Invited to Quebec’s PSTQ? Who can get the special work permit before the deadline

For temporary foreign workers in Quebec, their spouses or common-law partners, and Quebec employers who want to understand IRCC’s special work permit measure. As of October 2026.

Quebec chooses many of its own skilled workers for permanent residence. Some temporary workers there are waiting for Quebec to review their file while their work permit runs down. IRCC has set up a time-limited measure for part of that group.

This article explains what IRCC’s official pages say about who is covered, how the application works, and why the December 31, 2026 date matters. It is general information only. It is not legal advice and does not say what any one person should do.

The problem: a permit and a selection file on different clocks

Quebec’s pages explain that an invitation under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) comes after a person files an expression of interest. The person has 30 days to accept it. Only invited people can apply for permanent selection.

Quebec also says that after accepting an invitation under Stream 1, 2 or 4 (or Stream 3 with proof of recognition), applicants have 60 days to submit the application. That application is the Demande de sélection permanente (DSP).

After the DSP is in, Quebec assesses whether the person is eligible for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). IRCC says its aim is to keep eligible workers employed while that assessment happens.

What changed

IRCC announced the measure in a news release on March 13, 2026. It lets eligible workers get an employer-specific work permit under the International Mobility Program. The permit is valid for up to 12 months. It lets workers keep working for their current employer while Quebec reviews their CSQ eligibility.

The measure is a public policy made under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The policy page says it expires on December 31, 2026. It also says it may be revoked at any time without prior notice.

The current policy replaces the first Quebec policy, which was signed on March 12, 2026. It also applies to applications that are still pending under that earlier policy.

IRCC’s work permit page lists December 31, 2026 as the last day to apply for this permit. IRCC says faster processing is available. The news release encourages workers to apply before their permit expires so they can keep working.

What still applies: who qualifies and what the application involves

IRCC’s instructions set out several conditions. The page lists these points:

• The worker must be the principal applicant on the DSP. The worker must have been invited under the PSTQ and must have submitted the DSP to Quebec.
• The work permit must be for an employer in Quebec. It can be under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program.
• The worker needs a new job offer from the employer named on the permit.
• The worker must be in one of three permit situations: a valid employer-specific permit that expires on or before December 31, 2026; a permit that expired after the worker applied on time to extend it; or a permit that expired between March 13 and December 31, 2026 with no extension application (so the worker is now out of status).

What the published application steps say

IRCC’s page describes the process in a set order. Before the worker applies, the employer must submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal. The employer does not need an LMIA or the $230 employer compliance fee.

The worker does not need a new LMIA or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) with the application. Applicants enter the code PPTR2PRQC2026 in the Job Title field of the IMM 5710 form. They also upload proof that they submitted the DSP. The work permit processing fee is $155.

Workers whose permit has already expired can ask to restore their status on the same form. They do this by also choosing the option to restore status as a worker.

Spouses and common-law partners

A spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit once the worker is found eligible. The partner needs valid temporary resident status, or status that expired within the last 90 days.

The partner must be named on the worker’s DSP. IRCC’s spouse page says dependent children are not eligible for this open work permit.

Spouses apply online and enter the same code, PPTR2PRQC2026. The listed fees are $155 for work permit processing and $100 for the open work permit holder fee. Biometrics ($85) or restoration ($246.25) are added if they apply.

What you can do

The policy can change or end without notice, so the official pages are the best place to confirm the current rules. The steps below are general. They are not advice for any one case.

1. Check the official IRCC pages for the work permit instructions and the public policy. Look for any change to the deadline or the conditions.
2. Check the dates on the current work permit, any extension application, the DSP submission and the December 31, 2026 deadline, and compare them with the three situations IRCC lists.
3. Get help from a licensed immigration professional or a legal clinic if questions come up about a specific situation.

The point to remember

IRCC’s measure is open only to workers who were invited under the PSTQ, submitted a DSP and fit one of the listed permit situations. The policy expires on December 31, 2026 and may be revoked earlier without notice, so the official pages are the place to confirm the current rules.

Check the official pages before you act:

• Work permits for Quebec temporary workers who applied for permanent selection under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – Canada.ca
• New immigration measure to support Quebec workers and employers – Canada.ca
• Temporary public policy to facilitate work permits for prospective permanent residence candidates in Quebec and their spouses and common-law partners – Canada.ca
• Canada helps families stay united and contribute to Quebec’s workforce – Canada.ca
• Spouses and common-law partners of temporary workers who applied for permanent selection under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés in Quebec – Canada.ca
• Invitation to apply for permanent selection through the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (Skilled Worker Selection Program)
• Submitting an application for permanent selection through the Skilled Worker Selection Program

Join the conversation

What questions do workers and employers still have about how this Quebec work permit measure works? Please do not post personal details, case numbers or documents.

This article is general information on Canadian law, as of October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a representative relationship. Always consult a licensed legal professional for your specific situation.