Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) – 2026
Four immigration streams, Arrima, eligibility and the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Quebec Immigration: Skilled Worker Selection Program
Québec operates its own economic immigration selection system. The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), or Skilled Worker Selection Program, replaced the former Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ/QSWP) on 29 November 2024. Skilled workers interested in settling in Québec generally begin by submitting an expression of interest through Arrima.
Québec evaluates candidates under four streams based on their principal occupation, experience, education, French-language skills and other criteria. Candidates invited to apply must satisfy the applicable requirements before Québec can issue a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). The federal government makes the final decision on permanent residence.
Important: Québec's skilled-worker selection process is separate from Express Entry and is not a Canadian Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The former QSWP/PRTQ should not be treated as an open new-application stream.
The stream is determined primarily by your declared main occupation and its National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category, along with any professional regulation requirements.
Stream
Who it targets
Key considerations
1. Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
Generally, non-regulated occupations in TEER 0, 1 or 2.
Relevant work experience, eligible education and higher French-language requirements.
2. Intermediate and Manual Skills
Generally, non-regulated occupations in TEER 3, 4 or 5.
Work experience including Québec experience, and oral French requirements.
3. Regulated Professions
Applicants who intend to practise a profession regulated in Québec.
Occupation-specific regulatory recognition and applicable French requirements.
4. Exceptional Talent
Individuals with recognized exceptional achievements in qualifying fields.
Evidence of exceptional achievement or recognized partner assessment, and relevant professional experience.
Each stream has detailed criteria and Québec can use additional invitation conditions. A TEER category alone does not establish eligibility.
PSTQ Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility is assessed against both general conditions and stream-specific requirements. Important factors include:
Occupation: Your primary NOC occupation and whether it is regulated in Québec.
Work experience: Qualifying experience in the principal occupation, including Québec work experience where required.
Education: A credential meeting the requirements of the relevant stream.
French proficiency: Officially accepted evidence at the prescribed levels for the stream and, where applicable, an accompanying spouse.
Settlement intention: A genuine intention to live and work in Québec.
Other conditions: Financial self-sufficiency, admissibility and any stream-specific professional recognition or supporting documents.
There is no single universal PSTQ passing score. Meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee an Arrima invitation; ranking and invitation criteria can change.
Arrima Expression of Interest and Selection
Create or update an Arrima expression of interest with accurate occupation, employment, education and language information.
Québec ranks eligible profiles using its published selection system and applies stream-specific criteria.
The ministry may issue invitations based on labour-market needs and additional priorities.
Invited applicants follow the instructions and deadlines to submit a permanent selection application with supporting evidence.
Québec assesses the application and, if approved, issues a CSQ.
A submitted expression of interest is not a permanent residence application or a guarantee of selection. Invitation rounds and cutoff scores are intentionally not reproduced here because they change frequently.
How to Apply for Quebec Skilled Worker Immigration
Assess your profile: Identify your NOC, stream, language requirements and qualifications.
Prepare documents: Gather identity, education, employment and language evidence.
Submit an Arrima declaration: Keep all profile information current.
Receive an invitation: If selected, follow the invitation's submission deadline and instructions.
Apply for Québec selection: Submit the application, documents and applicable fees.
Obtain the CSQ: If Québec approves your selection application, you receive the certificate.
Apply federally for PR: Apply to IRCC and meet federal medical, background and admissibility requirements.
Government Fees and Processing Times
Québec selection fees depend on the applicant and accompanying family members and may be revised annually. Federal permanent residence fees, biometrics, medical examinations, translations and other third-party expenses are separate.
Processing involves several stages: waiting for an Arrima invitation, Québec's assessment of the permanent selection application and IRCC's federal permanent residence processing. These stages have different timelines, and neither an invitation date nor a fixed processing period can be guaranteed.
Before submitting: Confirm the current government fee schedule, accepted payment methods and any invitation-specific deadlines.
Quebec PSTQ Document Checklist
The required documents depend on the stream and individual circumstances. Common examples include:
Valid passport and identity documents for all applicants.
Birth, marriage or relationship documents where applicable.
Education certificates, transcripts and supporting assessments where requested.
Employment reference letters, contracts, pay records and evidence of experience.
Accepted French-language test results or other permitted evidence.
Proof of Québec employment or validated job offer, if applicable.
Evidence of professional licensing or recognition for regulated occupations.
Evidence of exceptional achievements for Stream 4, where applicable.
Financial self-sufficiency and settlement-related declarations.
Certified translations and any additional forms requested by Québec or IRCC.
Always follow the personalized checklist supplied with your invitation or application portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
The former Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ/QSWP) was replaced by the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) on 29 November 2024. Previously submitted applications may be handled under transitional arrangements.
No. Québec selects eligible immigrants through its own selection programs. Successful skilled-worker applicants generally receive a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
Arrima is Québec’s online platform for submitting an expression of interest and, when invited, completing parts of the permanent selection process.
A job offer is not universally mandatory for all PSTQ streams, but employment in Québec, validated job offers and other factors can affect ranking and invitations. Stream-specific criteria still apply.
French-language requirements vary by stream and occupation. For example, the highly qualified stream generally requires higher oral and written French proficiency, while exceptional talent has different criteria. Applicants must check the requirements for their intended stream.
They are Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills, Intermediate and Manual Skills, Regulated Professions, and Exceptional Talent.
No. An expression of interest does not guarantee an invitation. Québec selects profiles according to its ranking system, eligibility conditions and changing priorities.
No. The Québec skilled-worker selection process is separate from federal Express Entry.
The Certificat de sélection du Québec is Québec’s selection certificate. It does not itself confer Canadian permanent resident status.
Eligible accompanying family members can generally be included, subject to the applicable Québec and federal requirements. Spousal French-language requirements may apply.
The time to receive an invitation, Québec selection processing and federal permanent residence processing are separate and variable. No fixed timeframe or invitation score is guaranteed.
After receiving a CSQ, apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence and satisfy federal medical, criminality, security and admissibility requirements.
How Peerless Immigration Services Can Help
We can review your occupation, work experience, education and French-language evidence, identify a suitable Québec pathway, and assist with Arrima preparation and application documentation. An assessment does not guarantee an invitation or approval.
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