Quebec Holds First Round of Invitations Under New Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)

On July 17, 2025, Quebec issued its first invitations under the newly launched Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ). This marks the beginning of a new phase for skilled immigration to the province.

The invitations were sent to candidates already living in Quebec, especially those who:

• Speak French
• Have studied or worked in Quebec
• Are employed in occupations facing labour shortages in the province
  
  

Streams Targeted in This Round

Quebec focused on two streams of the PSTQ in this round:

• Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
• Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
  
  

Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills

A total of 216 invitations were issued under this stream. To be eligible, candidates had to meet several key requirements:

• Score at least 768 points on the PSTQ points grid
• Reside in Quebec
• Hold a Quebec diploma from a university, college, or secondary vocational school
  (For college or vocational studies, the program must be at least 900 hours. For university programs, at least 30 credits are required.)
  
  

Other important criteria included:

• Primary occupation must fall under FEER categories 0, 1, or 2
• At least 12 months of work experience in the primary occupation within the last 5 years
• Not planning to work in a regulated profession
• Demonstrate at least level 7 in spoken French and level 5 in written French (based on Quebec’s official language proficiency scale or equivalent)
• If applicable, spouses must have level 4 or higher in both oral French competencies
  
  

Stream 4: Exceptional Talent

Under this stream, 22 candidates were invited. Applicants needed to have a post-graduate (doctoral) diploma to qualify. Additional requirements included:

• Holding one of the following:
• A positive opinion from a Quebec ministry partner in a targeted field; or
• A document proving recognition from the Ministry’s List of Exceptional Accomplishments
• At least 3 years of work experience in the primary occupation within the last 5 years
  
  

About the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)

The PSTQ is Quebec’s new immigration program that replaced the former Regular Skilled Worker Program in 2024. However, no invitations had been issued until this latest round in July 2025.

To be eligible under the PSTQ, applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Intend to settle in Quebec for a job that is:
• Not with a company they own or control
• Not in a restricted industry
• Be able to perform the intended job
  
  

Applicants under any of the four PSTQ streams must also:

• Meet the specific criteria related to their stream
• Sign a Financial Self-Sufficiency Contract showing they can support themselves and their family for the first 3 months in Quebec
• Obtain an Attestation of Learning of Democratic and Quebec Values as per the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
  (This also applies to all accompanying family members aged 18 or older)
• Fulfill any return conditions related to a Quebec-based scholarship, if applicable
  
  

How to Apply

To be considered under the PSTQ, interested individuals must submit a declaration of interest through Arrima, Quebec’s online portal.

If the declaration was submitted before November 29, 2024 (when the PSTQ came into effect), it must be updated.

Candidates are ranked using the PSTQ scoring system, and those with high scores who meet the criteria may be invited to apply for permanent selection under one of the streams.