To qualify for the compensation plan, the victim must meet the definition of a
person who is a victim of a criminal offence.
A person who is a victim of a criminal offence that occurred in Quebec may apply for qualification even if he or she resides outside Quebec.
The criminal offence must:
- have been committed in Quebec (from March 1, 1972 to October 12, 2021)
- have been committed in Quebec or outside Quebec according to the Regulation (as of October 13, 2021)
- be an offence against the person (property offences, such as fraud, are excluded)
The victim:
- is not required to file a complaint against the abuser
- can be compensated even if the abuser is not identified, prosecuted or convicted as a result of criminal proceedings
- can file a claim on their own from the age of 14
For events occurring after October 13, 2021
Time limits for submitting an application
The time limit to apply for qualification with the Direction générale de l'IVAC is now 3 years.
The time limit begins when the victim becomes aware of the harm he or she has suffered as a result of the criminal offence or within 3 years of the death of a person caused by a criminal offence. However, the application will be considered if the person demonstrates a reasonable reason for the delay.
For criminal offences involving domestic violence, sexual violence or violence suffered during childhood, the application for qualification can be made at any time. There is no longer a time limit. This amendment is retroactive. This means that a person who has been the victim of a criminal offence involving one of these types of abuse may apply to the Direction de l'IVAC by
filling the form even if the offence was committed before October 13, 2021, as long as the person meets the other criteria of the Loi sur l’indemnisation des victimes d’actes criminels.