Immigration Guide

PSTQ: Québec's Skilled Worker Selection Program in 2026

By Alex Francisco Updated Sep 30, 2026 Figures checked Sep 30, 2026 11 min read

What is the PSTQ and how do you immigrate to Québec as a skilled worker?

PSTQ is Québec's Skilled Worker Selection Program: you file a free expression of interest in Arrima, apply to Québec if invited, receive a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) if selected, then apply to IRCC for permanent residence. The latest round, on September 24, 2026, invited 519 people; all 2026 Stream 1 to 3 invitees had to be staying in Québec. Québec's principal-applicant fee is $940.

The PSTQ has four streams: highly qualified skills (TEER 0 to 2), intermediate and manual skills (TEER 3 to 5), regulated professions, and exceptional talent.
The September 24, 2026 round invited 519 people: 86 in Stream 1, 316 in Stream 2, 110 in Stream 3 and 7 in Stream 4.
Rounds shrank after June: from January to June 2026 each round invited 2,522 to 2,555 people, while each round from July to September invited 501 to 531.
Every Stream 1 to 3 invitation in 2026 required the candidate to be staying in Québec, so only Stream 4 invitations were open to candidates living elsewhere.
French is central: Stream 1 needs oral level 7 and written level 5, Stream 2 needs oral level 5, and an accompanying spouse needs oral level 4.
Québec charges $940 for the principal applicant ($201 per spouse or child), and IRCC then charges the federal permanent residence fees on top.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on September 30, 2026. Sources

This guide explains the PSTQ, Québec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, using Québec.ca and IRCC pages checked on September 30, 2026. It is general information, not immigration or legal advice. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) changes invitation criteria from one round to the next, so check your own Arrima account and the official invitations page before making plans, and use a representative recognized by the Ministère if you want help.

What is the PSTQ?

The PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés) is how Québec picks skilled workers for permanent immigration. It replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) on November 29, 2024, and it covers every occupation on the Québec job market through four streams.

Québec runs its own selection because of a special immigration agreement with the federal government. That is why Québec has no provincial nominee program and why the PSTQ does not sit inside Express Entry. The process has two separate stages:

Québec selects you. You file an expression of interest in Arrima, the MIFI invites you, you apply, and a successful file ends with a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
Canada admits you. With the CSQ, you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence as a Quebec-selected skilled worker. IRCC needs a complete application, including police certificates, and makes the final permanent residence decision.

If you are comparing Québec with the other provinces, the provincial nominee programs guide shows how the PNPs work, and the latest Express Entry draws show the federal route that the PSTQ does not use.

What were the latest PSTQ invitations in 2026?

The latest PSTQ round was held on September 24, 2026, when the MIFI invited 519 people: 86 in Stream 1, 316 in Stream 2, 110 in Stream 3 and 7 in Stream 4. The table lists every 2026 round published on Québec.ca, newest first.

PSTQ invitations in Arrima by stream, 2026

How to read this table: each row is one invitation date. The total adds the four streams. For August 27, 2026, the English Québec.ca page shows 'XXX' for Stream 2; the French page gives 314, which is used here.

Invitation date	Stream 1: highly qualified	Stream 2: intermediate and manual	Stream 3: regulated professions	Stream 4: exceptional talent	Total invited
September 24, 2026	86	316	110	7	519
August 27, 2026	87	314	109	21	531
July 30, 2026	105	296	110	12	523
July 3, 2026	74	289	131	7	501
June 4, 2026	1,094	756	677	22	2,549
April 30, 2026	983	506	1,058	8	2,555
March 19 and 20, 2026	893	509	1,118	2	2,522
February 26, 2026	907	495	1,141	6	2,549
January 29, 2026	1,094	683	750	20	2,547

The size of each round changed sharply in the middle of the year. The five rounds from January to June invited 12,722 people, about 2,544 per round. The four rounds from July to September invited 2,074 people, about 519 per round, or roughly 80% fewer per round. Stream 1 took the biggest cut, from 1,094 invitations on June 4 to 74 on July 3. Québec.ca publishes the numbers but gives no reason for the drop, so the smaller July-to-September rounds are the most recent pattern, not a forecast.

