable base percentage is published separately — that tenants and landlords can use to estimate a "fair and reasonable" increase. The calculation factors in several elements: base indexation, municipal and school taxes, insurance premiums, and major renovation work done on the building. Since 2026, the base indexation relies on the average change in Quebec's Consumer Price Index over three years, to avoid sharp jumps when inflation suddenly rises. The percentage is only a suggestion. The rate published by the TAL is a reference, not an automatic legal cap. A landlord can ask for more (for example because of major renovations) and a…

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Vieauqc TeamJuly 17, 2026

Policy & Admin

Tax credits: the money newcomers forget to claim

Quebec's solidarity credit and the GST/HST credit: who qualifies and how to receive them.

When you arrive in Quebec, you mostly think about the taxes you'll pay — but the government also pays money out to people with modest incomes. Two credits are especially worth knowing: the solidarity tax credit (provincial) and the GST/HST credit (federal). These are payments, not theoretical deductions. The solidarity credit. Paid by Revenu Québec, it has three components: one tied to the QST, one tied to housing, and one for residents of northern villages. To qualify you must live in Quebec and be 18 or over on December 31 of the year before the payment period — but there is a third condition many newcomers miss: you (or your spouse) must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, or hold temporary resident status and have lived in Canada for the past 18 months, per Revenu Québec. In other words, a student or temporary worker who has just arrived is not eligible yet. The amount depends on your income and family situation, and the credit decreases above a certain…

Read the full story →Go deeper: Filing Taxes in Quebec for Newcomers

Rent increases: a new calculation method since 2026

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Tenant Rights in Quebec: What the Law Gives You

Leases in Quebec: Rules, Subletting and Assignment

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