What Is the PSTQ, the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program?
Since November 2025, the Quebec PSTQ, or Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program, has been the only pathway for skilled workers who want to settle in the province. It guides permanent immigration to Quebec based on labour market needs and French-language proficiency.
Our immigration team at Patrice Brunet Avocats is here to determine your eligibility and maximize your chances. This guide explains the PSTQ criteria, the points grid, the PSTQ score, the Arrima process, and the levers that can help increase your score.
The PSTQ in Quebec’s 2026–2029 Immigration Plan
The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), known in English as the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration, presented its 2026–2029 immigration plan on November 6, 2025. This plan marks a shift in direction: welcoming more immigrants who are proficient in French and who have study or work experience in Quebec.
Starting in 2026, Quebec will welcome 45,000 immigrants per year, 64% of whom will be economic immigrants. The PSTQ is the main channel for this economic immigration. Arrima is used to submit the declaration of interest, while Mon projet Québec is used later for the formal permanent selection application.
PSTQ, PEQ and PRTQ: How Is the Program Different?
Reopened in June 2025 after an eight-month suspension, the PSTQ now centralizes skilled worker selection toward the Quebec Selection Certificate, or CSQ. The system gives priority to people who:
- have sufficient French-language proficiency,
- work in a high-demand field,
- have work or study experience in Quebec,
- want to settle outside Greater Montreal, where labour needs are more significant.
The End of the PEQ and the Replacement of the PRTQ
The PSTQ replaces the former PRTQ, or Regular Skilled Worker Program. The PEQ, the Quebec Experience Program and an accelerated pathway for temporary workers and students, officially ended on November 19, 2025. Since then, the PSTQ has been the only pathway for skilled workers who want to immigrate permanently to Quebec.
A potential reopening of the PEQ is currently being discussed. We can assist you in determining your eligibility and preparing your file ahead of a possible reopening.
PSTQ or Express Entry
To immigrate to another Canadian province, other options exist, such as the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry.
However, a skilled worker targeting Quebec must first be selected through the PSTQ before submitting a permanent residence application to the federal government, because of the Canada–Quebec Accord.
Quebec selects its own candidates and issues the CSQ. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) then conducts the medical, security and criminality checks before issuing permanent residence.
PSTQ Eligibility Requirements: Who Can Apply?
Several general requirements must be met before the points grid applies. These requirements filter admissible, or eligible, profiles, and the points system then ranks candidates in the bank of declarations of interest. Your candidate profile must reflect your full situation, including that of a spouse or common-law partner, where applicable.
General Requirements, Financial Self-Sufficiency and the Attestation of Values
You may submit an application under the PSTQ if you:
- are 18 years of age or older,
- wish to live and work in Quebec in a job you are able to hold,
- intend to work for an employer over whom you exercise no control,
- do not work in a sector listed among ineligible occupations.
Two signed commitments are also added at the declaration of interest stage: the Financial Self-Sufficiency Contract, confirming sufficient resources to support yourself upon arrival, and the Attestation of learning about democratic values and the Québec values expressed by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
The 4 PSTQ Streams and the TEER Category of Your Occupation
The PSTQ is divided into four streams, and each candidate is directed to a stream according to their occupation. The ministry uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC), where the second digit of the five-digit code indicates the TEER category of the occupation, from 0 to 5.
- Stream 1, highly qualified and specialized skills, for TEER 0, 1 and 2 occupations,
- Stream 2, intermediate and manual skills, for TEER 3, 4 and 5 occupations,
- Stream 3, regulated professions, which require recognition by a Quebec professional order,
- Stream 4, exceptional talent, reserved for rare, very high-potential profiles.
The required French level varies by stream: level 7 oral and level 5 written for Stream 1, and level 5 oral for Stream 2, measured on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français, equivalent to the NCLC levels. For Stream 3, recognition by the competent regulatory authority, such as a professional order, or recognition of diploma equivalency is required. Details on the official PSTQ requirements are available on Quebec.ca and in our articles on immigrating to Canada as a doctor and immigrating to Canada as a healthcare worker, two profiles often associated with Streams 2 and 3.
The PSTQ Points Grid: Criteria and Scoring
Selection under the PSTQ is based on a points system, also called a scoring system. Each application is assessed according to several factors in three cumulative categories. Accumulating points across multiple categories increases your chances of receiving an invitation, especially if you are targeting in-demand regions of Quebec. Profiles with the highest scores at the time of an invitation round are invited to submit an application for permanent selection.
Human Capital: Up to 520 Points
This category takes into account age, oral and written French level according to government criteria, education level, and professional experience acquired outside Quebec. Additional points are awarded if you studied or worked in Quebec, especially outside Greater Montreal.
Labour Market Needs and Government Priorities: Up to 700 Points
Each application is assessed according to Quebec’s economic needs. The program includes four streams: specialized skills, intermediate and manual skills, regulated professions, and exceptional talent. The more in demand your field is, the more your score increases. Education obtained at a Quebec institution also adds points.
Adaptation Factors: Up to 180 Points
This category covers, among other things, incomplete training, the presence of family members in Quebec, and certain criteria related to your spouse, where applicable: age, French level, education, duration of Quebec experience, and possession of a Quebec diploma.
