Quebec Immigration

Program Overview

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec establishes its own immigration requirements and selects candidates who will adapt well to living in Quebec. Candidates selected by Quebec receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) and can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

Status on 6 November 2026: The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) was abolished on 19 November 2025 and reinstated on 2 July 2026 for a first application window that ran to 31 October 2026. That window has closed, and quebec.ca says no decision has been made on a further one. The Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is the route open to new applicants: file a declaration of interest in Arrima and wait for an invitation. PSTQ Streams 1 to 3 require French.

Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) Invitation Only

The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) on 29 November 2024. Candidates file a declaration of interest in Arrima, are ranked on a points system, and the ministry invites them stream by stream. No lottery is used, and a high score does not guarantee an invitation.

The four streams:

• Stream 1, High Qualification and Specialized Skills: FEER 0, 1 or 2 occupations that are not regulated in Quebec. One year of paid full-time experience in the past five years, a qualifying diploma of at least one year, and French at oral level 7 and written level 5.
• Stream 2, Intermediate and Manual Skills: FEER 3, 4 or 5 occupations. Two years of paid experience in the past five years, at least one year of it in Quebec, a secondary diploma or higher, and French at oral level 5.
• Stream 3, Regulated Professions: occupations on Quebec's list of regulated professions. You need an authorisation to practise or proof of partial or full recognition from the regulatory body. French is oral level 7 and written level 5 for FEER 0 to 2, and oral level 5 for FEER 3 to 5.
• Stream 4, Exceptional Talent: three years of experience in the past five years, plus an achievement on the ministry's list or a positive opinion from a ministry partner in strategic economic sectors, research, arts or sport.

Key Features:

• Arrima Portal: Candidates file a declaration of interest in Arrima. Invitations are issued by stream, and the criteria and minimum score change from round to round.
• Language: French is assessed on the Quebec scale. An accompanying spouse needs oral level 4 for Streams 1 to 3.
• Quebec Experience: Quebec work experience, a Quebec diploma and time spent studying in Quebec earn points.
• Job Offer: A validated job offer in your main occupation earns points and can be combined with a location inside or outside the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM).

PSTQ Fees, Timelines and 2026 Activity

• Fees: From 1 January 2026 the CSQ examination fee is CAD 940 for the principal applicant, CAD 201 for a spouse or partner and CAD 201 for each dependent child. Fees are adjusted every 1 January, paid by credit card and not refundable. After the CSQ, the federal permanent residence fee for a single applicant is CAD 1,675 (CAD 1,590 plus CAD 85 biometrics).
• Deadlines: You have 30 days to accept an invitation and 60 days from acceptance to submit the application. In Stream 3, if you do not yet hold the regulatory body's proof, you have one year to submit.
• Invitations: 14,615 people were invited between December 2025 and 10 June 2026, and 8,693 of them declared a targeted occupation linked to priority sectors. Stream 1 rounds held between January and June 2026 invited 893 to 1,094 candidates, and rounds held between July and September 2026 invited 74 to 105. Quebec said invitations would resume from November 2026 according to the volume of PEQ applications.
• Processing: quebec.ca states that it is reviewing PSTQ applications received in February and March 2026, counting from the date the application is received and not from the invitation. The page gives no fixed processing time.
• Work permits: An IRCC public policy dated 5 June 2026 and valid to 31 December 2026 allows PSTQ-invited workers who have filed their application to obtain a work permit with the same employer, and allows accompanying spouses to apply for open work permits. Check the IRCC page for the exact conditions.

Quebec Business Immigration

This program targets business people who can contribute to Quebec's economy.

• Entrepreneur Program: Three categories: innovative business with the support of an accompanying organisation, business start-up, and takeover of an existing business. The start-up category fee is CAD 1,272 for the principal applicant and CAD 201 for a spouse and for each child, and it requires French at oral level 7.
• Investor Program: Requires a net worth of CAD 2,000,000, two years of management experience in the past five years, and an investment through a financial intermediary of CAD 1,000,000 held for five years plus a CAD 200,000 financial contribution. The fee is CAD 18,241 for the principal applicant, with no fee for a spouse or children.
• Self-Employed Worker Program: For people who will work on their own account in Quebec. The fee is CAD 1,272 for the principal applicant and CAD 201 for a spouse and for each child.

Note: The investor, business start-up and self-employed pages on quebec.ca say applications can be made at any time with no cap, but its business pages were last updated on 18 April 2024. Confirm the current conditions with the ministry before committing funds. French requirements differ by programme.