Quebec invites 519 workers to apply for permanent selection through PSTQ

Québec has invited 519 workers to apply for permanent selection.

Invitations were issued on Sept. 24, under all four streams of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), with the majority going to workers with intermediate and manual skills (stream 2).

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Selected candidates may proceed with a complete application for a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). If approved, they can use the CSQ to apply to the federal government for permanent residence, with the intent to settle in Québec.

Applicants residing in Canada may be eligible for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) after filing their PR application.

Draw details

This was the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration’s (MIFI’s) ninth selection round of the year.

Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills

A total of 86 invitations were issued across three exercises under stream 1 of the PSTQ, to workers in TEER 0–2 occupations who currently reside in Québec and have a minimum of 12 months of work experience in their main occupation, gained within the last five years.

Eligible profiles were extracted from the candidate pool on Sept. 21, 2026, at 1:10 p.m.

For exercise 1, a candidate’s primary occupation needed to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following 10 healthcare and social services, education, and natural sciences occupations:

• Biologists and related scientists (21110).
• Early childhood educators and assistants (42202).
• Instructors for persons with disabilities (42203).
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (31209).
• Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (32109).
• Pharmacy technicians (32124).
• Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (31303).
• Physicists and astronomers (21100).
• Social and community service workers (42201).
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (41301).

For exercise 2, individuals in two occupations were targeted: chefs (62200) and food service supervisors (62020).

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For exercise 3, a candidate’s primary occupation had to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following 26 occupations, primarily in engineering and manufacturing, skilled trades, or tech.

• Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors (22313).
• Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (72404).
• Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers (72410).
• Bricklayers (72320).
• Carpenters (72310).
• Chemical technologists and technicians (22100).
• Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300).
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (72400).
• Crane operators (72500).
• Cybersecurity specialists (21220).
• Data scientists (21211).
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310).
• Electrical mechanics (72422).
• Engineering managers (20010).
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401).
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers (21321).
• Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (22302).
• Insulators (72321).
• Ironworkers (72105).
• Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (72100).
• Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (22301).
• Occupational health and safety specialists (22232).
• Powerline technicians (72203).
• Sheet metal workers (72102).
• Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers (72301).
• Welders and related machine operators (72106).

Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills

Québec MIFI issued 316 invitations under stream 2 of the PSTQ, across four exercises, to workers in TEER 3–5 occupations who currently reside in Québec and have at least 24 months of work experience in their main occupation, gained in the last five years (at least 12 months in Québec).

Eligible profiles were extracted from the candidate pool on Sept. 21, 2026, at 1:10 p.m.

For exercise 1, a candidate’s primary occupation had to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following six healthcare, education, or home care occupations:

• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (43100).
• Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (44101).
• Medical administrative assistants (13112).
• Medical laboratory assistants and related technical workers (33101).
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (33102).
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (33103).

For exercise 2, individuals in two occupations were targeted: cooks (63200) and light duty cleaners (65310).

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For exercise 3, a candidate’s primary occupation had to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following 11 occupations, primarily in construction, manufacturing, or transportation:

• Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors (93200).
• Concrete finishers (73100).
• Construction trades helpers and labourers (75110).
• Floor covering installers (73113).
• Glaziers (73111).
• Machining tool operators (94106).
• Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (73112).
• Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers, and lathers (73102).
• Roofers and shinglers (73110).
• Tilesetters (73101).
• Transport truck drivers (73300).

Under exercise 4, candidates needed to have a primary occupation falling under TEER 4 or 5. No specific occupations were provided.

Stream 3: Regulated professions

For stream 3 of the PSTQ, the province issued 110 invitations across four exercises, to candidates currently residing in Québec, who intend to work in a regulated occupation.

Eligible profiles were extracted from the candidate pool on Sept. 21, 2026, at 1:10 p.m.

