In 2026 the Quebec Investor Program is open: the Ministry accepts applications at any time, with no cap on numbers. An open program is not an easy one, because the planned selection volumes are low. This article sets out the legal framework of the investment and the point at which the funds are actually committed.
Where the program stands in 2026
The official page states that you may apply at any time, with no maximum number of applications (Québec.ca, Submitting an application).
The volumes tell another story. The Quebec Immigration Plan for 2026 provides for 100 to 200 Selection Certificates for the entire business category. That envelope covers entrepreneurs, investors and self-employed workers alike.
One point before going further: this article deals with the legal framework of the investment and with the moment the funds are committed. It is not investment advice.
The conditions to meet
The table below sets out the conditions published by the Ministry (Québec.ca, Conditions).
| Condition | Requirement in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Net worth | At least $2,000,000 CAD, alone or with the spouse or common-law partner included in the application |
| Management experience | At least two years within the five years preceding the application, outside the excluded sectors |
| French | Level 7 in speaking on the Quebec scale, with proof required even from a francophone |
| Education | A secondary school diploma or an eligible vocational diploma |
| Values | Attestation of democratic and Quebec values within 60 days of the Ministry’s request |
| Investment | A $1,000,000 CAD investment over five years and a $200,000 CAD contribution, through a financial intermediary |
| Stay in Quebec | 12 months in Quebec within the two years following the work permit, at least 6 of them by you |
| Processing fees | $18,241 for the principal applicant in 2026, non-refundable |
Gifts received in the six months preceding the application do not count towards net worth. You must also show the lawful origin and the accumulation of that net worth, for yourself and your spouse. We come back to this in our pieces on net worth in business immigration and on management experience.
Two separate amounts: the investment and the contribution
The $1,000,000 investment
It is made for a five-year term and guaranteed by the Government of Quebec.
It is repaid to you without interest within 30 days of maturity.
The $200,000 contribution
It is paid to Investissement Québec Immigrants Investisseurs inc. and is not repaid.
Under Order in Council 1809-2023, it mainly funds assistance to Quebec businesses.
The financial intermediary
You pay nothing directly to the government: you enter into an investment agreement with a financial intermediary bound to the Ministry by an agreement.
Only investment dealers and trust companies may act in that capacity.
Those intermediaries must, among other things, have had their head office in Quebec for at least three years (Québec.ca, Financial intermediary). The Immigration Procedures Guide also prohibits changing intermediary after filing, except in a justified and authorized situation.
When is the investment actually made?
The investment is not made when the application is filed. The process runs in the following order (Québec.ca, Review of your application).
- Filing: a complete application and payment of the processing fees.
- Review: assessment of eligibility, with a possible interview.
- The request to invest: the Ministry asks you to make the investment, within 120 days.
- The notice of intention to select: followed by a federal work permit application within six months.
- The stay: 12 months in Quebec, to be completed within the 24 months following issuance of the permit.
- The Selection Certificate: issued for 24 months, then a permanent residence application to IRCC.
The 120-day deadline
That deadline is strict, and missing it leads to a refusal. The funds must therefore be available, and their source documented, before the Ministry’s letter arrives. This is the tipping point of the file: whatever was not prepared in advance is hard to produce in 120 days.
The Selection Certificate does not grant permanent residence
Selection is a Quebec decision. IRCC then makes its own decision, after its verifications, including biometrics and the medical examination (Canada.ca, Quebec business people). A strong provincial file is still subject to a second, federal review.
If the program does not suit you
The $2,000,000 threshold and the non-refundable contribution rule out many candidates. Other Quebec programs exist, each with its own requirements.
| Program | Minimum net worth | Main commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Investors | $2,000,000 | A $1,000,000 investment and a $200,000 contribution, with no active management |
| Entrepreneurs, stream 2 (start-up) | $600,000, or $300,000 if the business is already started | Spending of $300,000 in the CMM or $150,000 elsewhere |
| Entrepreneurs, stream 3 (takeover) | $600,000, or $300,000 if the business has already been acquired | Acquisition of control and spending of $300,000 in the CMM or $150,000 elsewhere |
| Self-employed workers | $100,000 | Practising the occupation in Quebec and a deposit of $25,000 or $50,000 |
These programs require you to actively manage your business or your practice: see stream 2, Start a business, stream 3, Business takeover and the Self-Employed Worker Program. They also draw on the same envelope of 100 to 200 Selection Certificates. None of them is a shortcut.
How MEKA AVOCAT works on this
In the Investor Program, the evidence is often decisive. Our role covers the legal side of the file.
- Showing the lawful origin and the accumulation of the net worth, with supporting documents.
- Documenting assets held through a corporation, from the articles, the registers and the shareholders’ agreements.
- Establishing management experience through the corporate records.
- Coordinating with our accounting and tax partners on the availability of the funds within the 120 days and on the tax consequences.
- Reviewing, from a legal standpoint, the investment agreement proposed by the intermediary.
We do not give investment advice and we recommend no intermediary. If your file has a weakness, we will tell you before filing: the processing fees are not refundable, even where the application is refused.
Texts and sources
This article draws on the official Investor Program pages published on Québec.ca (Investors, Conditions, Submitting an application, Review of your application, Financial intermediary), on section 3.3 of the Immigration Procedures Guide, on the Quebec Immigration Plan 2026, on Order in Council 1809-2023 and on the Quebec business people page published by Canada.ca.
Frequently asked questions
Is the program accepting applications in 2026?
Yes, at any time and with no maximum number, according to the Ministry’s official page. The planned selection volumes nonetheless remain low.
Is the $1,000,000 investment lost?
No. It is guaranteed by the Government of Quebec and repaid without interest after five years. The $200,000 contribution, however, is not repaid.
Do I have to invest when I file my application?
No. The financial intermediary invests within 120 days of the Ministry’s request, after the file has been reviewed.
Does the Selection Certificate give me permanent residence?
No. IRCC makes that decision after its own verifications, including biometrics and the medical examination.
Considering the Quebec Investor Program?
Proof of net worth and the availability of the funds are prepared long before the Ministry’s letter. A meeting lets us validate the legal side of your file and tell you frankly whether it holds up.
Next: net worth in business immigration, management experience, and our work in business immigration for investors.
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Lawyer, member of the Barreau du Québec since 2014, founder of MEKA AVOCAT. This text sets out general legal information: it describes rules that apply broadly, not the answer to a particular case, and does not replace advice on your own situation.
