The Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)

Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ)

The Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is an immigration program managed exclusively by the province of Quebec. It is designed to attract skilled workers who have the education, training, work experience, and language abilities needed to successfully integrate into Quebec’s labor market and society.

Unlike Canada’s federal Express Entry system, which operates nationally, the PSTQ is governed by Quebec’s own selection criteria and procedures. It allows the province to select immigrants who meet its specific economic and demographic needs.

Applicants are evaluated through a points-based system that takes into account several key factors, including:

• Level of education and area of training

• Professional work experience

• Age

• Knowledge of French and English

• Connection to Quebec (such as previous visits, family ties, or job offers)

• Accompanying spouse’s profile

• Number and age of dependent children

Candidates submit an expression of interest through Quebec’s Arrima portal. Profiles that meet current labor market needs or obtain a sufficiently high score may receive an invitation to apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) — the official document required to proceed to the federal stage of the immigration process.

Once a CSQ is issued, the applicant must then submit a federal application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which will assess admissibility on medical and security grounds.

The PSTQ is open to individuals outside Canada as well as temporary residents already in Quebec, such as international graduates or foreign workers. Proficiency in French is a key asset, as Quebec prioritizes integration into its francophone culture and institutions.

This program is one of the main gateways for skilled workers aiming to settle permanently in Quebec and build a future in the province’s dynamic and diverse society.