Québec PSTQ invitations September 2026
The selection round included candidates in highly qualified occupations, intermediate and manual jobs, regulated professions and exceptional talent categories. Applicants had to meet the specific requirements for the relevant stream and selection exercise to be considered.
Key details of the September 2026 PSTQ selection round
| Selection detail | Result |
| Selection date | September 24, 2026 |
| Total invitations | 519 |
| Program | Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) |
| Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills | 86 invitations |
| Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills | 316 invitations |
| Stream 3: Regulated professions | 110 invitations |
| Stream 4: Exceptional talent | 7 invitations |
| Candidate pool extraction | September 21, 2026, at 1:10 p.m. |
This was Québec’s ninth PSTQ selection round of 2026, according to the published report. The province applied different selection criteria across the streams. These included candidates’ occupations, work experience, French-language proficiency, education and other requirements specific to individual exercises.
Important: An invitation to apply for permanent selection in Québec is not itself a grant of Canadian permanent residence. Candidates must submit the required application and obtain approval before proceeding to the federal permanent residence stage.
How were the 519 invitations distributed?
The four PSTQ streams target different groups of workers and professionals.
PSTQ stream | Invitations | Main target group |
Stream 1 | 86 | Highly qualified and specialized workers |
Stream 2 | 316 | Intermediate and manual skills occupations |
Stream 3 | 110 | Candidates intending to practise regulated professions |
Stream 4 | 7 | Candidates with exceptional talent |
Total | 519 | All four streams |
Stream 2 accounted for more than half of the invitations issued in this round. However, the number of invitations alone does not determine an individual’s likelihood of selection. Candidates must meet the criteria applied to their particular exercise.
Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills
Québec issued 86 invitations under Stream 1 to candidates in occupations classified within TEER 0, 1 or 2 of Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC). The selection exercises included candidates in priority occupations across healthcare and social services, education, natural sciences, engineering, manufacturing, technology and selected skilled trades.
The published criteria generally required candidates to:
- Be residing in Québec.
- Have at least 12 months of work experience in their main occupation during the previous five years.
- Meet the applicable French-language requirements.
- Meet the education and other requirements of the relevant selection exercise.
- Have a primary occupation matching the criteria used for that exercise.
For certain exercises, candidates needed qualifying educational credentials and experience in specified priority occupations. The targeted occupations included early childhood educators, social and community service workers, pharmacy technicians, biologists, selected healthcare professionals, engineering technicians and certain trades workers. The exact occupational list and requirements varied by exercise. Candidates should consult the official Québec invitation criteria rather than assume that all occupations within TEER 0, 1 or 2 qualify.
Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills
Stream 2 received the largest share of invitations, with 316 candidates invited. This stream targets intermediate and manual skills occupations, generally classified under TEER 3, 4 or 5. For the September 24 selection round, the general work experience criteria included at least 24 months of experience in the candidate’s main occupation during the previous five years, including at least 12 months acquired in Québec. The exercises targeted several occupational groups, including:
- Teacher assistants.
- Home support workers and caregivers.
- Medical administrative assistants.
- Medical laboratory assistants.
- Nurse aides and patient service associates.
- Pharmacy technical assistants.
- Cooks and light-duty cleaners.
- Selected construction, manufacturing and transportation occupations.
One exercise issued 254 invitations to candidates whose main occupation fell under TEER 4 or 5, subject to the exercise’s applicable criteria. Québec did not publish a specific occupational list for that exercise. French-language requirements and qualifying education also varied across the exercises. Candidates should not assume that every person working in a TEER 3, 4 or 5 occupation is eligible for selection.
Stream 3: Regulated professions
Québec issued 110 invitations under Stream 3, which targets candidates who intend to practise a regulated profession. The selection exercises covered regulated occupations in healthcare, education, social services, engineering, skilled trades and transportation. Examples of occupations included:
- Nurses and nurse practitioners.
- Physicians and dentists.
- Pharmacists.
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
- Teachers.
- Social workers.
- Engineers and engineering technicians.
- Electricians, plumbers and other regulated trades.
- Selected construction occupations.
