Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program: From Arrima to CSQ and Canadian PR
Planning to settle permanently in Quebec can be exciting, but its immigration system may feel confusing. Quebec selects many of its own economic immigrants through a process that is separate from Express Entry and the provincial nominee programs used elsewhere in Canada.
A candidate normally deals with two governments:
- The Government of Quebec selects the candidate
- The Government of Canada makes the final permanent residence decision
Understanding where one stage ends and the next begins can help applicants avoid missed deadlines, incomplete applications and unrealistic expectations.
This public education guide from 101 Legal Ways explains how the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program works in 2026, including Arrima, the program’s four streams, the Quebec Selection Certificate and the federal permanent residence application.
What Is the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program?
The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, known as the PSTQ or Skilled Worker Selection Program, is for skilled workers who intend to settle permanently in Quebec and work there.
The PSTQ replaced Quebec’s former Regular Skilled Worker Program as the main selection system for skilled workers.
Candidates begin by submitting an expression of interest through Quebec’s online Arrima platform. Quebec places the profile in its expression-of-interest bank and assigns a score based on selection factors.
A candidate may receive an invitation if the profile:
- Meets the requirements of a PSTQ stream
- Reaches the required score for a particular invitation round
- Matches Quebec’s current economic or labour-market priorities
- Meets any additional criteria used for that invitation round
Submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee an invitation.
The Government of Quebec explains the current system on its Skilled Worker Selection Program overview.
A Realistic Scenario: Sofia’s Quebec PR Plan
Sofia is a fictional civil engineering technologist who completed a college program in Quebec. She has been working in Montreal with a valid post-graduation work permit.
Sofia initially assumes that her Quebec education and Canadian work experience will automatically qualify her for permanent residence.
She later learns that the PSTQ is invitation-based. She must identify her correct National Occupational Classification code, determine the stream connected to her main occupation and prove the required level of French.
Sofia creates a free expression of interest in Arrima. She includes her Quebec education, work history, French results and intention to continue living in Quebec.
Several months later, Quebec conducts an invitation round targeting people with Quebec education, relevant occupations and particular French levels. Sofia receives an invitation.
She submits her permanent selection application with the required documents and fees. After Quebec approves the application, she receives a Certificat de sélection du Québec.
The CSQ allows Sofia to move to the federal stage. It does not make her a permanent resident by itself.
Quebec Selection and Federal Approval Are Different
Quebec has a special immigration agreement with the federal government. As a result, a skilled worker who wants to settle in Quebec must normally apply to Quebec before applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The process has two main stages.
Stage One: Selection by Quebec
Quebec assesses whether the applicant meets its program requirements and is likely to integrate economically and socially in the province.
If approved, Quebec issues a Certificat de sélection du Québec, commonly called a CSQ.
Stage Two: Permanent Residence Through IRCC
After receiving the CSQ, the applicant submits a permanent residence application to IRCC.
The federal government examines matters such as:
- Application completeness
- Identity and family information
- Medical admissibility
- Criminal admissibility
- Security concerns
- Misrepresentation
- Required fees and supporting documents
IRCC confirms that a person may apply as a Quebec-selected skilled worker if the person holds a CSQ and submits a complete permanent residence application, including the required police certificates. See the official IRCC eligibility page.
The Four PSTQ Streams
Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program has four streams. The stream that applies depends mainly on the candidate’s occupation, its NOC category and whether the profession is regulated.
Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
Stream 1 generally covers occupations classified as FEER 0, 1 or 2. FEER is the French term corresponding to Canada’s TEER classification.
Examples may include management positions, professional occupations and technical occupations requiring significant education or training.
Applicants generally need:
- At least one year of full-time or equivalent paid experience in the main occupation during the previous five years
- A qualifying diploma from a program lasting at least one year
- Spoken French at level 7 or higher on the Quebec scale
- Written French at level 5 or higher
An accompanying spouse generally needs spoken French at level 4 or higher.
The occupation must not require a professional licence, or the applicant must be able to work in a context where the licence is not required. Otherwise, Stream 3 may apply.
Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills
Stream 2 generally covers occupations in FEER categories 3, 4 or 5.
Applicants generally need:
- At least two years of paid work experience
- At least one year of that experience obtained in Quebec
- A qualifying secondary, vocational or college-level diploma
- Spoken French at level 5 or higher
An accompanying spouse generally needs spoken French at level 4 or higher.
