Quebec issues invitations to workers with intermediate and manual skills

On July 31, Quebec issued more invitations under its new Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).

This is the first time the province has targeted workers in the Intermediate and Manual Skills stream since it started issuing invitations under the PSTQ earlier this year.

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On July 31, the Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration invited 273 people to apply for permanent selection under the PSTQ’s Intermediate and Manual Skills stream.

To qualify, candidates had to meet the following criteria:

• Have a score that is equal to or greater than 661 points.
• Reside in Quebec outside the Montreal Metropolitan Community;
• Have at least 24 months of work experience in the past five years, with at least 12 of those months being in Quebec in their main occupation.

Candidates were extracted from the Arrima bank on July 28, 2025, at 8 am.

What is the Intermediate and Manual Skills stream?

This stream is for foreign nationals who meeting the following criteria:

• Their main occupation is in *FEER category 3, 4 or 5.
• Their work in not in an occupation listed as a regulated profession in Quebec.
• They can demonstrate French-language proficiency at level 5 or above in both speaking and listening, as measured by the French language benchmark Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (or an equivalent assessment).
• If accompanied by a spouse or common-law partner, that person has French-language proficiency at level 4 or above in both speaking and listening (Échelle or its equivalent).

The Intermediate and Manual Skills stream also has a schooling requirement. To fulfill this, a foreign national must have one of the following:

• A diploma corresponding to a high school diploma in Quebec
• A diploma from a full-time study program of at least 1 year that is equivalent in Québec to:
  - Diploma of Vocational Studies;
  - Attestation of Vocational Specialization at the secondary level, or
  - Attestation of College Studies at the CEGEP level.

The program must be at least 600 hours (secondary level) or 900 hours (college level). Finally, the candidate must have obtained the diploma before submitting their application.

*FEER (Formation, Études, Expérience et Responsabilités is the French translation of TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) in the NOC system.

What are FEER Categories 3, 4, and 5?

FEER 3

Occupations are those that require:

• The completion of a post-secondary program of less than two years at a community college, institute of technology or CEGEP;
• The completion of an apprenticeship training of less than two years;
• More than six months of on-the-job training, training courses;
• Specific work experience or more than six months plus secondary schooling; or
• Several years of experience in a related occupation from FEER 4 (if applicable).

FEER 4

These occupations require:

• A high school diploma;
• Several weeks of on-the-job training with some high school; or
• Experience in a related occupation from FEER 5 (if applicable).

FEER 5:

These occupations constitute those that require a brief demonstration of work and no formal educational requirements.

About Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program

Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program officially replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program in late 2024 but remained on hold until mid‑2025.

On July 17, 2025, Quebec issued its first invitations to apply for permanent selection under two specific streams: the Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills stream and the Exceptional Talent stream.

In total, 238 invitations were sent out on that day across the two streams. The focus was on individuals living in Quebec, who speak French, have work experience or educational credentials within the province, and are employed in occupations that address labour shortages.

 

Learn more about your options and get assistance immigrating to Quebec