Quebec Immigration: How Quebec Selects Immigrants

Quebec selects its own economic immigrants under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord. You first get a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) through a Quebec program such as the PSTQ, which invites candidates through Arrima. Then you apply to IRCC for permanent residence, and IRCC runs the federal checks. French is mandatory on the key streams.

Compare Quebec and federal pathways in the Pathway Explorer

Last verified: November 2026

1991
The Canada-Quebec Accord, signed February 5, 1991
November 29, 2024
The PSTQ replaced the PRTQ
Level 7
Oral French on PSTQ Stream 1, with written French at level 5

Quebec sets these levels and changes them, so confirm the exact requirement for your stream on Quebec.ca.

Why does Quebec select its own immigrants?

The Canada-Quebec Accord Relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens, signed February 5, 1991, gives Quebec the right to:

Advise Canada on how many immigrants it wishes to receive. Canada sets the national total taking that advice into account.
Establish its own selection criteria, with a separate points grid (grille de sélection).
Select the immigrants destined to Quebec on its own criteria. Canada admits them if they are not inadmissible.
Select resettled refugees destined to Quebec.

In exchange, Canada retains control over:

National security and admissibility (IRPA s.34 to s.42).
Family class admission and criteria (Quebec applies them, including the sponsorship undertaking).
Refugee determination.
Citizenship requirements.

The rule

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec selects its own immigrants.

Canada-Quebec Accord, 1991Verify on canada.ca

What is the CSQ?

The Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) is the provincial approval you need before applying for federal PR. IRCC will not process a Quebec-destined economic immigration application without a valid CSQ.

The CSQ:

Is issued by the ministère de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (MII).
Carries validity and expiry rules set by Quebec, and can become invalid if your situation changes significantly.
Is specific to the program you applied under (PSTQ, PEQ, etc.).
Covers your spouse or partner and dependent children if included in your application.

Quebec's intake volumes and IRCC's processing times both change often, so this guide publishes no fixed month-counts. For an estimate, add the current MII time for the CSQ to IRCC's current federal PR processing time.

How does the PSTQ select skilled workers?

Quebec's main skilled-worker program is the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), in English the Skilled Worker Selection Program. It replaced the former Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ) on November 29, 2024 (PRTQ invitations had to be received before that date).

Quebec runs the PSTQ through Arrima, an expression-of-interest system. You submit a declaration of interest, and if your profile matches what Quebec is seeking, you may be invited to apply for selection. The PSTQ has several streams (for example highly qualified or specialized skills, intermediate and manual skills, regulated professions and exceptional talent), and each can have its own conditions.

The PSTQ and Express Entry compared
Feature	PSTQ (Quebec)	Express Entry (federal)
Governing body	MII (Quebec)	IRCC (federal)
Language priority	French (mandatory minimums on key streams)	English or French (equal)
Selection mechanism	Arrima declaration of interest + invitation rounds	CRS score + draws
Job offer requirement	Generally not required (can affect a profile)	Not required. Since November 3, 2026 a qualifying offer in a high-wage occupation can add up to 100 CRS points.
Destination	Must intend to settle in Quebec	Any province (Quebec selects its own)
PR steps	Invitation → CSQ → Federal PR application	ITA → Federal PR application

Once you are a permanent resident, mobility rights under the Canadian Charter generally let you live and work anywhere in Canada. You must still intend to settle in Quebec at the time you apply through a Quebec program, and misrepresenting your intention can have serious consequences.

Is the PEQ open, and who is it for?

The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) is Quebec's selection pathway for people already established in Quebec. It is broadly comparable to the federal Canadian Experience Class, with a strong French requirement. Its last intake ran from July 2, 2026 to October 31, 2026 and is closed, and Quebec says no decision has been made on a new intake period.

Worker stream: 24 of the 36 months before the application in full-time FEER 0 to 3 work in Quebec, generally tied to authorized status in Quebec. Oral French at level 7 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français.
Graduate stream: An eligible Quebec diploma obtained within the 36 months before the application, from a recognized Quebec institution. Oral French at level 7 and written French at level 5. You apply during an open intake period, and none is open now.

What French and values requirements apply?

Unlike federal Express Entry, where English and French are valued equally, Quebec sets mandatory minimum French levels for its key skilled-worker streams. Quebec measures French on its own Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français. These levels are set by Quebec and change.

