On this page you will find
- Overview of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)
- General eligibility requirements
- How the Arrima invitation process works
- The four program streams and who they target
- How the points system is structured
- Step-by-step application guide
- Tips to boost your chances of selection
- Frequently asked questions
Program Overview
Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program – known in French as the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) – is the province’s primary pathway for economic immigration. The PSTQ replaced the former Regular Skilled Worker Program to align selection more closely with Quebec’s labour-market needs, French-language priorities and regional development goals. Applicants first submit an expression of interest in the Arrima portal; invitations to apply for permanent selection are then issued to the highest-scoring candidates who meet the current criteria.
Priority goes to candidates already living in Quebec who speak French, have local work or study experience – especially outside Montréal – and work in occupations facing labour shortages.
General Eligibility Requirements
To be considered, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Plan to work for a Quebec employer (not a business you own or control and not in prohibited industries such as payday loans or adult entertainment).
- Sign a financial self-sufficiency contract and show enough savings to support yourself and accompanying family members for the first three months in Quebec.
- Obtain a Certificate of Knowledge of Democratic and Quebec Values for everyone in your family who is 18 or older.
- Satisfy any return obligations tied to Quebec study scholarships
The Four PSTQ Streams
Stream | Who It Targets | Key Criteria |
1 – High Qualification and Specialized Skills | TEER 0, 1, 2 professions | • At least one year of full-time paid experience in the last five years |
2 – Intermediate and Manual Skills | TEER 3, 4, 5 professions | • Two years of paid work in the last five years, including one year in Quebec |
3 – Regulated Professions | Occupations requiring Quebec licensure | • Recognition or partial equivalency from the relevant regulatory body (one-year grace period after invitation) |
4 – Exceptional Talent | Applicants with recognised achievements in strategic sectors, research, arts, culture or sports | • Three years’ experience in the last five years |
Points System Overview
Your declaration of interest is ranked on a 1,400-point scale drawn from three groups of factors:
1. Capital Humain (maximum 520)
- French proficiency: up to 200 points for four skill areas, with higher scores for advanced levels and test-verified results.
- Age: up to 120 points for applicants aged 20 – 30, gradually decreasing thereafter.
- Work experience (last five years): up to 70 points for four or more years.
- Education level: up to 130 points, with top marks for doctoral or specialised medical degrees.
2. Responding to Quebec Needs and Government Priorities (maximum 700)
- Occupation in demand: up to 120 points, based on labour-market diagnostics and years of experience.
- Quebec diploma: up to 200 points, rising with the level and length of study.
- Quebec work experience: up to 160 points for four or more years.
- Time spent outside Montréal CMA: up to 40 points for residence, 60 for work, 20 for study.
- Validated job offer: 50 points if located outside Montréal, 30 if within Montréal.
- Quebec licensure or partial recognition: 50 points for regulated professions.
3. Adaptation Factors (maximum 180)
- Quebec study without a diploma: up to 30 points based on duration.
- Family in Quebec outside Montréal: 10 points (linked to the main applicant) or 5 (linked to the spouse).
- Spouse factors: French proficiency (up to 20), age (up to 20), Quebec work experience (up to 30), education (up to 20), Quebec diploma (up to 30).
- If two candidates tie on points, Arrima ranks them by the exact time they submitted their declaration of interest.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Identify your NOC code and TEER level.
- Match your profession to the correct stream and review its specific requirements.
- Assess your potential score with the forthcoming self-evaluation tool or by applying the factors above.
- Submit or update your declaration of interest in Arrima. Declarations filed under the previous program must be revised to reflect PSTQ criteria.
- Await an invitation. The ministry publishes the invitation criteria and the number of candidates invited after each round.
- Gather supporting documents – language tests, educational credentials, proof of funds, work references and any Quebec diplomas, licences or job offers.
- Submit your application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) within the deadline stated in your invitation.
- Apply for permanent residence with the federal government once you hold a CSQ.
- Complete landing formalities and begin your new life in Quebec.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Maximise French proficiency – higher language scores boost both ranking and long-term integration.
- Gain Quebec experience through study or work placements, especially in regions outside Montréal.
- Secure a validated job offer in your primary occupation, ideally in a regional area.
- Target in-demand occupations by consulting Quebec’s labour diagnostics.
- Keep your Arrima profile up to date so you don’t miss an invitation window.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés is Quebec’s points-based system for selecting skilled workers who can contribute to the province’s economy and integrate into its French-speaking society.
Streams group applicants by skill level and occupation: high-skill professions (Stream 1), intermediate or manual trades (Stream 2), regulated professions requiring licensure (Stream 3) and exceptional talents with proven achievements (Stream 4).
A job offer is not mandatory, but a validated offer – especially outside Montréal – adds up to 50 points and can improve your ranking.
Minimum oral French ranges from level 5 to 7, depending on the stream, with higher levels earning more points. Written French requirements apply in Streams 1 and 3.
Arrima ranks all declarations by points, then invites the highest-scoring candidates who meet current criteria. The ministry publishes the criteria and number of invitations after each round.
Ready to begin?
Create or update your declaration of interest in Arrima, review your score, and start gathering the documents you’ll need once invitations resume. With strong French skills, relevant work experience and a strategic profile, you can maximise your chances of receiving an invitation and building a future in Quebec.
