Québec has invited 501 skilled worker candidates through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), with draws held across all four streams. The latest round focused on people already living in Québec, including workers in manual and intermediate occupations, regulated professions, highly skilled roles, and exceptional talent fields.
Québec issues 501 invitations through the PSTQ
Québec has carried out another round of permanent selection under its Skilled Worker Selection Program, known as the PSTQ. In this latest round, 501 candidates received invitations to apply for selection by the province. The draw took place on July 3, using profiles that were in the Arrima pool as of June 26, 2026.
This is an important update for people following Provincial Nominee-style immigration pathways and other economic immigration options in Canada. While Québec runs its own immigration system separately from most of the country, these draws still matter for foreign nationals planning their long-term permanent residence in Canada.
Most invitations in this round went to candidates in Stream 2, which is for intermediate and manual occupations. Québec also invited candidates under Stream 1 for highly qualified workers, Stream 3 for regulated professions, and Stream 4 for exceptional talent. Compared with earlier PSTQ rounds in 2026, this draw issued the lowest number of invitations so far.
For many applicants, this shows that Québec continues to target workers based on labour market needs rather than holding broad, open draws. That makes profile quality, occupation, French ability, education, and Québec work or study history especially important.
How the invitations were divided across the four PSTQ streams
The 501 invitations were spread across all four programme streams. The biggest share went to workers in TEER 3 to 5 occupations, which include many practical, technical, and support roles.
| PSTQ stream | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills | 74 |
| Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills | 289 |
| Stream 3: Regulated professions | 131 |
| Stream 4: Exceptional talent | 7 |
Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills
Québec invited 74 candidates under Stream 1. This stream is aimed at people working in TEER 0, 1, or 2 occupations who are already living in Québec and who have recent work experience in the province. In this round, invitations were issued through three separate selection exercises.
The occupations targeted included roles in education, social services, and health support, such as early childhood educators, instructors for persons with disabilities, pharmacy technicians, social and community service workers, and counselling therapists. In other exercises, Québec also targeted selected technical and trade occupations, including aircraft mechanics, chefs, construction millwrights, and electromechanical technicians.
Minimum Arrima scores in this stream varied by exercise, ranging from 628 to 726 points. This tells us that occupation targeting can be just as important as score alone.
Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills
Stream 2 accounted for 289 invitations, making it the largest part of the draw. This stream is for workers in TEER 3, 4, and 5 occupations who are already residing in Québec.
Some invitations went to candidates with at least 24 months of recent work experience, including at least 12 months in Québec, in occupations such as nurse aides, medical laboratory assistants, pharmacy assistants, cooks, food and beverage servers, kitchen helpers, cleaners, and recreation programme leaders.
The largest single exercise in this stream invited 240 people whose main occupation fell under TEER 4 or 5. That is notable because it shows Québec is continuing to create immigration opportunities for workers outside the traditional high-skilled categories. For many temporary foreign workers, this can open a realistic path to settlement if they already have Québec experience and meet the language and education rules.
Stream 3: Regulated professions
Québec issued 131 invitations under Stream 3, which is for people intending to work in regulated occupations. These are jobs that usually require licensing or recognition by a professional body in Québec.
The province targeted a wide range of occupations in this stream. Health care roles were strongly represented, including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dental hygienists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and social workers. Québec also invited candidates connected to some teaching and engineering-related occupations, as well as selected construction trades that fall within regulated practice structures.
Two smaller exercises under this stream invited fewer than five candidates each. One focused on regulated TEER 3 to 5 occupations, and another targeted candidates intending to work in a regulated TEER 4 or 5 occupation. Minimum scores ranged from 475 to 656 depending on the exercise.
Stream 4: Exceptional talent
Only seven invitations were issued under Stream 4. This stream is reserved for individuals with outstanding profiles and support from a recognised partner of Québec’s immigration ministry.
Targeted fields included strategic economic sectors, research, arts, and sports. Candidates also needed at least 36 months of work experience in the previous five years. Because this stream is highly selective, it is not relevant to most applicants, but it remains an important niche pathway for specialised talent.
What candidates needed to qualify in this round
Beyond occupation and score, Québec applied stream-specific eligibility conditions. These requirements are especially important for anyone trying to understand whether they may fit into a future PSTQ draw.
French language standards remain central
French ability continues to be one of the strongest selection factors in Québec immigration. For Stream 1 and Stream 3, candidates needed oral French at level 7 or higher and written French at level 5 or higher. For Stream 2, the requirement was at least level 5 in oral French.
Where a spouse was included, Québec also required oral French at level 4 or higher in many cases. In practice, applicants often prove language ability through tests such as TEF or TCF. Outside Québec, many federal applicants use IELTS or CELPIP for English-language programmes, including Express Entry.
Education and Québec ties mattered
For Stream 1, candidates needed to have completed at least one year of full-time study in Québec and to hold an eligible provincial credential. Stream 2 also required education equivalent to a Québec secondary or qualifying post-secondary level, depending on the case.
This emphasis on local study and local work experience reflects Québec’s broader goal: selecting people who are already established in the province and likely to integrate successfully into the labour market and community.
Occupation rules were very specific
Many of the exercises were not open to everyone in a stream. Instead, Québec selected candidates whose main occupation matched a narrow list of National Occupational Classification codes and priority sectors. That means even strong candidates may not receive an invitation if their occupation is not being targeted at that time.
This is different from some federal systems where a high score can sometimes compensate for other factors. In Québec, occupation, French, and local connection often work together.
What this means for people planning immigration to Canada
For foreign nationals already in Québec, this draw is a reminder that the province is actively selecting workers across a broad range of occupations, including health care, education, hospitality, trades, and support roles. If you are in Québec on a work or study permit, it may be wise to review your profile, language results, and education documents carefully.
For applicants outside Québec, this update also highlights how different Canadian immigration pathways can be. Québec has its own selection process, while the rest of Canada relies more heavily on federal programmes and provincial nomination systems linked to IRCC. Depending on your background, you may want to compare Québec options with Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, or other Canadian immigration programmes.
If you are building a federal profile, tools such as a CRS calculator and guidance on how to improve your CRS score can help you understand your chances. If you are focused on Québec, your strategy may need to centre more on French testing, local work experience, licensing, and educational recognition.
It is also worth remembering that regulated occupations can involve extra steps, including credential assessment, provincial licensing, and professional registration. In federal streams, an Educational Credential Assessment may be needed, while in Québec some professions require direct recognition by a provincial authority before full practice is allowed.
Anyone unsure about the best route should take time to explore Canadian immigration options carefully and compare programmes based on occupation, language, age, work history, and settlement plans. A tailored review can make a major difference, especially when provinces are conducting targeted draws.
Immigration rules and selection criteria can change quickly, so readers should always confirm current requirements with IRCC, Québec immigration authorities, or a licensed immigration professional before making decisions. EverNorth Immigration is here to help with experienced, compassionate support at every stage of your journey toward a new life in Canada, and you can book your free immigration assessment for a professional evaluation of your options.
