Immigration

Most of the women that we host are immigrants. One of our missions is to help them learn about their rights associated with their immigration status.

In Quebec, everyone is entitled to the following social services regardless of their immigration status:

Legal aid
Public school for children under the age of 18
Compensation for Crime Victims (IVAC)

Status and Rights of Women in Quebec

There are four main types of immigration status in Quebec.

A permanent resident is a person who has received permission from the government to live in Canada permanently.

In Canada, permanent residents have access to the following services:

  • Quebec’s public health insurance plan
  • Social assistance
  • Child allowance
  • Social housing
  • Subsidized childcare

Some permanent residents are sponsored by members of their family who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, who undertake to provide for their basic living needs for a three-year period.

In the event of separation or divorce, a sponsored woman may keep their immigration status. She has no obligation towards her ex-spouse and the sponsorship remains in effect.

A sponsored woman cannot benefit from social assistance during the sponsorship period, unless her sponsor refuses to provide for her basic needs or if she can no longer live with him, in the event of conjugal violence, for example.

A temporary resident is a person allowed to stay in Canada for a limited period of time to study, work or visit the country.

Temporary residents of Canada have access to the following services:

  • Quebec’s public health insurance plan (for certain temporary workers and students)
  • Social assistance (discretionary assistance in certain emergency situations)
  • Child allowance (usually after 18 months for temporary workers and students)
  • Subsidized childcare (for most temporary workers and students)

Refugee status is granted to people who risk persecution in their home country.

In Canada, refugees have access to the following services:

  • Quebec’s public health insurance plan
  • Social assistance
  • Child allowance
  • Subsidized childcare

An asylum seeker is a person who has made a claim for refugee protection in Canada and who is awaiting the decision of the government.

Asylum seekers have access to the following services:

  • Quebec’s public health insurance plan (health care covered by the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
  • Social assistance

When a person is not authorized to stay in Canada or their authorization period has expired (expired visa, asylum claim refused, etc.), they are recognized as a person without status. In certain emergency situations, people without status may benefit from social assistance.

This page provides general information on the law in force in Quebec and the available resources. Under no circumstances does it constitute legal advice. For more information, please feel free to contact us or consult a lawyer.