The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is the provincial route for skilled workers who want to settle in Quebec as permanent residents. Since November 29, 2024, the program runs under a new name and structure: the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), which replaced the older Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ, sometimes translated as the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program). The PSTQ is split into four streams, scored on a 1,400-point grid, and managed through the Arrima expression-of-interest portal run by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). (Quebec.ca PSTQ overview, PSTQ launch announcement, Quebec.ca)
Quebec is the only Canadian province that selects its own economic immigrants. You first apply to MIFI for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). Once you hold the CSQ, you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. This guide walks through the PSTQ in plain English: who qualifies in each stream, the French requirements that now apply to almost every applicant, the 2026 Arrima draw thresholds, the fees on both sides, and the realistic timeline from declaration of interest to landing.
Key Takeaways
- The PSTQ replaced the PRTQ on November 29, 2024. Quebec paused new invitations until mid-2025 to retool Arrima, and the first PSTQ draws began in July 2025. (Quebec.ca PSTQ launch)
- The program has four streams: highly qualified and specialized skills, intermediate and manual skills, regulated professions, and exceptional talent. (Quebec.ca PSTQ requirements)
- Streams 1, 2, and 3 require French. Stream 1 and the higher-skilled tier of Stream 3 ask for oral level 7 and written level 5 on the Quebec scale (roughly CLB/NCLC 7 and 5). Stream 2 and the lower tier of Stream 3 ask for oral level 5.
- Quebec runs Arrima draws roughly once a month and prioritizes candidates already living in Quebec, French-speakers, and occupations on the labour-shortage list, especially outside Greater Montreal. The first three 2026 draws issued 7,518 invitations across all four streams. (2026 Arrima invitations, Quebec.ca)
- The CSQ application fee is CAD$840 for the principal applicant and CAD$201 per accompanying family member (2026 schedule, indexed at 2.05% on January 1, 2026). (Quebec.ca fee increase notice)
- After the CSQ, the federal IRCC step costs roughly CAD$1,590 per adult (CAD$990 processing + CAD$600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee on the post-April 30, 2026 schedule) and processes in about 12 to 18 months end to end.
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What the Quebec Skilled Worker Program Is in 2026
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is the workhorse economic immigration stream Quebec uses to select permanent residents from outside the federal Express Entry system. Quebec runs its own selection because of a 1991 federal-provincial accord (the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration) that gives the province the right to set its own immigration criteria for economic applicants and to receive a fixed share of national admissions.
Two important corrections for anyone landing on outdated guides:
- The program is no longer called the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QRSWP, RSWP, PRTQ). That name belongs to the pre-November 2024 framework. The current program is the PSTQ.
- It is not the same as the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). PEQ is a separate route for international graduates of Quebec institutions and temporary foreign workers already employed in Quebec. PSTQ is broader and now covers almost every skilled-worker profile, including PEQ-eligible candidates who choose to apply through PSTQ instead.
Quebec also paused issuing new permanent selection invitations after November 29, 2024 while MIFI rebuilt the Arrima portal around the four PSTQ streams. The pause lifted in July 2025, and Arrima draws are now monthly. Anyone who submitted a declaration of interest before November 29, 2024 has to refresh that declaration to be considered under PSTQ rules.
How the Quebec Skilled Worker Program Works: The Short Answer
The PSTQ is a two-stage route. Stage one is provincial: you submit a free declaration of interest on Arrima, MIFI ranks you on the 1,400-point PSTQ grid, you wait for an invitation in a monthly draw, and once invited you have 60 days to file a permanent selection application. If MIFI approves it, you receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
Stage two is federal: you submit a permanent residence application to IRCC with the CSQ attached. IRCC runs medical, security, and admissibility checks (Quebec already handled the economic selection), issues a Confirmation of Permanent Residence, and you land in Quebec as a permanent resident. The full path takes 18 to 30 months in 2026, depending on draw timing and document completeness.