This stream can be relevant to tradespeople, service workers and other applicants in intermediate or manual occupations. However, the exact NOC and employment history must be reviewed carefully.
Stream 3: Regulated Professions
Stream 3 is for people who intend to practise a profession regulated in Quebec.
Examples can include certain health, engineering, teaching and professional occupations.
The applicant must normally hold an accepted document from the Quebec regulatory authority, such as:
- Authorization to practise the occupation
- Proof of partial recognition of training or education
- Proof of full recognition of training or education
An acknowledgement that the regulatory authority received an application is not enough.
For occupations in FEER 0, 1 or 2, the applicant generally needs spoken French at level 7 and written French at level 5. For occupations in FEER 3, 4 or 5, spoken French at level 5 is generally required.
Professional recognition is separate from immigration selection. A CSQ does not automatically give someone permission to practise a regulated profession.
The Government of Quebec provides detailed requirements for all four streams on its PSTQ requirements page.
Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
Stream 4 is designed for people who have distinguished themselves through exceptional expertise and achievements.
Applicants generally need:
- At least three years of experience in the main occupation during the previous five years
- A recognized exceptional achievement or a positive opinion from an approved Quebec partner
- Expertise likely to contribute to Quebec’s prosperity
Targeted fields can include strategic economic sectors, research, arts and sports.
This stream is not simply for applicants with strong education or several years of ordinary work experience. The person must provide evidence of genuinely exceptional expertise or achievement.
How Arrima Works
Arrima is Quebec’s online immigration platform.
A candidate can submit a PSTQ expression of interest through Arrima at any time. Creating the expression of interest is free.
To submit one, the person must generally:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Intend to live and work in Quebec
- Intend to perform work the person is capable of doing
- Intend to work for a business the person does not control
- Avoid employment in an ineligible sector
The profile may contain information about:
- Identity and family composition
- Education
- Work experience
- French and English abilities
- Main occupation and NOC code
- Quebec experience
- Validated employment offers, if applicable
- Intended destination in Quebec
An expression of interest remains valid for 12 months. Updating the profile does not restart that period. If no invitation is received, the profile expires and the candidate may submit a new one.
Quebec confirms these rules on its Arrima expression-of-interest page.
Does Everyone Need a Quebec Job Offer?
No. A job offer is not a universal PSTQ requirement.
Some invitation rounds may award points for a validated Quebec job offer or target candidates with particular employment characteristics. However, candidates can potentially be invited without a job offer when they satisfy the applicable stream and invitation criteria.
A job offer by itself also does not guarantee an invitation or a CSQ.
Candidates should never assume that paying for a job offer will secure permanent residence. Legitimate selection depends on the person’s complete profile and the criteria published by Quebec.
Why French Is So Important
French plays a central role in Quebec’s current economic immigration system.
Streams 1, 2 and 3 have specific French requirements. An accompanying spouse may also need to demonstrate spoken French.
Quebec uses its own French proficiency scale. Applicants must provide evidence accepted by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Candidates should confirm:
- Which language tests or documents are accepted
- The required level for each language ability
- Whether their results will remain valid
- Whether the accompanying spouse needs separate results
Meeting the minimum PSTQ requirement does not automatically guarantee an invitation. Quebec may use more restrictive criteria in a particular invitation round.
Invitation Rounds Can Change
Quebec publishes the criteria used for each invitation round.
Depending on current priorities, an invitation round may consider factors such as:
- The applicant’s PSTQ stream
- Main occupation
- NOC or FEER category
- Quebec work experience
- Quebec education
- French proficiency
- Location inside or outside the Montreal metropolitan area
- A validated employment offer
- A minimum ranking score
- Presence in Quebec
The minimum score and targeted characteristics can change from one round to another. A past invitation score should not be treated as a guaranteed future cut-off.
Applicants can review the official 2026 Arrima invitation results to understand how Quebec has been selecting candidates.
What Happens After an Invitation?
Receiving an invitation allows the person to apply for permanent selection. It does not mean that Quebec has approved the application.
Most invited candidates must submit their permanent selection application, supporting documents and fees within 60 days after accepting the invitation.
Special timelines may apply to certain Stream 3 applicants who need to obtain recognition documents from a regulatory authority.
The applicant must show that the information in the expression of interest was accurate and that the invitation criteria were met when required.
Quebec may request:
- Identity and civil-status documents
- Diplomas and transcripts
- Employer letters and work records
- French-language evidence
- Documents relating to an accompanying spouse or children
- Professional recognition documents
- Proof supporting other declared information
Documents that are incomplete, improperly translated or inconsistent with the Arrima profile can create delays or lead to refusal.
