Last verified: June 28, 2026 · Official sources: quebec.ca/PSTQ · canada.ca/Quebec-selected workers
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
Quebec selects its own immigrants — here's what that means
Quebec has a unique constitutional agreement with the federal government: it selects its own economic immigrants. If you want to settle permanently in Quebec as a skilled worker, you go through Quebec's own process — not Express Entry.
The process has two stages:
- Quebec evaluates and selects you, issuing a CSQ (CSQCSQ: Certificat de sélection du Québec — Quebec's own selection certificate. It is proof that Quebec has chosen to nominate you. You cannot apply to IRCC for PR under the Quebec-selected worker class without one.)
- You take the CSQ to IRCC and apply for permanent residence under the Quebec-selected worker class
→ Permanent Residence Hub — other federal and provincial pathways
What replaced PEQ?
The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) permanently closed on November 19, 2025.
PEQ was the fast-track for people who had already graduated from a Quebec institution or gained Quebec work experience. It is gone.
The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQPSTQ: Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés — Quebec's main skilled-worker selection program, managed through the Arrima portal. Candidates are scored on a points grid, placed in a pool, and invited by Quebec when their profile is competitive.) — accessed through the ArrimaArrima: Arrima is Quebec's secure online immigration portal. Candidates register, build a profile, and submit an expression of interest. Quebec draws from the Arrima pool and sends invitations to competitive candidates. portal — is now the main permanent skilled-worker selection stream. All skilled-worker candidates, whether inside or outside Quebec, go through PSTQ.
Who can apply under PSTQ?
PSTQ is for skilled workers who want to settle permanently in Quebec. There is no strict job-offer requirement built into PSTQ itself — Quebec evaluates candidates on a points grid — but the grid strongly favours those with:
- Strong French skills
- A valid job offer from a Quebec employer
- A Quebec diploma or training
- Prior legal stay in Quebec
- Experience in in-demand occupations
⚠️ Confirm current PSTQ eligibility criteria on quebec.ca before applying. Quebec can update requirements between review cycles.
The PSTQ points grid: French is now decisive
Quebec revised its selection grid in 2025–2026 to place French at the centre of selection:
- Oral French points increased from 16 to 22 (maximum) — now the single largest point-earner on the grid
- Age and education weight was reduced to compensate
- Advanced French is rewarded with significantly more points than intermediate French
Quebec's stated goal is that ~80% of new permanent residents have at least intermediate French by 2029.
In practice: a candidate with advanced French, a Quebec diploma, or a job offer from a Quebec employer will score substantially higher than an otherwise equivalent candidate without those factors.
⚠️ Confirm the current full points grid and maximum per factor at quebec.ca/PSTQ requirements.
How PSTQ/Arrima invitations work
PSTQ is not first-come, first-served. Quebec maintains a pool of candidates through Arrima and issues periodic invitations to the highest-scoring profiles:
- You register on Arrima and create an expression of interest with your profile
- Quebec draws from the pool and sends invitations to apply to competitive candidates
- If invited, you submit a full PSTQ application with supporting documents
- Quebec evaluates and (if approved) issues your CSQ
Invitations prioritize candidates who are settled in Quebec, hold a Quebec diploma, or work in in-demand occupations.
There is no fixed draw schedule — invitations can be issued at any time. Quebec publishes draw results on its official site; there is no equivalent to the federal Draw Tracker.
The two-step Quebec PR process
Step 1 — Quebec selection (CSQ)
- Register on Arrima and complete your profile (education, work history, French test results, family situation)
- Submit your expression of interest
- Wait for a Quebec invitation
- If invited, submit your full PSTQ application with supporting documents within the deadline
- Quebec evaluates and issues your CSQ if approved
Processing times for the Quebec selection step vary. Check quebec.ca for current estimates.
Step 2 — Federal PR application (IRCC)
Once you have a CSQ:
- Apply to IRCC for permanent residence under the Quebec-selected worker class
- IRCC conducts security and medical checks (standard for all PR applicants)
- If approved, you receive permanent residence
This federal step is handled separately — see canada.ca/Quebec-selected workers for the current federal process, fees, and processing times.
French language: what level and how to prove it
Quebec assesses French using its own benchmarks. Accepted tests include TEF (Test d'évaluation de français) and TEFAQ (oral/written variants). Results must not be too old — confirm the validity window on quebec.ca.
Given that oral French now carries the highest individual point weight on the PSTQ grid, improving your French before building your Arrima profile will have a larger positive impact on your invitation chances than almost any other factor.
→ Express Entry — French-language category draws — strong French also helps in federal Express Entry if you are considering provinces other than Quebec
Is PSTQ connected to Express Entry?
No. PSTQ and Express Entry are entirely separate systems. Quebec does not participate in the federal Express Entry pool. If you receive a CSQ through PSTQ, you apply to IRCC directly — not through an Express Entry ITA.
Candidates intending to live outside Quebec use Express Entry (CEC, FSW, or FST) or a provincial PNP. Quebec-bound skilled workers must use PSTQ.
→ Express Entry Overview → Canadian Experience Class (CEC)