Updated July 2026. Quebec runs its own, entirely separate immigration system from the rest of Canada — it selects its own economic immigrants and then refers approved candidates to IRCC for final federal permanent residence approval. Here’s how the current system actually works.
The Main Pathway: PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés)
The Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is now the only route for permanent selection of skilled workers in Quebec. It has four streams, each with its own selection criteria based on the occupations it targets:
- Specialized Skills — for high-skill occupations (French required)
- Intermediate Skills — for mid-skill occupations (French required)
- Regulated Professions — for professions requiring licensing in Quebec (French required)
- A fourth stream open to a broader range of occupations on the Quebec labour market
French is mandatory for three of the four streams, with required oral proficiency ranging from level 5 to level 7 on the Échelle québécoise, depending on the stream and TEER category.
How to Apply: The Arrima Platform
- Submit a declaration of interest through Arrima, Quebec’s online immigration portal.
- You have 90 days to complete and submit it — after that, an incomplete declaration is deleted.
- Your profile is scored against Quebec’s own criteria and entered into a bank of declarations.
- If your profile matches Quebec’s needs and you meet the French requirement for your stream, you may receive an invitation in your Arrima message centre.
- You have 30 days to accept the invitation and submit your complete application through Mon projet Québec.
Programs That Recently Closed
Two things newcomers often ask about no longer exist: the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) — previously a fast-track for graduates and temporary workers — ended on November 19, 2025. Permanent immigration pilot programs for food processing, orderlies, and IT/AI workers also ended on January 1, 2026. If you were counting on either of these, you’ll need to apply through PSTQ instead.
2026-2029 Immigration Targets
Starting in 2026, Quebec plans to welcome 45,000 immigrants per year, with 64% being economic immigrants. The province has been explicit that its direction favours applicants who are proficient in French and who already have study or work experience in Quebec.
For official details, see Quebec’s official PSTQ page.
