- Introduction
- Have the PSTQ Criteria Become More Selective?
- What is the Minimum Arrima Score for Receiving an Invitation?
- How Can I Boost My PSTQ Score?
- How Do I Update My Profile After Receiving a PSTQ Invitation?
- How Can an Immigration Lawyer Help with my PSTQ Application Process?
Introduction
Our experts at Patrice Brunet Avocats often hear from people hoping to settle in Québec as part of the province’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, known in French as the PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés).
Through 2025 and into 2026, we’ve seen Québec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) curb potential pathways to immigration. On November 19, 2025, the Programme de l’expérience Québécoise (PEQ) was abolished, removing options for many international students and temporary foreign workers, even if they had already invested in living and working in Québec.
If you are among the lucky ones to have received an invitation to apply to the PSTQ, congratulations! In this article, we’ll outline some things to consider as you prepare or review your application.
Have the PSTQ Criteria Become More Selective?
Despite all the changes, the government has continued to issue PSTQ invitations. In fact, the province sent out 2,549 PSTQ invitations in January and expects to welcome nearly 29,000 economic immigrants through the program in 2026. But the process has become increasingly selective, and fewer spots are available than in previous years.
Currently, the invitation rate (the rate at which people who express interest actually receive invitations) is below 1.5%, and in the Montreal area (Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, or CMM), it’s practically zero. It is difficult to say when these criteria may be relaxed.
There are four streams through which you can apply to the PSTQ, and the criteria differ for each. They are: 1) Highly Qualified and Specialised Skills, 2) Intermediate and Manual Skills, 3) Regulated Professions, and 4) Exceptional Talent. Each stream can be paused and reopened at any time. Criteria that may have carried a lot of weight in the past could now be evaluated differently, so it’s important to consult the most current information available.
What is the Minimum Arrima Score for Receiving an Invitation?
The government does not specify a ‘minimum Arrima score’ you need in order to be invited to apply; rather, it decides the maximum number of people it will invite to apply through each stream at any given time and periodically holds invitation draws.
The criteria can change from one draw to the next, and your likelihood of getting an invitation depends on factors outside your control, such as policy priorities and how many other qualified applicants there are. Unfortunately, the government provides little insight into its rationale. As such, the selection process can seem random and arbitrary.
The maximum score is 1,320 points, divided into two categories: labour market needs (740 points) and human capital (580 points). Human capital criteria include your knowledge of French, age, work experience, and educational background. Criteria related to Québec’s labour market needs are based on the government’s analysis of how your work experience fits in.
Given this reality, if you are seeking residency through the PSTQ, we recommend taking every action possible to maximise your score. Mistakes in your application can cause delays and even affect your chances.
How Can I Boost My PSTQ Score?
Of course, every case is unique… at Patrice Brunet Avocats, we have seen it all!
There are four categories of criteria that can influence your PSTQ application: human capital, labour market needs, government priorities, and integration factors. You can view details here, and consult our article about the program published in December 2025.
Our experience shows that there may be steps you can take to increase your PSTQ score and boost your chances of success, such as improving your French skills, pursuing a diploma from a Québec school, or obtaining a validated job offer from your employer. The government is currently prioritising individuals who work in healthcare, education, construction, and engineering, so you may want to explore one of these fields. If you live in the Montreal area, you may choose to move elsewhere in the province, since the government says its immigration needs are greatest outside the city.
You may also be able to extend your stay in Québec so that you have more time to take steps that improve your score. A skilled immigration lawyer can evaluate your situation closely and identify the course of action that makes the most sense for you.
How Do I Update My Profile After Receiving a PSTQ Invitation?
If you’ve received a PSTQ invitation and would like to add documentation to support your application, you have one year to do so. It is important to start the process as soon as possible after accepting the invitation. Here is a complete list of supporting documents that could be requested of you. The government outlines the types of documentation it will accept as proof of identity, marital status, resident status in another country, education and training, work experience, authorisation to practice your occupation, knowledge of French, financial self-sufficiency, and other elements.
Since, as mentioned above, criteria and policies can change at any moment, it is a good idea to choose your approach based on the most timely information available. A good immigration law firm tracks the latest numbers and can help you gauge your chances accordingly.
It may go without saying, but providing false information in your application could lead to serious problems – your application could be rejected and you could be banned from re-applying for five years.
How Can an Immigration Lawyer Help with my PSTQ Application Process?
Our team of immigration specialists at Patrice Brunet Avocats understands the stress involved with seeking permanent residency to a province that keeps moving the goalposts. We also recognise the uncertainty that comes from not knowing how your particular situation will be evaluated, or what steps to take. We will take the time to understand the nuances of your case, explore all available options, and work with you to develop a plan.
Sources:
– Le Devoir – Fermer, suspendre, abolir, une politique en immigration qui isole le Québec
– CTV, Feb 12 2026 – What happened to Quebec’s fast-track immigration program — and who is affected?
– Radio-Canada, Feb 20 2026 – Immigration : le Québec alimente de plus en plus la francophonie canadienne
– Forums Reddit, CanadaVisa