The Four PSTQ Streams at a Glance
Every PSTQ applicant enters through one of four streams. The stream you choose has to match your work experience and your education, and each stream sets its own French and minimum qualification bar. (Quebec.ca PSTQ requirements)
| Stream | Who it targets | Work experience minimum | French (oral / written) | TEER (FEER) levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Highly qualified and specialized skills | Managers, professionals, technicians (university or college trained) | 1 year full-time in past 5 years in main occupation | Level 7 / Level 5 | TEER 0, 1, 2 |
| 2. Intermediate and manual skills | Trades, technical, manual, and lower-skilled roles | 2 years paid in past 5 years, including at least 1 year in Quebec | Level 5 / not required | TEER 3, 4, 5 |
| 3. Regulated professions | Professions on Quebec’s regulated occupations list (74 fully regulated, 92 partly regulated) | Authorization to practice OR partial/full equivalence from Quebec regulator (issued in last 5 years) | Level 7/5 if TEER 0-2; Level 5 oral if TEER 3-5 | All TEER levels |
| 4. Exceptional talent | Outstanding achievement holders, strategic-sector recruits, top researchers, athletes, artists | 3 years in main occupation in past 5 years | Not specified (case-by-case) | All TEER levels |
The Quebec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français) maps closely to the federal Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). A TEF Canada or TCF Canada result is the most common way applicants prove their level. MIFI publishes an equivalency table inside the Arrima portal.
Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
Stream 1 is the largest stream and replaces the bulk of the old PRTQ profile. You qualify if:
- Your main occupation falls in TEER 0, 1, or 2 of the National Occupational Classification (FEER 0, 1, or 2 in MIFI’s wording).
- You have at least one year of full-time paid work in that occupation during the five years before applying. The year can be inside or outside Quebec.
- You hold a recognized diploma. For programs completed in Quebec, that means at least 900 hours (secondary or college) or 30 university credits. For foreign credentials, the diploma must be at least one year of full-time study and be assessed against Quebec’s program list.
- You meet oral level 7 and written level 5 in French on the Quebec scale. Spouses or common-law partners declared on the application have to reach oral level 4 to add adaptation points.
Stream 1 invitations make up the largest single block of the 2026 draws (893 to 1,094 per round in the first three rounds of 2026).
Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills
Stream 2 was new in November 2024 and exists because Quebec needed a route for the workers it actually has on the ground in trades, hospitality, manufacturing, and services. You qualify if:
- Your main occupation falls in TEER 3, 4, or 5 (FEER 3, 4, or 5).
- You have at least two years of paid work in your main occupation during the five years before applying, with at least one year of that experience in Quebec on full-time hours.
- You hold a high school diploma or a vocational program of at least one year. Quebec programs need 600 hours (secondary) or 900 hours (college) at minimum.
- You meet oral level 5 in French. Stream 2 has no written requirement, which is the single biggest break for blue-collar applicants compared to Stream 1.
Stream 2 effectively forces you to be in Quebec on a work permit before you can qualify, since the one-year-in-Quebec rule cannot be met from abroad. International graduates of Quebec vocational programs and temporary foreign workers in TEER 3-5 jobs are the typical Stream 2 candidates.
Stream 3: Regulated Professions
Stream 3 covers the 166 occupations Quebec lists as fully or partly regulated, ranging from physicians and engineers to electricians and early-childhood educators. (Liste des professions réglementées, Quebec.ca) The defining feature is that you must already hold either:
- An authorization to practice the profession in Quebec from the relevant ordre or regulator, or
- A proof of partial or full recognition of equivalence of training or diploma issued by that regulator no more than five years before you apply.
The French requirement matches the FEER level of the occupation: TEER 0-2 occupations follow Stream 1 (oral 7 / written 5), and TEER 3-5 occupations follow Stream 2 (oral 5). Stream 3 received the largest single allocation of 2026 invitations (1,118 in March 2026), reflecting Quebec’s labour-shortage focus on regulated trades and health professions.
Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
Stream 4 is small by design. It targets candidates who can show extraordinary expertise: a place on the ministerial achievement list, an opinion of support from a government partner in research, arts, sports, or strategic sectors, or three years of main-occupation experience tied to that achievement. The 2026 draws have invited only a handful of Stream 4 applicants per round (2 in March, 6 in February, 20 in January). French is not a hard cut, but applicants are expected to reach a working level appropriate to the field.
Who Qualifies for the PSTQ: Baseline Requirements
Beyond the stream-specific bars above, every PSTQ applicant has to clear a few baseline rules. (Quebec.ca PSTQ requirements)
- Age: 18 or older at the time of declaration.
- Settlement intent: A genuine intention to live in Quebec and work as an employee. Self-employment, entrepreneurship, and certain investor profiles are not eligible under PSTQ. Quebec runs separate programs for those.
- Restricted sectors: No work in payday loans, pornography, or the sex industry.
- Financial self-sufficiency: Proof of liquid funds covering you and your family for the first three months in Quebec. The schedule is set by MIFI and updated annually. A single applicant currently has to show roughly CAD$3,668. Each accompanying family member adds a smaller amount on a sliding scale.
- Attestation of learning of democratic and Quebec values: All applicants and their accompanying family members aged 18 or over have to complete the online attestation course offered through MIFI, sometimes called the Quebec Values Charter. The certificate is uploaded with the application.
- Police certificates and medical exam: Required at the federal stage with IRCC, not at the CSQ stage.
How Arrima Works: From Declaration to Invitation
Arrima is the Quebec equivalent of the federal Express Entry pool, but the mechanics are different and worth flagging:
- Declaration of interest is free and lasts 12 months. You build your profile online with your stream, language, education, work experience, family, and Quebec ties. MIFI scores you instantly on the PSTQ grid.
- MIFI runs draws monthly, sometimes more often. Each draw targets specific streams and may filter on French level, occupation, or region. There is no single nationwide cutoff like the federal CRS. Each stream and sometimes each “exercise” inside a stream has its own threshold.
- Selection priorities are explicit. The program prioritizes applicants who already live in Quebec, who work or study outside Greater Montreal, who speak French, and who hold occupations on Quebec’s labour-shortage list.
- Invitations are valid for 60 days. If you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to submit a complete permanent selection application with documents, fees, and the Quebec Values attestation. Missing the window means going back into the pool.
The Arrima score grid totals 1,400 points across human capital, response to Quebec needs, and adaptation factors. Most points come from French proficiency, age (peak 18-35), Quebec work or study experience, and an offer of employment validated outside Greater Montreal. (Visaryo PSTQ score breakdown, citing MIFI grid)
2026 Arrima Draw Thresholds: What It Actually Takes to Get Invited
Quebec publishes every PSTQ draw on quebec.ca. The first three rounds of 2026 give a clear picture of where the bar sits. (2026 Arrima invitations, Quebec.ca)
| Draw date | Total invited | Stream 1 (HQ specialized) | Stream 2 (Intermediate/manual) | Stream 3 (Regulated) | Stream 4 (Exceptional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 29, 2026 | 2,447 | 1,094 invited, 588-740 pts | 683 invited, 528-720 pts | 750 invited, 408-855 pts | 20 invited |
| February 26, 2026 | 2,549 | 907 invited, 605-755 pts | 495 invited, 510-700 pts | 1,141 invited, 397-820 pts | 6 invited |
| March 19, 2026 | 2,522 | 893 invited, 588-718 pts | 509 invited, 505-679 pts | 1,118 invited, 390-740 pts | 2 invited |
Two takeaways for anyone reading the tea leaves:
- Stream 3 (regulated professions) consistently has the lowest minimum score in 2026, often near 390-400 points. If you hold a Quebec regulator’s authorization or equivalence certificate, this is the easiest invitation route by raw numbers.
- Stream 1 cutoffs sit in the high 500s to high 700s depending on occupation. French at level 7+, Quebec work or study experience, and a job offer outside Montreal are what move applicants from “in the pool” to “above the line.”