Across all 2026 rounds through September 24, the MIFI invited 14,796 people through the four streams. Since January 1, 2026, it has also invited 17 more people without applying the usual invitation criteria, under section 26 of the Québec Immigration Regulation.

PSTQ minimum scores by stream

Each round is split into several “exercises”. Every exercise targets a profile (for example, people with a Québec diploma, or a list of priority occupations such as early childhood educators, welders or cybersecurity specialists) and invites the highest scores in that profile until the target number is reached. The minimum score of an exercise is the score of the last person invited, so a single round has several cut-offs per stream.

PSTQ minimum scores per round: lowest to highest cut-off by stream

How to read this table: each cell shows the lowest and highest minimum score among that stream's exercises on that date. A low number usually belongs to a narrow profile (such as a short occupation list), not the whole stream.

Invitation date	Stream 1 cut-offs	Stream 2 cut-offs	Stream 3 cut-offs	Stream 4
September 24, 2026	634 to 706	611 to 706	380 to 697	No score used
August 27, 2026	639 to 710	616 to 706	393 to 694	No score used
July 30, 2026	651 to 702	621 to 702	376 to 700	No score used
July 3, 2026	628 to 726	628 to 726	475 to 656	No score used
June 4, 2026	666 to 692	624 to 653	556 to 637	No score used
April 30, 2026	571 to 716	494 to 660	382 to 728	No score used
March 19 and 20, 2026	588 to 718	505 to 679	397 to 740	No score used
February 26, 2026	627 to 741	562 to 756	452 to 774	No score used
January 29, 2026	674 to 782	609 to 800	546 to 855	No score used

Two cautions before reading too much into those scores. First, Québec.ca says it is “not useful” to compare minimum scores between streams, because each stream uses different criteria. Second, a high score does not guarantee anything: you must also match the profile an exercise targets, and in 2026 that always included being in Québec for Streams 1 to 3.

Who qualifies for each PSTQ stream?

Your stream is set by the main occupation in your expression of interest, using its five-digit National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. The second digit of that code is the TEER category (Québec calls it FEER), which decides between Stream 1 and Stream 2. Whether the job needs a licence in Québec decides Stream 3.

PSTQ streams: occupation, experience, education and French requirements

How to read this table: French levels are on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français. Up to 3 months of compulsory internships can count as experience.

Stream	Main occupation	Work experience	Education or key document	Your French	Accompanying spouse French
Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills	TEER 0, 1 or 2 occupation that can be practised without a licence in Québec	At least 1 year (12 months) full-time in the main occupation in the last 5 years, in or outside Québec	Diploma from a full-time program of at least 1 year: DEP or ASP, AEC or technical DEC, or a university certificate or degree	Oral level 7 or higher and written level 5 or higher (Échelle québécoise)	Oral level 4 or higher
Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills	TEER 3, 4 or 5 occupation that can be practised without a licence in Québec	At least 2 years in the main occupation in the last 5 years, including at least 1 year in Québec	At least a Québec-equivalent secondary school diploma (DES), or a 1-year full-time DEP, ASP or AEC	Oral level 5 or higher	Oral level 4 or higher
Stream 3: Regulated professions	Occupation on the Ministère's list of regulated professions, with an authorization to practise or a partial or full recognition of equivalence from the Québec regulator	No experience criterion at the invitation stage	An authorization to practise from the Québec regulator, or proof of partial or full recognition of equivalence dated no more than 5 years before the application	TEER 0 to 2: oral level 7 and written level 5; TEER 3 to 5: oral level 5	Oral level 4 or higher
Stream 4: Exceptional talent	Exceptional expertise shown by an achievement on the Ministère's list or a positive opinion from a partner (MEIE, FRQ, CALQ or INS)	At least 3 years in the main occupation in the last 5 years	No education criterion at the invitation stage (achievement-list invitations in 2026 also required a doctorate)	No French criterion applied at the invitation stage	No criterion applied

