In the Budget Speech on March 25, 2025, the Minister of Finance of Québec announced the abolition of the tax holiday for foreign researchers, foreign experts, foreign specialists assigned to operations of an international financial centre, foreign specialists working in the financial services sector and seamen engaged in international transportation of freight.

Consequently, no new applications for qualification certificates by foreign researchers, foreign experts or foreign specialists and no new applications for a seaman certificate or a vessel certificate will be accepted after March 25, 2025, by the body responsible for issuing the certificate.

However, this abolition will not impact the eligibility of individuals for whom a certificate is held by the eligible employer (or for whom a certificate has already been issued, in the case of seamen) or for whom an application for a certificate has been filed by March 25, 2025. These individuals will be able to benefit from the tax holiday under the current rules.

The tax holiday is claimed as a deduction from taxable income for the year.

For more information, see Budget 2025-2026 – Additional information on the Ministère des Finances website.