The full list of criteria is available in the Gazette officielle du Québec. We can assist you with an indicative calculation of your PSTQ points.
Assess Your PSTQ Eligibility with an Immigration Lawyer
An initial assessment often reveals points that have been overlooked. We analyze your profile against the current points grid and identify the most advantageous stream for you.
A few well-positioned additional points can make the difference between an invitation and a twelve-month wait.
The PSTQ Process Step by Step: From Arrima to the CSQ
Your application must be submitted online as a declaration of interest. The pathway includes three major steps, from the initial submission to federal permanent residence.
Create an Account and Complete Your Declaration of Interest on Arrima
The first step is to create an account on the Quebec government’s Arrima platform. You then complete your declaration of interest by providing information about:
- your status,
- your education,
- your professional experience,
- your settlement intentions,
- those of your spouse or children, where applicable.
The Arrima platform is available only in French. Patrice Brunet Avocats can complete your declaration of interest through our secure portal, which helps avoid common errors and speeds up document collection.
The Invitation to Apply and the 30-Day Deadline
Once the declaration has been submitted, MIFI analyzes your profile according to the points grid. Depending on your score and labour market needs, you may receive an invitation to submit an official application for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The invitation arrives in your Arrima message centre; you have 30 days to accept it and submit your complete application through Mon projet Québec.
Your declaration of interest remains valid for 12 months, its official validity period, with no guarantee of receiving an invitation. After that, submit a new one. If you are already in Quebec, maintaining status is essential: remember to renew your work permit to remain compliant.
From the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to Permanent Residence
After obtaining the CSQ, you submit your permanent residence application to IRCC, the final step on the path to permanent residence. Next comes the permanent resident card and, eventually, eligibility for Canadian citizenship. Before arriving, review the rights of permanent residents in Canada.
Entrust Your Arrima Declaration of Interest to Our Team
A well-prepared declaration maximizes your score from the outset. Our team manages the process from start to finish through our secure portal.
Draws, Invitation Rounds and the PSTQ Passing Score
Many candidates wonder how invitation rounds work. Understanding the mechanics of the draw and the minimum score helps you position yourself strategically.
How the Minimum Score and Arrima Ranking Work
MIFI periodically conducts invitation rounds, often referred to by candidates on forums as PSTQ draws. According to MIFI’s official invitations page, no selection is random: it is a three-step invitation process in which the ministry targets a stream, applies scoring criteria such as French level, occupation and region, then invites the highest-scoring profiles until the target is reached. The minimum score published after each round corresponds to the score of the last person invited and varies according to the stream and the round’s priorities.
Understanding this logic changes the strategy: improving your French level, obtaining a validated job offer in an in-demand occupation identified through the labour market diagnosis, or targeting a job outside Greater Montreal are all levers that can increase your chances of selection and raise your Arrima score. Candidates applying from outside Quebec also have every reason to maximize their chances from the declaration stage. MIFI plans to offer a points self-assessment tool to estimate your chances before selection.
The Validated Job Offer: An Asset for Your Points Score
A validated job offer from a Quebec employer is one of the most powerful levers in the points grid. It opens the door to significant additional points and increases priority in invitation rounds, especially for a position outside the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal. For the principal applicant, this is often the difference between a long wait and a quick invitation. For employers, validation follows a process that is separate from the federal process, which is covered by the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for hiring a foreign worker through a work permit.
Companies that want to recruit abroad a candidate compatible with the PSTQ can rely on our international recruitment service: candidate selection, educational credential assessment (ECA), and immigration procedures. For regulated professions, recognition of equivalency by the relevant professional order can be arranged in parallel.
Learn More About the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program
What Is the Minimum Score to Be Invited Under the PSTQ?
There is no fixed guaranteed minimum score. The threshold published after each PSTQ draw, or invitation round, corresponds to the score of the last person invited and varies according to the targeted stream and the ministry’s priorities.
How Long Does Processing a CSQ Application Take?
Processing time varies according to the stream, the completeness of the file, and MIFI’s workload. Once the CSQ is obtained, the permanent residence application with IRCC follows its own timeline. A well-prepared file helps a selected worker settle in Quebec more quickly.
Can You Apply to the PSTQ Without a Job Offer?
Yes. A validated job offer provides a notable points advantage, but it is not an eligibility requirement. Many Stream 1 candidates are selected without an offer, based on their human capital: French, education and experience.
What Happens to My Declaration of Interest After 12 Months?
If you have not received an invitation after 12 months, your declaration expires automatically. You can submit a new one free of charge, ideally after improving your file through a French test, new experience, or a job offer.
How an Immigration Lawyer Can Help You with the PSTQ
Every immigration pathway is unique. The changes made to Quebec’s selection mechanisms can be difficult to decode, but rigorous preparation significantly increases your chances of success.
A lawyer can:
- assess your eligibility,
- guide you through the steps to follow,
- answer your questions,
- help you gather the right documents,
- optimize the presentation of your file.
PBA Support for Your PSTQ Application
At Patrice Brunet Avocats, our team reviews every possible scenario. We determine the best immigration strategy with you, drawing on our immigration expertise and more than 30 years of experience. To learn more, browse our page about our immigration lawyers.
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