Arrima – Quebec’s Online Immigration Platform
Arrima is the official online platform used by the Government of Quebec to manage immigration-related services for foreign nationals who wish to live and work in the province.
The platform is free to use, accessible worldwide, and plays a central role in Quebec’s skilled worker selection and economic immigration programs.
What Is Arrima?
Arrima is an electronic Expression of Interest (EOI) system used by Quebec to identify and select candidates who meet the province’s economic and labour market needs.
It functions similarly to Canada’s Express Entry system, where candidates create an online profile, receive a score based on selection factors, and are ranked in a pool.
Arrima officially came into effect in 2018, replacing Quebec’s previous paper-based immigration application system.
Learn more about Express Entry for comparison:
Purpose of the Arrima System
The Arrima platform was introduced to:
- Speed up immigration processing
- Improve alignment with Quebec’s labour market needs
- Allow continuous profile updates
- Enable targeted invitations based on economic priorities
Quebec now selects candidates who best match its current workforce requirements.
Using Arrima for Quebec Immigration
Arrima is used at multiple stages of the Quebec immigration process.
Foreign nationals can use Arrima to:
- Create, submit, update, and manage an Expression of Interest for the Skilled Worker Selection Program
- Estimate their potential score using self-assessment tools
- Apply for permanent selection and upload documents
- Pay government fees online
- Apply under Quebec economic pilot programs
- Submit documents for temporary selection for studies
- Access settlement and integration services
Arrima for Employers
Arrima also supports Quebec employers and businesses.
Employers can:
- Receive guidance from Quebec immigration authorities
- Connect with foreign workers who match labour shortages
- Submit job offers through the employer portal linked to Arrima
This allows Quebec to directly align immigration selection with real hiring demand.
Applying Through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP)
Most Arrima applicants apply under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP).
How the Process Works
- Create an Arrima profile and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Receive a score based on factors such as:
- Education
- Work experience
- Language proficiency (especially French)
- Connection to Quebec
- Validated job offer
- Enter the Arrima candidate pool
- Receive an invitation from Quebec
- Submit a complete application for selection
Skilled worker immigration details:
Invitation and Selection Process
Quebec issues invitations approximately once per month to selected Arrima candidates.
Invited applicants must:
- Submit a complete application within 60 days
- Provide all required documents to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI)
Approved candidates receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
CSQ and permanent residence process:
Profile Validity and Updates
An Arrima Expression of Interest remains valid for 12 months.
During this time, candidates can improve their ranking by:
- Completing approved language tests
- Gaining additional skilled work experience
- Obtaining a validated job offer in Quebec
Regular updates significantly increase the chances of receiving an invitation.