Work in Quebec - Québec first

Welcome to Québec City!

In Québec City, we speak French and we are proud of it!

If you don’t speak French yet, start taking courses now! A good knowledge of French is very important for your professional and social integration. Don’t worry: Quebecers are very open to diversity and we find accents from all over the world very charming. Once you’re here, total immersion in the language will do the rest!

We even offer you discounts on online French courses!

The Québec First website will guide you and refer you to the right resources throughout your immigration project. We also support you once you have arrived in the area. Take advantage of our free services and activities.

Working after studying

Québec International, l’agence de développement économique de la région de Québec, en partenariat avec le ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI), propose des activités spéciales à votre intention, étudiants et diplômés internationaux, afin de vous aider dans vos démarches d’installation permanente à Québec et dans vos recherches d’emploi. Des séances d’information sur la résidence permanente, aux activités de maillages avec des entreprises en passant par des rendez-vous pour découvrir la ville autrement… participez à nos nombreuses activités.

Diplomas and equivalences

Diplomas and their names can vary from one country to another. There are several ways to have your studies and diplomas recognized in Quebec.

Correspondence of diplomas

In order for Quebec employers to understand your résumé, you should mention the name of the equivalent Quebec diploma. Here is a diagram of the Quebec school system for your information.

Comparative evaluation for studies done outside Quebec

This comparative evaluation is not an equivalence of diplomas, but rather a notice of correspondence between your diploma and the one to which it is equivalent in the Quebec school system. This assessment is not always required by employers, but it may be requested in some cases, for example, if you wish to apply for a job in the municipal, provincial or federal public service. Find out more about the processing times and costs involved in applying for a comparative evaluation for studies.

Equivalence of diploma or training

In some cases, particularly for trades governed by a professional order in Quebec, you will need to obtain recognition of equivalence of your original training or diploma. Each body is then responsible for carrying out its own evaluation according to its own criteria – contact the Conseil interprofessionnel du Québec for information.

Skills recognition

The Qualifications Québec portal will guide you for free, to the most relevant resources and services to have your training and skills recognized, regardless of where they were acquired.

More details

Income and taxation

In the province of Quebec, as elsewhere in the country, the currency is the Canadian dollar ($ or CAD).

Wages can be presented in hourly or annual rates.

The minimum wage in Quebec is set by the government at $14.25 per hour.

It is also important to check the number of hours worked per week, as this may vary (35 hrs/week, 37.5 hrs/week, 40 hrs/week, etc.).

Payroll every two weeks.

Most of the time, Quebec employees receive their pay every two weeks, not monthly as in other countries.

Some workers are even paid on a weekly basis.

Working in Québec City