Candidates were required to meet the criteria for the specific exercise, including the applicable occupational classification, French-language requirements and residence conditions. An invitation under this stream does not automatically grant a professional licence. Many regulated occupations require separate recognition of qualifications, professional authorization or licensing from the relevant Québec regulatory body. Applicants should investigate these requirements before planning to work in a regulated profession.
Stream 4: Exceptional talent
The province issued seven invitations under Stream 4. This stream targets candidates with exceptional talent who meet the program’s specific requirements. The September selection round included two types of exercise:
- Candidates holding a positive opinion letter from a MIFI partner in a targeted field.
- Candidates with an achievement listed by the ministry as exceptional and an education level equivalent to a Québec doctorate, including undergraduate doctorates.
Candidates also needed at least 36 months of work experience in their main occupation during the previous five years and had to satisfy the applicable general PSTQ requirements. Stream 4 is highly specific. A doctorate or significant professional accomplishment alone does not automatically make someone eligible for an invitation.
What is the PSTQ?
The Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is Québec’s principal economic immigration pathway for skilled foreign nationals seeking to settle permanently in the province. Unlike federal Express Entry selection, Québec operates its own worker-selection process. Interested candidates generally begin by submitting a declaration of interest through Arrima, Québec’s online system. The process can be summarised as follows:
- Submit a declaration of interest: Provide the information requested about your background, work experience, education, language ability and intended occupation.
- Enter the selection pool: Your profile may be considered when Québec conducts selection exercises.
- Meet the relevant criteria: The province applies criteria that can vary by stream, occupation and selection round.
- Receive an invitation: If selected, you may be invited to submit an application for permanent selection.
- Apply for Québec selection: Submit the required forms, documents and fees within the applicable deadline.
- Proceed to the federal stage: If Québec approves the application, it can issue a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The applicant must then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence and meet federal admissibility requirements.
A declaration of interest is not an application for permanent residence, and submitting a profile does not guarantee an invitation.
French-language ability remains important
French is an important consideration in Québec’s skilled worker selection process. The required level depends on the stream and the criteria used for the specific selection exercise. For example, the general criteria for some Stream 1 exercises require French proficiency at level 7 or higher in both oral skills and level 5 or higher in both written skills under Québec’s French proficiency scale or an accepted equivalent. Stream 2 exercises may have different requirements, including lower oral proficiency thresholds.
Candidates should review the criteria for their intended stream and exercise, including any applicable requirements concerning an accompanying spouse or partner. Those considering Québec should assess their French proficiency early and determine which recognised test or assessment can demonstrate the required level.
Québec's immigration selection priorities may change
Québec can adjust its selection criteria in response to labour-market needs, government priorities and immigration planning targets. The province has also adjusted its approach to PSTQ invitations in connection with the reopening of the Québec Experience Program (PEQ) in July 2026. According to the published report, Québec was scaling back PSTQ invitations until the first PEQ intake period closed on October 31, 2026, with a focus on certain TEER 4 and 5 occupations and candidates with less than two years of work experience.
The province indicated that invitation volumes would be adjusted from November 2026 based on the number of applications received during the PEQ intake and its 2026–2029 immigration targets. These policy details are subject to change. Candidates should check Québec’s official immigration website for current program availability, intake dates and selection criteria before taking action.
What should prospective applicants do now?
People interested in settling permanently in Québec can use the latest selection round as an opportunity to review their eligibility, but should not assume that the same criteria will apply to future invitations. Practical next steps include:
- Identifying the PSTQ stream that best matches the intended occupation.
- Checking the occupation’s NOC code and TEER classification.
- Reviewing work experience requirements, including any Québec-specific experience conditions.
- Assessing French-language proficiency and planning any necessary testing.
- Reviewing education requirements and professional licensing rules, where applicable.
- Checking the current criteria and application instructions on Québec’s official website.
- Keeping supporting records accurate and consistent.
Applicants living outside Québec should pay particular attention to residence conditions in the relevant selection exercise. Several streams in this round targeted candidates already residing in the province.
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Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or guarantee eligibility, an invitation, a provincial nomination or permanent residence. Immigration rules, selection criteria and program availability can change.
