Canada: Québec Reopens Skilled Worker Program and Unveils Selection Criteria

Québec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ) reopened in July, as previously announced by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration. This follows a months-long pause in Québec’s skilled worker intake. The previous Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) was suspended in October 2024, and although the PSTQ formally replaced it on November 29, 2024, the new program itself was immediately paused. With the publication of a ministerial order in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the PSTQ is now reactivated, with a newly formalized set of invitation criteria and a structured scoring system. 

The PSTQ is organized into four distinct streams: highly qualified and specialized skills, intermediate and manual skills, regulated professions, and exceptional talent. Selection is based on factors such as education, training, work experience, and professional responsibilities, with increased emphasis on Québec-issued diplomas and in-province work experience, particularly outside major urban centers. Now more than ever, proficiency in the French language will be a pivotal requirement, particularly for the first three streams. 

Invitations to apply for permanent residence under the PSTQ will start gradually throughout July, initially targeting individuals already living in Québec. Priority will go to candidates who are proficient in French, have studied or worked in Québec, and are employed in occupations that address labour shortages. 

To be considered, candidates must submit a declaration of interest through the government’s Arrima portal. Those who submitted before November 29, 2024, must update their profiles to reflect the new program criteria. Declarations are ranked using the PSTQ’s scoring system, and only those with the highest scores who meet the relevant stream criteria will receive invitations. 

For more details on the invitation criteria and scoring, consult the ministerial order on the Québec government’s website and your immigration professional for case-specific advice.  

 This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.