PSTQ: getting selected by Québec as a skilled worker.

The PSTQ is the pathway for skilled workers who plan to settle and work in Québec. It has four streams, each with its own requirements. The process begins with an expression of interest in Arrima; Québec may then invite selected candidates to apply for permanent selection, and a selected candidate applies for permanent residence with the federal government.

Visa Canada Rouge, an immigration consulting firm in Montréal, helps applicants identify the stream that fits their background, prepare a consistent Arrima profile and plan the Québec and federal steps that follow. Rules and invitation priorities change, so check the current requirements before acting: book a one-hour online consultation or describe your situation.

Who the PSTQ is for

The PSTQ is for people who want to settle in Québec and work in a skilled job, from highly qualified occupations to intermediate and manual ones, with a stream for regulated professions and one for exceptional talent. Meeting a stream's conditions doesn't mean you will be invited: candidates in Arrima are selected according to Québec's criteria and priorities at the time of each invitation round.

The four streams

The stream depends first on your main occupation and its TEER category, then on your education, experience and, depending on the case, French or the regulated status of the profession. The job title alone isn't enough: the duties you actually performed and the documents you can provide matter.

Stream 1: highly qualified and specialized skills

• Occupation in TEER category 0, 1 or 2
• At least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent) paid work experience in the main occupation within the 5 years before applying, in Québec or elsewhere
• A diploma leading directly to the occupation, from a program of at least one year of full-time study (in Québec: 900 hours at secondary or college level, or 30 university credits), obtained before applying
• French: level 7 oral and level 5 written (Québec French-language proficiency scale)

Stream 2: intermediate and manual skills

• Occupation in TEER category 3, 4 or 5
• At least 2 years of paid work experience within the 5 years before applying, including at least 1 year in Québec; experience outside Québec counts for one year at most
• At minimum a secondary school diploma, or a diploma from a program of at least one year of full-time study (DEP, ASP or AEC; in Québec: 600 hours at secondary level, 900 hours at college level or 30 university credits)
• French: level 5 oral, no written requirement

The Québec work experience is what sets this stream apart: experience elsewhere doesn't replace it, and your employment records must show the dates, duties and working conditions.

Stream 3: regulated professions

• Profession on the Ministry's list of regulated professions
• Authorization to practise, or recognition of partial or full equivalence issued no more than 5 years ago
• French according to the occupation's TEER category: level 7 oral and 5 written for TEER 0, 1 or 2; level 5 oral for TEER 3, 4 or 5

Recognition by the professional order is a separate process from immigration: check the requirements of the regulatory body as well as the PSTQ's.

Stream 4: exceptional talent

• Exceptional expertise that contributes to Québec's prosperity, with proven achievements
• At least 3 years of practice in the main occupation within the 5 years before applying

For all four streams, recognized mandatory internships can count for up to 3 months of experience. The detailed criteria are on Québec's PSTQ requirements page (in French).

Common requirements

• Be at least 18 and intend to settle in Québec to work
• Sign a financial self-sufficiency contract: show you can support yourself and accompanying family for the 3 months after you obtain permanent residence
• Obtain the attestation of learning about democratic values and Québec values (also required of family members aged 18 or over)
• For an accompanying spouse or partner: French at level 4 oral

French: oral and written are separate

The French thresholds differ by stream: Stream 1 requires an oral and a written level, Stream 2 only an oral level, and Stream 3 depends on the occupation's TEER category. An oral result doesn't prove a written level when both are required. Before booking a test, confirm which tests are recognized, which stream you're aiming for and which skills must be assessed.

From Arrima to the CSQ

1. Declaration of interest: you create your profile in Arrima, the platform of Québec's immigration ministry (MIFI). It enters the pool of declarations of interest and receives a score.
2. Invitation: the Ministry invites candidates based on their stream, occupation, French proficiency and labour market needs. A declaration of interest isn't an application for permanent selection.
3. Acceptance: you have 30 days from the date of the invitation to accept it in Arrima. Without a response, your declaration is removed from the bank.
4. Application for permanent selection: once you accept, a second message explains how to apply. The fee is $940 for the principal applicant and $201 for a spouse or partner and for each dependent child (the same amounts as the PEQ).
5. CSQ: once selected, you receive the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). It is Québec's selection decision, not Canadian permanent residence.

See Québec's page on the invitation to apply for permanent selection and our guide to Arrima and the PSTQ expression of interest.

After the CSQ: the federal application

Québec selection and permanent residence are two separate decisions. After the CSQ, you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the Québec-selected skilled worker class; IRCC assesses admissibility, including medical and security checks, and asks for its own documents. See IRCC's page on Québec-selected skilled workers and our guide CSQ received: next steps with IRCC.

Documents to prepare

• Passport and identity documents, and information on accompanying family members
• Diplomas, transcripts and documents showing the length or hours of study
• Employer letters describing duties, dates, hours worked and pay
• Contracts, pay slips or other records that corroborate the experience you declare
• French test results, by skill
• For a regulated profession, the authorization to practise or recognition decision
• Records proving Québec work experience, if your stream requires it
• What's required for the financial self-sufficiency contract and the values attestation

The official checklist you receive takes precedence over any general list. If dates, duties or occupational categories differ from one document to another, clarify the gaps before submitting anything.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a stream from the job title alone. The TEER category depends on the occupation and its duties.
• Overlooking the Québec experience condition of Stream 2.
• Confusing oral and written French levels.
• Declaring experience the evidence doesn't support.
• Missing the 30-day acceptance deadline.
• Treating the CSQ as permanent residence.
• Relying on old program information. Criteria and invitation priorities change.

What we do for you

• Identify the stream that actually applies to your occupation and experience
• Assess your French and the test to take to reach the stream's threshold
• Build a declaration of interest consistent with the evidence you'll be able to provide
• Follow the instructions and deadlines after an invitation
• Prepare the application for permanent selection on time, then the permanent residence application

The PSTQ and Express Entry are separate: Express Entry requires planning to live outside Québec. To compare pathways, read PSTQ or PEQ and provincial nominee programs or Québec selection.

Frequently asked questions

Does the CSQ give me permanent residence?

No. The CSQ is Québec's selection decision. Permanent residence is then granted by the federal government, after checking admissibility, including medical and security checks.

Can I be invited if I don't live in Québec?

Depending on the stream, yes. Stream 1 doesn't require experience in Québec, while stream 2 requires at least one year of work experience in Québec. Invitations also depend on French and labour market needs.

Is an Arrima declaration of interest an application?

No. It places your profile in the bank. If you're invited and accept, you then apply for permanent selection; the federal application comes after the CSQ.

Do all four streams require the same French level?

No. Stream 1 requires level 7 oral and 5 written, Stream 2 level 5 oral, and Stream 3 depends on the occupation's TEER category.

What happens if I don't accept an invitation within 30 days?

Your declaration of interest is removed from the bank. Read the instructions in Arrima quickly and follow the Ministry's directions.

How much does the permanent selection application cost?

$940 for the principal applicant and $201 for a spouse or partner and for each dependent child, to be checked when you apply. Federal permanent residence fees come afterwards.

Official sources: Government of Québec, "Connaître les exigences à satisfaire" (PSTQ) (quebec.ca, updated June 25, 2026), "Invitation to apply for permanent selection" and "Réouverture temporaire du Programme de l'expérience québécoise" (June 17, 2026); IRCC, "Québec-selected skilled workers". Accessed October 11, 2026.