For exercise 1, a candidate’s primary occupation had to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following 32 healthcare, education, or social and community service occupations:

• Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (31112).
• Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123).
• Clinical and laboratory medicine specialists (31100).
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111).
• Dental technologists and technicians (32112).
• Dentists (31110).
• Dietitians and nutritionists (31121).
• Early childhood educators and assistants (42202).
• Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (41221).
• General practitioners and family physicians (31102).
• Licensed practical nurses (32101).
• Medical laboratory technologists (32120).
• Medical radiation technologists (32121).
• Medical sonographers (32122).
• Nurse practitioners (31302).
• Nursing coordinators and supervisors (31300).
• Occupational therapists (31203).
• Opticians (32100).
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (31209).
• Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (32109).
• Paramedical occupations (32102).
• Pharmacists (31120).
• Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (31303).
• Physiotherapists (31202).
• Psychologists (31200).
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301).
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (32103).
• Secondary school teachers (41220).
• Social workers (41300).
• Surgical specialists (31101).
• Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies (41301).
• Veterinarians (31103).

For exercise 2, a candidate’s primary occupation had to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following 30 engineering, skilled trades, or transportation occupations:

• Aerospace engineers (21390).
• Bricklayers (72320).
• Carpenters (72310).
• Civil engineers (21300).
• Civil engineering technologists and technicians (22300).
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (72400).
• Crane operators (72500).
• Deck officers, water transport (72602).
• Electrical and electronics engineers (21310).
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (22310).
• Electricians (except industrial and power system) (72200).
• Electrical mechanics (72422).
• Elevator constructors and mechanics (72406).
• Engineer officers, water transport (72603).
• Geological engineers (21331).
• Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (72402).
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401).
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers (21321).
• Industrial electricians (72201).
• Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (22302).
• Insulators (72321).
• Ironworkers (72105).
• Mechanical engineers (21301).
• Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (22301).
• Metallurgical and materials engineers (21322).
• Plumbers (72300).
• Powerline technicians (72203).
• Sheet metal workers (72102).
• Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers (72301).
• Welders and related machine operators (72106).

For exercise 3, a candidate’s primary occupation had to align with a priority sector and correspond to one of the following eight construction trades occupations:

• Concrete finishers (73100).
• Construction trades helpers and labourers (75110).
• Floor covering installers (73113).
• Glaziers (73111).
• Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (73112).
• Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers, and lathers (73102).
• Roofers and shinglers (73110).
• Tilesetters (73101).

For exercise 4, candidates needed to demonstrate intent to practice in a regulated TEER 4 or 5 occupation. No specific occupations were provided.

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Stream 4: Exceptional talent

The MIFI reports having issued a total of seven invitations under stream 4 of the PSTQ, to candidates possessing at least 36 months of work experience in their main occupation within the last five years.

Eligible profiles were extracted from the candidate pool on Sept. 24, 2026, at 1:10 p.m.

Eligibility under exercise 1 required a positive opinion letter from a MIFI partner in one of the department’s targeted fields.

Candidates considered under exercise 2 were required to:

• Have an achievement listed on MIFI’s List of Exceptional Achievements; and
• Have an education level corresponding to a Québec doctorate, including undergraduate doctorates.

Candidates also needed to qualify under at least one of the PSTQ’s four streams by meeting its general eligibility requirements.

Québec provides the complete criteria for the Sept. 24 selection round, including requirements specific to each stream, on its official PSTQ invitation web page.

About the Skilled Worker Selection Program

Québec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) serves as the province’s principal economic immigration pathway for skilled foreign nationals seeking permanent residence.

Foreign nationals interested in the program must create a declaration of interest in Arrima. Eligible profiles enter Québec’s declaration-of-interest pool and are assessed on a range of factors relating to their ability to integrate economically and socially in the province.

The PSTQ has four streams. A candidate’s occupation, together with its classification under the National Occupational Classification (NOC), largely determines which stream they may be considered under.

Candidates who satisfy the requirements of a given selection round may be invited to apply for permanent selection; those whose applications are approved receive a CSQ, allowing them to proceed to the federal stage and apply for permanent residence.

Québec adjusted its PSTQ selection approach in connection with the reopening of the Québec Experience Program (PEQ) on July 2, 2026.

Until the first PEQ intake period closes on Oct. 31, 2026, Québec is scaling back PSTQ invitations, primarily targeting candidates in TEER 4 and 5 occupations and those with less than two years of work experience.

From November 2026, Québec will adjust PSTQ invitation volumes based on the number of applications received during the first PEQ intake, to align admissions with its 2026–2029 targets. The province intends to issue an equal number of CSQs through the PSTQ and PEQ from June 10, 2026, to the end of the planning period in 2029.

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