On top of the stream rules, every applicant must be at least 18, intend to settle in Québec to work for a company they do not control (outside a few ineligible sectors such as payday lending), sign a financial self-sufficiency contract covering the first three months after becoming a permanent resident, and obtain the Attestation d’apprentissage des valeurs démocratiques et des valeurs québécoises (as must each accompanying adult). The self-sufficiency amounts are set in a scale published by the Ministère in French, and they depend on family size.

Some practical points that trip people up:

Stream 2 is built for people already in Québec. It needs 2 years of experience in the last 5, and at least 1 of those years must be in Québec. Experience outside Québec counts for only 1 year.
Stream 3 lets you wait for the regulator. If your job is on the Ministère’s list of regulated professions, Québec.ca recommends not starting the process with the Québec regulator until you are invited. After accepting a Stream 3 invitation without the regulator’s document, you get 1 year, instead of 60 days, to obtain it and apply.
Stream 4 is narrow. It needs an achievement on the Ministère’s list or a positive opinion from a partner: the ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (strategic economic sectors), the Fonds de recherche du Québec (research), the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (arts) or the Institut national du sport du Québec (sports). Stream 4 rounds in 2026 ranged from 2 to 22 invitations.

How does the Arrima score and invitation process work?

Filing an expression of interest in Arrima is free. Your profile is scored on human capital (French, age, experience, education), Québec’s labour needs and priorities (labour market diagnosis for your occupation, a Québec diploma, Québec work experience, time spent outside the Montréal metropolitan area, a validated job offer) and adaptation factors (studies in Québec, family in Québec, and your spouse’s French, age, Québec work experience, education and Québec diploma). In Stream 3, an authorization to practise or a recognition of equivalence from the regulator also scores.

Invitations then follow three steps, as described on Québec.ca:

Stream filter. The system keeps the profiles that meet the stream’s basic conditions for occupation, experience, French and education.
Profile targeting. The MIFI may add criteria for a specific profile, such as a Québec diploma, a stay outside the Montréal area or a list of NOC codes. This step is optional.
Highest scores invited. The MIFI picks a number of invitations and invites the top scores among the remaining profiles. No one is selected at random.

The Ministère publishes a PDF self-evaluation form (in French) that estimates your score. Treat it as a rough guide: the score shown in your expression of interest is the one that counts.

How do you apply for the PSTQ, step by step?

Check your NOC code and stream on Québec.ca, and confirm whether your job is regulated in Québec.
Get a recent French test (and one for an accompanying spouse). Results must be from the last 2 years.
Create an Arrima account and file the expression of interest. List every paid job and internship from the last 5 years. Keep it updated if your situation changes.
Watch your Arrima message centre. An email tells you when a message arrives, but checking the account is your responsibility.
Accept the invitation within 30 days, then submit the full application with documents (one colour PDF) and the Québec fee.
Complete the values attestation when asked, and answer any request for documents or an interview on time.
Receive the CSQ, then apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Every step has a time limit, and missing one usually means starting over.

PSTQ deadlines from expression of interest to application

How to read this table: the 60-day application clock starts when you accept the invitation, not when it is issued.

Step	Time limit	What to know
Finish and submit an expression of interest in Arrima	90 days from the date it is created	Filing is free
Expression of interest stays in the bank	12 months from filing	Cannot be extended; a new one can be filed, free
Accept or decline an invitation	30 days from the invitation	No answer = the expression of interest is removed
Submit the permanent selection application (Streams 1, 2, 4, or 3 with the regulator's document)	60 days from accepting	With documents and the Québec fee
Submit the application (Stream 3 without the regulator's document yet)	1 year from accepting	Time to get recognition from the regulator
Obtain the Attestation d'apprentissage des valeurs démocratiques et des valeurs québécoises	60 days from the Ministère's request	Each accompanying family member aged 18 or over too
Resend rejected or incomplete documents	60 days from the Ministère's letter	After that the application is rejected
French test results used in the expression of interest	Taken within the last 2 years	Accepted tests and diplomas listed by the Ministère

