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 declare your interest in the Arrima portal, then Québec invites some candidates to apply for permanent selection. The program has four streams (highly qualified, intermediate and manual skills, regulated professions, exceptional talent): choosing the right one 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 and CAQ for workers
For many positions in Québec, hiring a temporary foreign worker requires an LMIA, processed jointly by Service Canada and the MIFI, along with a CAQ for workers, requested at the same time when required. Some occupations benefit from a facilitated process.
Family
Sponsorship in Québec
Once IRCC finds the sponsor eligible, the sponsor must submit an undertaking application to Québec, which applies its own rules: a limited number of applications, the length of the undertaking and, in some cases, financial capacity. A file prepared without planning for the Québec stage can get stuck halfway.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Express Entry if I want to live in Québec?
Express Entry programs are for people who plan to settle outside Québec. If you want to live in Québec, the normal pathway is Québec selection. It's one of the most common mix-ups, and it wastes 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.
Based in Montréal, we handle both levels, Québec and federal, within the same file.