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Step-by-step procedure

Here are the actions required when submitting a request

Verify if you are eligible for the Data Access Services

To verify your eligibility, go to the Eligibility section.

Review the list of available data

A complete catalogue of the files and variables available to researchers can be found in the Available data section. Pairing and linking services are offered for the various databases.

If you wish to view data that are not available through the Data Access Services website, you must submit a request directly to the ministry or agency that holds the data in question.

Use the checklist of items to be verified and documents to be provided

To reduce processing time for your request, you must provide all of the requested documents and information.

To verify the conformity of items included in a request and of any documents attached to the request, it is strongly recommended that you use the checklist of items to be verified and documents to be supplied before submitting a request (PDF, 114 KB).

View the list of templates and reference documents

To help you become familiar with the documents that will be used for your research data access request, view the list of templates and reference documents (PDF, 95 KB) associated with the various steps of the process.

Register in the Research Zone

To use the services, you must first create an account in the Research Zone.

Define the data access conditions

Before submitting your data access request, you must choose one or two ways of accessing the ISQ’s secure data environment. For more information, refer to the

Revenu Québec data are subject to additional confidentiality rules and can only be accessed at CADRISQ centres.

Select a form

To start preparing your request, you must select the appropriate form for your needs.

To obtain information for an upcoming project: Feasibility and cost assessment request

In the Research Zone, click on “Créer un nouveau projet” (“Create a new project”), then select “Demande d’évaluation de faisabilité et de coûts” (“Feasibility and cost assessment request”). A form will open where you must provide a high-level description of your project. This form is especially useful in a project’s exploratory stages.

You can also use the cost simulator to estimate the cost of producing a research file for a project.

To submit a new research data access request

In the Research Zone, click on “Créer un nouveau projet” (“Create a new project”), then select “Demande d’accès aux données à des fins de recherche” (“Data access request for research purposes”). You can then describe the new research project, upload the documents required to evaluate your request, provide information on the research team, specify your selection and data extraction criteria, and indicate which software you will need and the location(s) from which you want to access the data.

Sample form (PDF, 0.11 MB)

To modify an existing authorized project

In the Research Zone, click on “Faire une demande de modification pour un projet déjà autorisé” (“Modification request for an existing authorized project”). You can then modify an existing authorized project, e.g. if your project has new needs.

Submit your request

Submit your access request through the Research Zone. This online platform allows you to monitor the processing of your request in real time.

Startup Kit

The Startup Kit contains all the information and reference documents needed to prepare an access request.

Startup Kit (ZIP, 6 MB)
Updated January 8, 2026

Tutorial

On October 2, 2025, as part of the QICSS Brownbag Webinar series, two ISQ staff members—Maude Tremblay-Létourneau, consulting analyst for the Data Access Services and Jean-François Cantin, executive assistant in the Secteur de la méthodologie, de la démographie et de l’accès aux données—presented the main steps of an access request, the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the processing of requests, and the documents and tools put at your disposal.

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