French requirements by program
Program	French requirement	Test used
PSTQ	Stream 1: oral level 7 and written level 5. Stream 2: oral level 5. Accompanying spouse: oral level 4.	Accepted French tests or French-language studies, as listed by Quebec.
PEQ Worker	Mandatory oral French at level 7.	Accepted French tests or French-language studies, as listed by Quebec.
PEQ Graduate	Mandatory oral French at level 7 and written French at level 5.	Accepted French tests or French-language studies, as listed by Quebec.

Quebec's selection programs, governed by the Loi sur l'immigration au Québec, include a values requirement. PSTQ applicants, and accompanying family members 18 or older, must obtain the Attestation d'apprentissage des valeurs démocratiques et des valeurs québécoises (Attestation of learning of democratic and Québec values) as expressed in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

What does a student or temporary worker need from Quebec?

The Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) is required for some temporary stays in Quebec: for international students, and for foreign workers hired under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

CAQ for studies: required to apply for a Canadian study permit to study in Quebec. Submit an online application for temporary selection for studies to the MII before applying to IRCC.
CAQ for work: required for jobs under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (the LMIA route). Your employer starts the process.
Under the International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt work permits, such as CUSMA/USMCA), the employer submits an offer of employment through the Employer Portal, and you do not apply under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Quebec posts its processing times (in French).

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What do people ask?

What is the Canada-Quebec Accord on immigration?

The Canada-Quebec Accord is the agreement signed on February 5, 1991 that lets Quebec select its own economic immigrants. Quebec sets its own selection criteria, advises Canada on how many immigrants it wishes to receive, and selects resettled refugees destined to Quebec. Canada keeps admissibility, family class admission and criteria (Quebec applies them), refugee determination and citizenship. The Accord text is linked in the rule box on this page, and the Express Entry guide covers the federal side.

Can I use Express Entry to move to Quebec?

Generally no. Express Entry selects immigrants who plan to live outside Quebec. To settle in Quebec, you go through a Quebec program such as the PSTQ or the PEQ and get a CSQ first. Then you apply to IRCC for permanent residence, and IRCC runs its own admissibility checks. The Express Entry guide explains the federal system used for every other province.

What are the Quebec immigration programs?

Quebec's main economic programs are the PSTQ for skilled workers and the PEQ for people already working or studying in Quebec. The PSTQ replaced the former PRTQ, sometimes called the QSWP, on November 29, 2024. The PEQ's last intake ran from July 2 to October 31, 2026 and is closed; Quebec says no decision has been made on a new intake period. For temporary stays, Quebec issues the CAQ. The Pathway Explorer compares these programs with the federal ones.

How does Arrima work for Quebec immigration?

Arrima is Quebec's expression-of-interest system for the PSTQ. You submit a declaration of interest, and if your profile matches what Quebec is seeking, Quebec may invite you to apply for selection. Quebec scores candidates on its own selection grid, separate from the federal CRS. Streams and invitation thresholds change, so check them on Quebec.ca. The CRS Calculator shows the federal score for comparison.

Do I have to speak French to immigrate to Quebec?

For Quebec's economic programs, in practice yes. The PSTQ sets mandatory minimum French levels on its key streams, such as oral level 7 and written level 5 on Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) and oral level 5 on Stream 2. The PEQ requires oral French at level 7 (graduates also written level 5). Federal pathways outside Quebec do not require French. The Language Converter compares TEF, TCF, CLB and IELTS levels.

What is the difference between a CSQ and a CAQ?

A CSQ is for permanent immigration and a CAQ is for temporary stays. The Certificat de sélection du Québec is Quebec's selection certificate, the step before you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. The Certificat d'acceptation du Québec comes before a study or work permit application for Quebec. The Study Permit Canada page covers the federal permit step.

Can I get a PNP nomination from Quebec?

No. Quebec does not take part in the federal Provincial Nominee Program. Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec runs its own selection system, so there is no Quebec PNP. The CSQ, obtained through a Quebec program such as the PSTQ or the PEQ, plays the role a provincial nomination plays elsewhere. The Provincial Nominee Program guide covers the other provinces.

Can I live in Quebec with federal PR from Express Entry?

Yes. If you became a permanent resident through a non-Quebec pathway, such as the Canadian Experience Class or another province's PNP, your mobility rights generally let you live anywhere in Canada, including Quebec. Some Quebec integration programs are aimed at the immigrants Quebec selected. The Canada permanent residence pathways guide lists the federal routes.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.