Quebec workers with a PSTQ application: the 12-month work permit, until December 31, 2026

Quebec temporary workers with a PSTQ permanent selection request may qualify for an employer-specific work permit for up to 12 additional months, under a federal measure announced on March 13, 2026. This guide explains who may apply and how to prepare an online application before December 31, 2026.

Key takeaways

• You must have submitted a permanent selection application under the PSTQ. An invitation to apply, by itself, is not enough.
• You must have received Quebec’s request to submit a Demande de sélection permanente (DSP), and you must be the principal applicant.
• The measure covers qualifying employer-specific permits, subject to the date conditions set by IRCC.
• The new permit is employer-specific, not an open work permit. It authorizes work for the employer and job covered by the permit.
• Apply online by December 31, 2026.

Who qualifies for the temporary work permit

To qualify, you need more than a PSTQ invitation. You must have submitted an application for permanent selection under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, or PSTQ, because an invitation is the step that allows you to apply, not proof that you have already submitted that application. An expression of interest in Arrima, or an invitation you have not acted on, is not enough.

You must also have received Quebec’s request to submit a Demande de sélection permanente (DSP). Keep a copy of the request, since it helps show that Quebec invited you to complete the permanent-selection process.

IRCC lists three work-permit situations covered by the measure:

• you have a valid employer-specific work permit that expires on or before December 31, 2026;
• your employer-specific work permit expired, but you applied to extend it before the expiry date;
• your employer-specific work permit expired between March 13, 2026, and December 31, 2026, you did not apply to extend it, and you are now out of status.

The date range alone does not establish eligibility, so also verify the PSTQ application, DSP request, principal-applicant and employer-specific permit conditions. The permit must be for an employer in Quebec, you need a new job offer from the employer named on your permit, and you must keep working in Quebec.

You must be the principal applicant on the permanent-selection file. A spouse or another family member cannot rely on your PSTQ application as if it were their own principal-applicant file.

Quebec candidates declare their interest through Arrima, and the province invites some candidates to apply for permanent selection through the PSTQ. The PSTQ selection process is distinct from this temporary work-permit measure, which concerns permission to keep working while permanent selection proceeds. Our guide to Arrima and invitations covers the earlier steps.

For many Quebec positions, hiring a temporary foreign worker requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processed jointly by Service Canada and the MIFI, along with a CAQ for workers when required. Our Quebec LMIA page is useful background on that hiring context; the new permit application still has its own employer-offer process under the International Mobility Program.

A post-graduation work permit is a different permit type from the employer-specific permits covered here. Workers comparing permit categories can read about the post-graduation work permit route separately.

What the new permit allows and what it does not

The measure can provide an employer-specific International Mobility Program work permit for up to 12 additional months. The Government of Canada states that the permit lets a worker continue working for their employer in Quebec for up to 12 months.

An employer-specific permit is tied to the employer and employment conditions named on it. It does not, by itself, authorize you to move to a different employer or take a different job.

If your employer or job changes, treat that as a separate work-authorization question. This temporary measure provides an employer-specific permit, not an open work permit or automatic permission to change employers.

Our overview of Canadian work-permit categories explains the difference between employer-specific and open permits. Use the conditions printed on your permit to understand the work it authorizes.

What the employer should arrange before you apply

Your employer does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment for this measure. Before you file, your employer must submit an offer of employment in IRCC’s Employer Portal under the LMIA-exempt route specified for this PSTQ measure. The employer should enter job and employment conditions that match the work you will do and give you the offer number for your application.

Prepare the evidence and apply online by the deadline

Organize your documents so they show each eligibility condition clearly. Include proof that you submitted your PSTQ permanent selection application, Quebec’s DSP request, and your position as the principal applicant.

• Your PSTQ application submission confirmation or other evidence of submission.
• Quebec’s request to submit a DSP.
• Documents identifying you as the principal applicant on the permanent-selection file.
• Your current or recently expired employer-specific work permit.
• A job offer or contract showing that you work in Quebec, and the offer of employment number from your employer.

IRCC’s instructions set December 31, 2026, as the last day to apply under this measure, so do not confuse the filing deadline with the permit’s possible validity period. The application is made online, except for people eligible for paper applications.

Item	Fee
Work permit processing	$155
Biometrics, if required	$85
Restoration of status, if you need to restore it	$246.25

If your documents use different names or spellings, organize evidence that connects them to the same person and application. A personal assessment can help you identify gaps in your file before you submit it.

If your existing permit has expired

IRCC encourages workers to apply before their current permit expires so they can keep working, and says these applications are processed on an expedited basis. Applying before expiry is different from applying after it, so keep proof of when you submitted any extension application.

If you applied to extend before your permit expired and remained in Canada, you may have maintained status while IRCC decides; work only under the conditions of your previous permit. If you did not apply before expiry, you may be out of status and may need to restore your status as well; see our guide on restoring your status within 90 days. Eligibility for this PSTQ measure, restoration of status and permission to work while an application is pending are separate questions.

Workers who have lost status should assess their situation before taking further steps. A consultation about an immigration situation or support for complex cases may help clarify the separate status and work-authorization questions.

A visitor visa is separate from work authorization; the visitor visa route is not a replacement for permission to work.

How a spouse’s application relates to the worker’s

If your spouse or common-law partner is included in your permanent selection application, they may be eligible for an open work permit; IRCC lists their conditions on a separate page. The principal worker’s eligibility under this temporary measure does not automatically qualify the spouse.

Keep the applications coordinated so that each person’s documents reflect the family’s current circumstances, but treat each person’s status and work authorization as a separate decision. Our article on spousal open work permit rules covers the general conditions.

The PSTQ process selects candidates for permanent selection in Quebec, while this temporary measure supports continued temporary work during that process. A work permit does not itself grant permanent residence. Once you have your CSQ and your federal permanent residence application is complete, the bridging open work permit may take over.

For related family or study planning, see information on spousal sponsorship in Quebec, the Quebec Acceptance Certificate for studies, and the Canadian study-permit process. These are separate pathways and do not replace an individual assessment of work-permit eligibility.

The Quebec Experience Program and Express Entry are longer-term selection options with processes distinct from the PSTQ measure discussed here.

Frequently asked questions

I am in the Arrima pool but have not been invited. Can I apply?

No. You must have been invited and have submitted your permanent selection application.

How long does IRCC take to process a work permit under this measure?

Eligible applications under the measure receive expedited processing, but that does not establish a decision date. Until a new permit is issued, rely only on work authorization you already hold when deciding whether you may work.

When does the possible 12-month permit period begin?

Use the validity dates printed on the permit issued by IRCC to determine when your authorization begins and ends.

Can I use this permit to change employers?

No. It is tied to the employer named on your current permit, who must make you a new offer.

What should I do if IRCC refuses the application?

Read the refusal letter to identify the specific reason and whether the decision affects your current status or work authorization. Before reapplying, address the stated issue and consider guidance on a visa or permit refusal.

See also: PSTQ, work permit, employers, LMIA in Quebec, bridging open work permit.

Conclusion

Quebec temporary workers with a PSTQ permanent selection request should confirm that they submitted the application, received Quebec’s DSP request, are the principal applicant, and meet the employer-specific permit conditions. Have the employer submit the required offer through the Employer Portal, assemble evidence for each condition, and apply online by December 31, 2026, if eligible.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — Work permits for Quebec temporary workers who applied for permanent selection under the PSTQ
• IRCC — New immigration measure to support Quebec workers and employers (March 13, 2026)