Worked example: invitation to application deadline

Suppose a Stream 1 candidate is invited on October 29, 2026 and waits until the last possible day to accept. Acceptance is due by November 28, 2026, and the complete application with documents and fees is then due by January 27, 2027. Documents like birth certificates, diplomas and employment letters in other languages need a recognized translation into French or English, which takes time, and the 60-day clock does not stop for it.

How much does Québec immigration through the PSTQ cost?

The PSTQ has two sets of government fees: Québec’s fee for examining the permanent selection application, then IRCC’s fees for the permanent residence application.

PSTQ and federal PR fees for Quebec-selected skilled workers

How to read this table: Québec fees apply from January 1, 2026 and change every January 1. The Québec fee is not refunded if the application is refused; IRCC refunds only the right of permanent residence fee if the application is withdrawn or refused.

Stage	Who pays or what for	Fee
Québec (MIFI) permanent selection application	Principal applicant	$940
Québec (MIFI) permanent selection application	Spouse or common-law partner	$201
Québec (MIFI) permanent selection application	Each dependent child	$201
IRCC permanent residence application	Principal applicant processing fee	$990
IRCC permanent residence application	Right of permanent residence fee (principal applicant and spouse)	$600
IRCC permanent residence application	Spouse or partner processing fee	$990
IRCC permanent residence application	Each dependent child	$270
IRCC biometrics	Per person (maximum for a family applying together: $170)	$85

Put together, the government fees for a single applicant come to about $2,615. For a couple with one child, Québec charges $1,342, IRCC charges $3,450, and family biometrics are capped at $170, for a total of about $4,962.

That is not the full cost of moving. Budget for French tests, translations, police certificates, travel, and the money the self-sufficiency contract says you can live on for the first three months. The IRCC fees guide explains the federal side in more detail.

How long does the PSTQ take?

Québec does not post a processing time in months. On September 14, 2026 the MIFI said it was reviewing PSTQ applications received in January 2026, with incomplete files or files needing extra checks taking longer. The clock starts when your application is received, not when you are invited. Since May 13, 2026, the Ministère has been processing temporary foreign workers whose work permits are expired or about to expire first, but it does not guarantee a decision before a permit runs out.

After the CSQ, the federal stage adds its own wait. IRCC publishes a processing time for Quebec-selected skilled workers in its online tool, so check it on the day you apply rather than relying on an old figure.

What happens after you get your CSQ?

With a CSQ in hand, the next moves depend on where you are:

Abroad: apply to IRCC for permanent residence. With a CSQ up to 24 months old, you may qualify for an open work permit under the International Mobility Program Plus (IMP+), which lets you start working in Québec sooner.
Already working in Québec: keep your status valid. Before you apply for PR, or after applying but before IRCC acknowledges receipt, you may be able to get an employer-specific, LMIA-exempt work permit (your employer has steps to take with IRCC); once IRCC sends an acknowledgement of receipt for your PR application you may apply for a bridging open work permit. None of these needs a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ).
After becoming a permanent resident: get a permanent Social Insurance Number, apply for a new RAMQ health insurance card (it may not cover medical care for the first three months, so Québec.ca recommends private insurance for that gap if no group plan covers you), and get a Québec driver’s licence, since a licence from your country of origin can be used for at most six months after you become a permanent resident.

Money setup matters in the first weeks too. A Canadian bank account comes first (see the newcomer bank account guide), and Québec residents file two tax returns each year, one to the Canada Revenue Agency and one to Revenu Québec. The Québec income tax calculator shows what a job offer’s salary leaves after federal and provincial tax.

Which Québec immigration program fits: PSTQ, PEQ or a business program?

