Québec immigration
Québec doesn't follow the same rules.
Québec selects its own economic immigrants: two levels of government, two sets of criteria. A strategy designed for the rest of Canada can cost you months.
The PEQ has reopened: applications are accepted until October 31, 2026 for certain Québec graduates and temporary foreign workers. Check the PEQ requirements →
The principle
Two governments, two decisions
Québec selects its economic immigration candidates, then the federal government decides on permanent residence. The process therefore happens in two stages:
- Québec stage: obtain the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ), issued by the MIFI (Québec's immigration ministry)
- Federal stage: then apply for permanent residence with IRCC, which checks admissibility
Passing one stage doesn't guarantee the other: each has its own timelines, documents and grounds for refusal.
French is not a detail in Québec. It carries a lot of weight in Québec selection. It's the first thing we assess, because it shapes the whole strategy.
Economic selection
PSTQ — Skilled Worker Selection Program
You submit a profile in the Arrima portal, then Québec invites selected candidates to apply for permanent selection. The program has several streams (Québec graduates, workers already in Québec, candidates abroad, exceptional talent): the right stream changes your real chances of being invited.
Note: PSTQ streams, thresholds and invitations change regularly. We check the program's status at the time of your consultation.
Studies
CAQ — Québec Acceptance Certificate
Before the federal study permit, most international students must obtain a CAQ for studies, issued by the MIFI. A CAQ requested too late can cost you an entire semester.
- Letter of admission from a recognized educational institution
- CAQ for studies application to the MIFI
- Study permit application to IRCC, once the CAQ is issued
Work
LMIA + CAQ for workers
For many positions in Québec, hiring a temporary foreign worker requires an LMIA, processed jointly by Service Canada and the MIFI, then a CAQ for workers when required. Some occupations benefit from a facilitated process.
Family
Sponsorship in Québec
After federal approval of the sponsor, Québec assesses the sponsor's undertaking under its own criteria, including financial ones. A file prepared without accounting for the Québec stage gets stuck halfway.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Express Entry if I want to live in Québec?
Express Entry manages federal programs for provinces other than Québec. A plan to settle in Québec normally goes through Québec selection. It's one of the most common mix-ups, and it costs a lot of time.
Does the CSQ give me permanent residence?
No. The CSQ is Québec's selection decision. Permanent residence remains a federal decision, made by IRCC after checking admissibility, including medical and security checks.
A project in Québec is planned differently.
We are based in Montréal and work both levels, Québec and federal, on the same file.