Current provincial fees and submission instructions are available on Quebec’s permanent selection application page.
Financial Self-Sufficiency and Quebec Values
PSTQ applicants must sign a financial self-sufficiency contract. This confirms that they can support themselves and their accompanying family members during the first three months after becoming permanent residents.
The required amount depends on family composition and is updated periodically.
Applicants and accompanying family members aged 18 or older must also obtain the Attestation of learning about democratic values and Quebec values, unless an exemption applies.
These requirements are part of Quebec’s selection stage and should not be confused with federal admissibility requirements.
What Is a CSQ?
The Certificat de sélection du Québec is an official document confirming that Quebec has selected the applicant for permanent immigration.
A CSQ is important, but it is not:
- A permanent resident visa
- Confirmation of permanent residence
- A work permit
- Permission to enter Canada
- A professional licence
- A guarantee of federal approval
After receiving the CSQ, the applicant must apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
Quebec explains the next steps on its After receiving a CSQ page.
Applying for Permanent Residence After the CSQ
The federal permanent residence application must normally be submitted online through the Permanent Residence Portal.
Applicants may need to provide:
- A valid CSQ
- Passports and civil-status documents
- Police certificates
- Digital immigration forms
- Information about travel and personal history
- Photographs
- Medical examination results when requested
- Biometrics when required
- Proof of payment
IRCC may return or reject an incomplete application.
A CSQ that was valid when the federal application was submitted generally remains valid for the processing of that application even if the printed expiry date passes while IRCC is making its decision.
The current forms and submission instructions are available on the IRCC Quebec-selected skilled worker application page.
Can a CSQ Holder Obtain a Work Permit?
A CSQ does not automatically authorize a person to work in Canada.
Depending on the applicant’s location, current immigration status and whether a federal PR application has been submitted, possible options may include:
- A bridging open work permit after the federal PR application passes the completeness check
- An employer-specific work permit in certain circumstances
- Another work permit category for which the person qualifies
Applicants should be careful with outdated information about the International Mobility Program Plus. IRCC states that Quebec is no longer sending new IMP+ invitation letters. Only people who received a qualifying invitation letter before January 16, 2025 may continue to be processed under that specific option.
Current information is available on the IRCC optional work permits page.
A 101 Legal Ways Educational Scenario
Karim is a fictional software professional who receives a CSQ after being selected by Quebec.
He initially believes the CSQ means that his permanent residence has already been approved. After reading 101 Legal Ways guides, Karim understands that Quebec selection and federal approval are two separate decisions.
He checks the federal document checklist, obtains the required police certificates and reviews his personal history before submitting the PR application. He also avoids quitting his job based on the mistaken belief that the CSQ automatically gives him a new work permit.
This fictional example is for public education. Karim is not a real client and the scenario does not promise that another applicant will receive an invitation, CSQ, work permit or permanent residence.
Four Actionable Takeaways
- Find your correct NOC and PSTQ stream. Your main occupation affects the experience, education, French and professional recognition requirements.
- Keep your Arrima profile accurate. Update changes to your employment, family situation, language results and contact information.
- Prepare evidence before an invitation arrives. Diplomas, employment letters, translations and civil documents can take time to obtain.
- Treat the CSQ as the end of provincial selection, not the end of immigration processing. A complete federal application and IRCC approval are still required.
Final Thoughts
The Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program provides a structured route for people who genuinely intend to settle and work in Quebec. However, the process is competitive and invitation criteria can change based on Quebec’s labour needs and immigration priorities.
Candidates should understand the complete sequence:
- Submit an expression of interest in Arrima.
- Wait for a possible invitation.
- Apply for permanent selection if invited.
- Receive a CSQ if Quebec approves the application.
- Apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
- Complete the federal admissibility process.
- Become a permanent resident only after federal approval.
101 Legal Ways helps readers understand these stages so they can identify reliable information, avoid common assumptions and take better-informed next steps.
Legal Disclaimer
This article provides general public education and legal information only. It is not legal advice, immigration advice or a guarantee of an invitation, Quebec selection, a CSQ, a work permit or permanent residence. Immigration programs, invitation criteria, fees, forms and processing procedures can change. Always review the latest instructions from the Government of Quebec and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. For advice about your individual circumstances, consult a lawyer or an authorized Canadian immigration representative.