The PSTQ is the main door for skilled workers, but it is not the only Québec immigration program open in 2026. The Québec Experience Program (PEQ) reopened on July 2, 2026 for Québec graduates and temporary foreign workers who met its criteria on November 19, 2025, and it takes applications in Arrima until October 31, 2026. Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed workers have separate programs.

Québec immigration programs and their status in 2026

How to read this table: 'open' means Québec.ca shows 2026 invitations or accepts applications; 'closed' means the program ended or was replaced. Applications filed before a pilot ended are still processed.

Program or stream	Status	Who it is for
PSTQ Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills	open	Skilled workers in a TEER 0, 1 or 2 occupation that needs no licence, with at least 1 year of experience in the last 5 years, a qualifying diploma, and French at oral level 7 and written level 5.
PSTQ Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills	open	Workers in a TEER 3, 4 or 5 occupation with at least 2 years of experience in the last 5 years, including 1 year in Québec, a qualifying diploma, and oral French at level 5.
PSTQ Stream 3: Regulated professions	open	People whose main occupation is on the Ministère's list of regulated professions and who hold an authorization to practise or a recognition of equivalence from the Québec regulator.
PSTQ Stream 4: Exceptional talent	open	People with exceptional expertise in their field (listed achievement or a positive opinion from a Ministère partner) and at least 3 years in their occupation in the last 5 years.
PEQ: Québec Graduates (Diplômés du Québec)	open	International graduates of an eligible Québec diploma obtained by November 19, 2025 who are staying in Québec (work not required) and meet the French requirement.
PEQ: Temporary Foreign Workers (Travailleurs étrangers temporaires)	open	Temporary foreign workers with at least 2 years of TEER 0-3 work experience in Québec as of November 19, 2025 who hold a qualifying job in Québec when they apply.
Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ)	closed	Former skilled worker program; only people invited before November 29, 2024 could apply.
Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in food processing	closed	Temporary foreign workers in the food-processing sector.
Permanent immigration pilot program for orderlies	closed	Temporary foreign workers working as orderlies.
Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors	closed	Workers in artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects.
Investor Program	open	Investors who want to settle in Québec and invest in Québec.
Entrepreneur Program – Stream 1: Innovative business	open	Entrepreneurs starting an innovative business or project in Québec with the support of an accompanying organization.
Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2: Business startup	open	Entrepreneurs starting a business in Québec or operating one they already started.
Entrepreneur Program – Stream 3: Business takeover	open	Entrepreneurs taking over a Québec business with the help of a support organization.
Self-Employed Worker Program	open	People who want to settle in Québec and work for themselves.

Source: Immigrate as a provincial nominee — how to apply (IRCC); Immigration programs for skilled workers — Québec.ca; PSTQ — requirements that need to be met — Québec.ca; PSTQ — requirements (employment) — Québec.ca; PSTQ — submitting an application (fees) — Québec.ca; Invitations in Arrima for the PSTQ (2026) — Québec.ca; Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) — Québec.ca; Réouverture temporaire du PEQ (MIFI news, June 17, 2026) — Québec.ca; PEQ — conditions for temporary foreign workers — Québec.ca; PEQ — présenter une demande (frais) — Québec.ca; Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in food processing — Québec.ca; Applying to immigrate to Québec as an investor — Québec.ca; Applying to immigrate to Québec as a self-employed worker — Québec.ca; Entrepreneur Program, Stream 1 (innovative business) — applying — Québec.ca; Entrepreneur Program, Stream 2 (business startup) — applying — Québec.ca; Entrepreneur Program, Stream 3 (business takeover) — applying — Québec.ca. In effect from July 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026; checked September 29, 2026.

If you are not tied to Québec, it is worth comparing: other provinces select through provincial nominee programs, and many of their streams are linked to Express Entry, where the Comprehensive Ranking System score matters. The CRS calculator estimates that score. If Montréal is the plan, the Montréal guide covers rent and living costs.

What changes next?

