PSTQ – Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program
The PSTQ is Quebec's main economic immigration pathway; the province manages its own selection under the Canada-Quebec Accord. Candidates submit an expression of interest through the Arrima platform; profiles are ranked using a selection grid, and top candidates are invited to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), a prerequisite for the federal permanent residence application.
Main conditions
- ✓Hold recognized training (diploma, certificate or attestation), ideally in a field in demand on the Quebec labour market
- ✓Demonstrate a sufficient level of French, a criterion now heavily weighted in the selection grid
- ✓Provide proof of skilled work experience, an added asset if acquired in Quebec
- ✓Demonstrate the financial capacity to become self-sufficient upon arrival
- ✓Obtain the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), then submit a permanent residence application to IRCC
- ✓Be admissible from a security, criminal record and health standpoint
Countries of origin
Open to candidates from most countries, unless otherwise stated or subject to specific consular restrictions.
Understanding the program
The steps of the process
According to Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI), the PSTQ pathway has several steps: reading the general conditions and choosing your main occupation, submitting an expression of interest, receiving an invitation, filing a permanent selection application, waiting for the application to be reviewed, then taking the steps that follow once you obtain the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
The expression of interest comes before any application: without an invitation, it is not possible to file a selection application.
French, at the heart of Quebec selection
Knowledge of French plays a central role in Quebec selection. The required level and its weighting have evolved since the program was created: check the requirements currently in force on the official page before registering for a test.
Prove your French with a test recognized by Quebec and confirm the current list of accepted tests. A test taken for Express Entry is not necessarily accepted for Quebec selection.
After the CSQ: permanent residence
The CSQ is a selection document issued by Quebec, not permanent residence. To obtain it, you must then submit an application to IRCC, which checks your admissibility in terms of health, security and criminal record. In short, Quebec chooses and the federal government admits.
Building a solid file and avoiding pitfalls
Keep proof of your diplomas, your work experience (employer letters, contracts, pay stubs) and your identity. The most common mistakes are declaring an occupation that does not match the duties actually performed, submitting incomplete or untranslated documents, and relying on unauthorized intermediaries.
Be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed CSQ: nobody can influence the invitation or the outcome of the review.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between the PSTQ and the PEQ?
- The PEQ is an accelerated pathway for temporary foreign workers and Quebec graduates, with its own conditions and its own application intake period. The PSTQ is the general selection pathway for skilled workers, based on an expression of interest and invitations. Our "PEQ 2026" guide details the PEQ conditions.
- Does the PSTQ go through Express Entry?
- No. Quebec has its own selection system. A Quebec Selection Certificate is not obtained through Express Entry, even though the permanent residence application is then filed with IRCC.
- Where can I find up-to-date requirements?
- On the official MIFI page, each step (general conditions, expression of interest, invitation, application) has its own sub-page. Requirements, especially language requirements, may change: check them before you start.
Information checked against official pages on October 12, 2026.