Immigration to Québec
Quebec runs its own immigration system. It's separate from Express Entry and PNPs. The main worker program is PSTQ, with four streams: Highly qualified and specialized skills, Intermediate and manual skills, Regulated professions, and Exceptional talent. You apply through Arrima, Quebec's pool. French is a big factor. If Quebec picks you, you get a CSQ first. Then you apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (Skilled Worker Selection Program) (PSTQ) streams
We cover 4 PSTQ streams. Each links to a detailed page with eligibility criteria, documents, and processing times.
New to provincial programs? Read our plain-English guide to PNPs.
PSTQ Stream 1 — Highly qualified and specialized skills
Stream 1 of Québec's Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ). For workers in skilled occupations (FEER categories 0, 1, or 2) with at least one year of full-time work experience in…
PSTQ Stream 2 — Intermediate and manual skills
Stream 2 of Québec's Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ). For workers in intermediate or manual occupations (FEER categories 3, 4, or 5). Requires at least two years of paid wo…
PSTQ Stream 3 — Regulated professions
Stream 3 of Québec's Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ). For workers whose main occupation requires a licence from a Québec regulatory body (Liste des professions réglementées…
PSTQ Stream 4 — Exceptional talent
Stream 4 of Québec's Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ). For applicants with documented exceptional expertise in their main occupation, demonstrated through a track record of …
Where Québec is actually hiring
The sectors that drive Québec's immigrant recruitment — and the occupations consistently in demand.
Tech, AI, and aerospace (Montréal)
Montréal has Canada's third-largest tech cluster, after Toronto and Vancouver. AI and machine-learning research is strong here (Mila and the companies that grew out of Element AI), and so is aerospace (Bombardier, CAE, Pratt & Whitney). The AI/IT/VFX pilot closed in January 2026. Software engineers, data scientists, and aerospace engineers now apply through PSTQ Stream 1 (Highly qualified and specialized skills) — for skilled jobs (FEER 0/1/2). Strong French is needed: oral level 7 and written level 5 on the Échelle québécoise.
Healthcare and orderlies (province-wide)
Quebec's healthcare system has had ongoing staff shortages — nurses, orderlies (préposés aux bénéficiaires), and other healthcare workers. The orderlies pilot closed in January 2026. Licensed healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, pharmacists) apply through PSTQ Stream 3 (Regulated professions). You need permission to practise in Quebec, or a document (less than 5 years old) that shows your training is recognised.
Francophone immigration (province-wide priority)
Quebec immigration is built around French. Profiles without French at NCLC 5 or higher score much lower in Arrima and rarely get invitations under Quebec's current rules. Strong French speakers from France, Belgium, North Africa, West Africa, and Vietnam (places with historical French ties) are common in Quebec's invitation rounds. Quebec also accepts its own French tests, TEFAQ and TCF Québec, alongside TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
Food processing and agriculture
Quebec's food-processing and agriculture sectors employ many foreign workers, especially outside Montréal. The food-processing pilot closed in January 2026. These workers — in intermediate and manual jobs (FEER 3/4/5) — now apply through PSTQ Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills). You need at least 2 years of paid work, with at least 1 year in Quebec, and French at oral level 5.
Québec immigration — questions
What are the four PSTQ streams?+
PSTQ — Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés — has four streams. Each one has its own Arrima invitation rounds. Stream 1 (Highly qualified and specialized skills) is for skilled jobs like engineers and software developers (FEER 0/1/2). Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills) is for intermediate and manual jobs (FEER 3/4/5) — it needs at least 1 year of work in Quebec. Stream 3 (Regulated professions) is for licensed jobs like nursing, medicine, and law. Stream 4 (Exceptional talent) is for award winners, top researchers, and recognised artists or athletes. Each stream asks for different French and work levels.
What happened to PEQ and the Québec pilots?+
Several Quebec programs closed in 2025 and 2026. PEQ (Programme de l'expérience québécoise) ended on November 19, 2025. The three sector pilots — food processing, orderlies, and AI/IT/VFX — all ended on January 1, 2026. Quebec still processes the applications that were already submitted. Any new application must use PSTQ through Arrima.
Do I need French to immigrate to Québec?+
Not at one strict cut-off, but practically yes if you want a real chance at an invitation. Quebec's scoring puts a lot of weight on French. Recent invitation rounds have needed French at NCLC 5 or higher. Stream 1 (skilled jobs, FEER 0/1/2) needs the highest French level — oral 7 and written 5 on the Échelle québécoise. Stream 2 (intermediate and manual jobs, FEER 3/4/5) needs oral 5. Profiles without French rarely score high enough to get an invitation.
Which French tests does Québec accept?+
Quebec accepts several kinds of French proof, including the DELF and DALF diplomas and some other documents. We currently process the four most common test results: TEF Canada, TCF Canada, TEFAQ, and TCF Québec. TEFAQ and TCF Québec are made for Quebec immigration. TEF Canada and TCF Canada are the same tests Canada uses for federal programs. All four use the same number scale (the Échelle québécoise, which lines up with NCLC).
How is Québec immigration different from federal?+
Quebec picks its own immigrants — separate from federal Express Entry and CRS. You submit a profile (Declaration of Interest) in Arrima. Quebec scores it. If Quebec picks you, you receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). With the CSQ, you then file a separate federal application with IRCC for permanent residence. It's a two-step process, and both steps must succeed.
Is Québec a fit for you?
Free, email required. About 5–10 minutes. We'll check your profile against Québec's 4 PSTQ streams plus the broader programs we cover.