Invitation rounds: Québec.ca adds each new round to the 2026 invitations page. Rounds have come about once a month, and this page is refreshed after each one.
Fees: the Québec examination fee is adjusted every January 1, so the $940 principal-applicant fee applies to applications paid in 2026.
PEQ window: the PEQ is reopened until July 2, 2028, but applications are received only from July 2 to October 31, 2026. Québec.ca has not announced another receipt period after that date.
Criteria: the invitation criteria and scoring grid were published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on July 2, 2025 (erratum July 9, 2025). The criteria applied in each round are listed on the Québec.ca invitations page and can change from one round to the next.

Common PSTQ mistakes to avoid

Changing the main occupation after an invitation. The application is examined on the occupation in your expression of interest when you were invited. To switch, decline the invitation and update the expression of interest, or, if already accepted, do not submit the application and file a new expression of interest after the deadline; there is no guarantee of a new invitation.
Letting the expression of interest expire. It lasts 12 months and cannot be extended. File a new one, free, before planning around the next round.
Old French results. Tests older than 2 years are not accepted, and the spouse’s result counts for Streams 1 to 3.
Missing the 30-day window. An unanswered invitation cancels the expression of interest entirely.
Paying for “priority”. Using a paid representative does not speed anything up, and filing an expression of interest needs no help. If you hire someone, check the Ministère has recognized them.
False or misleading information. It can lead to rejection and a five-year ban on new applications.

If something goes wrong with your file, contact the MIFI at 514-864-9191 (Greater Montréal) or 1-877-864-9191 (elsewhere in Québec), or use the contact form on Québec.ca. If an intent-to-refuse or intent-to-reject letter arrives, answer it with the requested documents before its deadline; under certain conditions a final refusal can be challenged through an administrative review.

Frequently asked questions

What is the PSTQ in Québec?

PSTQ stands for Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, Québec's Skilled Worker Selection Program. It replaced the older Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) on November 29, 2024. Candidates file an expression of interest in the Arrima portal, the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) invites profiles by stream, and people who are selected receive a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The CSQ is then used to apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

When is the next PSTQ draw?

Québec does not publish a calendar of PSTQ invitation rounds. In 2026, rounds were held on January 29, February 26, March 19 and 20, April 30, June 4, July 3, July 30, August 27 and September 24, so they have come roughly once a month (with no round in May), usually late in the month. Results appear on the Québec.ca invitations page, and invited candidates get a message in their Arrima message centre, which they are responsible for checking.

What is the minimum score for the PSTQ?

There is no single cut-off. Each round is split into exercises that target different profiles, and each exercise has its own minimum score, which is the score of the last person invited. In the September 24, 2026 round the minimum scores ranged from 634 to 706 in Stream 1, 611 to 706 in Stream 2 and 380 to 697 in Stream 3. Stream 4 invitations use no score. Québec.ca warns that scores should not be compared between streams.

Can I apply for the PSTQ from outside Canada?

Anyone who meets the conditions can file an expression of interest in Arrima from anywhere. Invitations are another matter: every Stream 1, 2 and 3 invitation exercise in 2026 required the candidate to be staying in Québec. Stream 4 (exceptional talent) exercises had no such criterion. Stream 2 also requires at least 1 year of work experience in Québec, so it is built for people already working there.

What French level do you need for the PSTQ?

Levels are on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français. Stream 1 needs oral level 7 and written level 5. Stream 2 needs oral level 5. Stream 3 follows the TEER category of the occupation: TEER 0 to 2 uses the Stream 1 levels and TEER 3 to 5 uses oral level 5. An accompanying spouse needs oral level 4 in Streams 1 to 3. French test results used in the expression of interest must be less than 2 years old.

How much does the PSTQ cost?

Québec's examination fee for a permanent selection application is $940 for the principal applicant and $201 for a spouse or each dependent child, paid by credit card and not refunded if the application is refused. After the CSQ, IRCC charges its economic immigration fees: a $990 processing fee and a $600 right of permanent residence fee per adult, $270 per dependent child, and $85 per person for biometrics.