CSQ Application: Step by Step After an Invitation
Once an invitation lands in your Arrima dashboard, the work is concrete:
- Confirm your stream and prepare documents. Pull together your TEF Canada or TCF Canada results, education diplomas and transcripts, work reference letters with hours and duties, Quebec authorization or equivalence certificate (Stream 3), proof of settlement funds, and family identity documents.
- Pay the CSQ fees on Arrima. Fees in effect on the 2026 schedule:
- Principal applicant: CAD$840
- Accompanying spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child: CAD$201 each
(Quebec.ca 2026 fee increase notice)
- Upload the Quebec Values attestation for every applicant and accompanying family member aged 18 and up.
- Submit the permanent selection application within 60 days of the invitation.
- MIFI examines the file. Service-standard processing for a complete CSQ application is roughly 6 to 9 months. Files that need a MIFI interview run longer.
- Receive the CSQ. The certificate is digital and feeds directly into IRCC’s federal application system.
After the CSQ: The Federal IRCC Step
Quebec’s CSQ does not by itself make you a permanent resident. You apply to IRCC as a Quebec-selected skilled worker. The federal step covers admissibility, security, criminal background, and medical clearance, not economic selection.
What to expect with IRCC in 2026:
- Permanent residence application fees (post-April 30, 2026 schedule): CAD$990 processing fee + CAD$600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee = CAD$1,590 for a principal applicant. Accompanying spouse: CAD$990 + CAD$600 = CAD$1,590. Dependent child: CAD$260. (IRCC fee schedule)
- Documents: Passports, police certificates from every country lived in for six months or more since age 18, IRCC medical exam from a panel physician, biometrics ($85), digital photos, and the CSQ.
- Processing time: IRCC currently quotes 12 to 18 months for Quebec-selected skilled workers, longer than federal Express Entry’s six-month standard because the Quebec stream uses a paper-style file rather than the Express Entry e-application. (Immigration.ca processing times)
- Medical and security: Standard IRCC checks. No additional CRS scoring. The CSQ has already done the economic selection.
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR): Once IRCC approves, you receive a COPR and either land at a Canadian port of entry or, if already in Canada on valid status, complete a virtual landing.
Realistic Timeline From Declaration to Landing
Adding the two stages together, here is the timeline most 2026 PSTQ applicants should plan for:
| Stage | Realistic time |
|---|---|
| Build Arrima profile, take TEF/TCF, gather documents | 2 to 6 months |
| Wait in Arrima pool for an invitation (varies by stream and score) | 1 to 12+ months |
| Prepare and submit CSQ application after invitation | Up to 60 days |
| MIFI processes CSQ application | 6 to 9 months |
| IRCC processes federal PR application after CSQ | 12 to 18 months |
| Total from declaration to landing | 24 to 36 months |
Stream 3 candidates with regulator authorization in hand often run shorter at the front end because invitations come faster. Stream 2 candidates already living in Quebec face the shortest federal step because their proof-of-residence and work documents are easy to verify.
PSTQ vs the Federal Express Entry: Which Should You Apply To?
If you live in Quebec or want to settle there, the PSTQ is your federal-equivalent path. Quebec is not part of federal Express Entry, so a Quebec-bound applicant cannot win an Invitation to Apply for federal FSW, FST, or CEC and land in Quebec. The closest comparison sits side by side:
| Factor | PSTQ (Quebec) | Federal Express Entry (rest of Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Selection authority | MIFI (Quebec) | IRCC |
| Pool | Arrima | Express Entry pool |
| Scoring | 1,400-point PSTQ grid (varies by stream) | 1,200-point CRS grid (uniform across FSW, FST, CEC) |
| Language | French is mandatory for Streams 1-3 | English or French; one passing test |
| Province of intended residence | Quebec only | Any province except Quebec |
| Pathway | Declaration > invitation > CSQ > federal PR | Profile > invitation > federal PR |
| Federal processing time | 12 to 18 months after CSQ | 6 months service standard |
| Total time | 24 to 36 months typical | 12 to 18 months typical |
If you have a strong English-language profile, no French, and no specific tie to Quebec, federal Express Entry is faster. If French is part of who you are, or if you already live, study, or work in Quebec, PSTQ is the route that matches your facts.