How long is a PSTQ expression of interest valid?

An expression of interest stays in the Arrima bank for 12 months from the day it is filed. It cannot be extended or renewed, but a new one can be filed for free, and the old information carries over. After creating an expression of interest, candidates have 90 days to finish and submit it, or it is deleted. Updating it does not restart the 12-month clock.

Do you need a job offer for the PSTQ?

No. Québec.ca says candidates do not need to be employed, or last employed, in their main occupation when they are invited or apply. A job offer validated by the Ministère is one of the scored criteria, so it can raise a ranking, and some 2026 exercises targeted specific occupations. Stream 2 does require at least 1 year of work experience in Québec within the last 5 years.

Is the PSTQ part of Express Entry or the PNP?

No. Québec has a special immigration agreement with Canada and selects its own economic immigrants, so it has no provincial nominee program and does not nominate through Express Entry. A PSTQ candidate applies to Québec first, receives a CSQ, and only then files a federal permanent residence application with IRCC as a Quebec-selected skilled worker. Express Entry profiles and CRS scores play no role in the PSTQ.

What do you do after receiving a CSQ?

Apply to IRCC for permanent residence as a Quebec-selected skilled worker, with police certificates and the federal fees. While the file is processed, people abroad with a CSQ up to 24 months old may qualify for an open work permit under the International Mobility Program Plus, and people already in Québec may be able to renew a work permit or get a bridging open work permit. After landing, apply for a new RAMQ card and a permanent SIN.

How long does PSTQ processing take?

Québec does not post a number of months. On September 14, 2026 the Ministère said it was reviewing PSTQ applications received in January 2026, and processing time starts when the application is received, not at the invitation. Since May 13, 2026, temporary foreign workers whose work permits are expired or about to expire are processed first. The federal permanent residence stage with IRCC comes after that and has its own processing time.

Is the Québec Experience Program (PEQ) open in 2026?

Yes, temporarily. Québec reopened the Programme de l'expérience québécoise for two years from July 2, 2026, with an application-receipt period in Arrima from July 2 to October 31, 2026. It covers Québec graduates and temporary foreign workers who met the receipt criteria on November 19, 2025. Unlike the PSTQ, the PEQ takes applications directly without an invitation round, and the principal applicant fee is also $940.

Part of our Provincial Nominee Program: how PNP nomination works in every province.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 29, 2026
Next scheduled check: October 30, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
Québec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) — streams, Arrima invitations, deadlines and fees	September 24, 2026	September 30, 2026
Québec economic immigration selection programs (no PNP)	July 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026	September 29, 2026

Official sources

Invitations in Arrima for the PSTQ (2026) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Invitations dans Arrima pour le PSTQ (2026), volet 2, 27 août 2026 — Québec.ca (version française) — Gouvernement du Québec
Invitation to apply for permanent selection through the PSTQ — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Requirements that need to be met under the PSTQ — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Completing an expression of interest (PSTQ) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Submitting an application for permanent selection (PSTQ) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Examination of the permanent selection application (PSTQ) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
After receiving your Certificat de sélection du Québec (PSTQ) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Quebec-selected skilled workers — IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Quebec-selected skilled workers — who can apply — IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list — IRCC (economic immigration, including Quebec-selected skilled workers) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Immigrate as a provincial nominee — how to apply (IRCC) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Immigration programs for skilled workers — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Réouverture temporaire du PEQ (MIFI news, June 17, 2026) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
PEQ — conditions for temporary foreign workers — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
PEQ — présenter une demande (frais) — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in food processing — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Applying to immigrate to Québec as an investor — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Applying to immigrate to Québec as a self-employed worker — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Entrepreneur Program, Stream 1 (innovative business) — applying — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Entrepreneur Program, Stream 2 (business startup) — applying — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec
Entrepreneur Program, Stream 3 (business takeover) — applying — Québec.ca — Gouvernement du Québec

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