Common Mistakes That Sink PSTQ Applications
After a year of PSTQ draws, the patterns are visible:
- Stale Arrima profiles from before November 29, 2024. Old PRTQ-era declarations had to be updated to PSTQ format. Applicants who never refreshed are not in the new pool.
- Skipping the Quebec Values attestation. It is a separate course and certificate, not a checkbox inside the application. MIFI returns files without it.
- Underestimating the French level on Stream 1. Self-assessed B2 is rarely level 7 oral on a TEF Canada test. Test before you declare, then declare the actual result.
- Choosing the wrong stream. TEER 3 chefs and welders sometimes file under Stream 1 because the title sounds “skilled.” Stream 1 is TEER 0-2 only. The right stream is Stream 2.
- Settlement-funds proof from accounts the applicant does not legally control. Joint family accounts, parent-funded balances, and untraceable transfers fail. MIFI wants six months of bank history on accounts in the principal applicant’s name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Quebec Skilled Worker Program still open in 2026?
Yes. The PSTQ is the active version of the program and Quebec runs Arrima draws monthly. The pause that followed the November 29, 2024 PSTQ launch ended in mid-2025, and the Ministère has invited 7,518 candidates in the first three draws of 2026 alone. (2026 Arrima invitations)
Do I need French for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?
Yes for Streams 1, 2, and 3, which together cover almost every applicant. Stream 1 and the higher tier of Stream 3 require oral level 7 and written level 5 on the Quebec scale (roughly NCLC/CLB 7 and 5). Stream 2 and the lower tier of Stream 3 require oral level 5. Stream 4 (exceptional talent) is the only stream where the French bar can be waived case-by-case.
How long does the Quebec Skilled Worker Program take from start to finish?
Plan on 24 to 36 months from your first Arrima declaration to landing as a permanent resident in 2026. That breaks down to a few months building the file, anywhere from one month to over a year waiting for an Arrima invitation, up to 60 days to file the CSQ application, 6 to 9 months at MIFI, and 12 to 18 months at IRCC. (Immigration.ca processing times)
What is the difference between the CSQ and Canadian permanent residence?
The CSQ is a Quebec-issued selection certificate that says Quebec wants you as a permanent resident. It is not permanent residence on its own. After the CSQ, you apply to IRCC for a federal permanent residence visa. IRCC handles medical, security, and admissibility checks. Your PR status starts the day you land in Canada with a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), not the day you receive the CSQ.
What replaced the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program?
The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), launched November 29, 2024, replaced the Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ), known in English as the Regular Skilled Worker Program or RSWP. The PSTQ kept the basic two-stage CSQ-then-PR architecture but changed the streams, the scoring grid, and the French requirements. (Quebec.ca PSTQ launch announcement)
How much does it cost to apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?
On the 2026 schedule, the CSQ application fee is CAD$840 for the principal applicant and CAD$201 for each accompanying family member. The federal IRCC step adds CAD$1,590 per adult (CAD$990 processing + CAD$600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee) and CAD$260 per dependent child, plus biometrics at CAD$85 per person. A single applicant should plan on roughly CAD$2,515 in government fees, before language tests, document translations, and any consultant or lawyer fees.
Can I apply to the PSTQ from outside Canada?
Yes for Streams 1, 3, and 4. Stream 1 in particular is open to candidates with foreign work experience and no prior Quebec stay, although Quebec residency adds points and improves your draw chances. Stream 2 effectively requires you to be in Quebec already, because it asks for at least one year of full-time work in Quebec.
Do I have to take a French test before I declare interest on Arrima?
You do not have to upload the result at the declaration stage, but you should self-declare your level honestly. If you receive an invitation and cannot back the declared level with a valid TEF Canada or TCF Canada result, the application is refused. The smarter move is to test first, then declare the actual numbers.