Quebec is the only Canadian province with its own dedicated immigration selection authority, set out in the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration (1991). Under that Accord Quebec selects its own economic immigrants through provincial programs, so you generally cannot use federal Express Entry to settle in Quebec. The short version: you first obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from the Quebec government, then apply to IRCC for permanent residence, and IRCC still carries out the federal admissibility checks (security, criminality, medical). This guide explains the full Quebec immigration system: the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), which replaced the older Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ) in late 2024; the Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ); the Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for students and workers; the now-mandatory French requirements; the Quebec values commitment; and how to think about timelines. It is educational, not legal advice, and Quebec's rules change often, so verify any specific on the official Quebec.ca / MIFI pages before you rely on it.
Why Quebec Is Separate: The Canada-Quebec Accord
The Canada-Quebec Accord Relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens, signed February 5, 1991, gives Quebec the unique right to:
- ✓ Set its own levels for economic immigrants destined to Quebec
- ✓ Establish its own selection criteria (separate points grid, grille de sélection)
- ✓ Prioritize French-language immigrants
- ✓ Select resettled refugees destined to Quebec
In exchange, Canada retains control over:
- • National security and admissibility (IRPA s.11, s.36, s.37)
- • Family class sponsorship
- • Refugee determination
- • Citizenship requirements
What this means for you: as a Quebec-destined economic immigrant you generally need TWO approvals, a CSQ from the Quebec government AND federal PR approval from IRCC. The two decisions are separate and either can refuse you. IRCC will not select you on Quebec's economic criteria, but it still does the federal admissibility assessment (medical, security, criminality) on every applicant, so a valid CSQ does not guarantee PR.
The CSQ: Quebec's Selection Certificate
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, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI)
- ✓ Does not expire but can become invalid if your situation changes significantly
- ✓ Is specific to the program you applied under (PSTQ, PEQ, etc.)
- ✓ Covers your spouse/partner and dependent children if included in your application
PSTQ (Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program) vs Federal Express Entry
Quebec's main skilled-worker permanent-selection program is the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), in English the Skilled Worker Selection Program. It came into effect in late 2024 (Quebec announced an in-force date in November 2024) and replaced the former Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ). The PSTQ is Quebec's rough counterpart to the federal skilled-worker route, but the two systems are completely separate and use different selection rules. 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. Quebec has organized the PSTQ into multiple streams (for example, profiles aimed at highly qualified or specialized skills, intermediate and manual skills, regulated professions, and exceptional talent), and each can have its own conditions. Verify the current streams, criteria and any invitation thresholds on Quebec.ca, as these are adjusted periodically.
| Feature | PSTQ (Quebec) | Express Entry (Federal) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing body | MIFI (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 (no longer adds 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 |
Note: once you are a permanent resident, mobility rights under the Canadian Charter generally let you live and work anywhere in Canada, so Quebec-selected immigrants who later move elsewhere keep their PR status. However, you must genuinely intend to settle in Quebec at the time you apply through a Quebec program, and misrepresenting your intention can have serious consequences. For your individual situation, speak with a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant.
PEQ: Programme de l'expérience québécoise
The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) is Quebec's selection pathway for people already established in Quebec, with two streams: a worker stream and a graduate stream. It is broadly comparable to the federal Canadian Experience Class, but with a strong French requirement. Quebec reformed the PEQ in recent years and now runs it through periodic intake windows rather than continuous applications, and it has announced the program will eventually wind down, so the open dates and eligibility cut-offs matter a great deal. Confirm the current intake periods and exact criteria on Quebec.ca before relying on any figure below.
PEQ Worker Stream (general idea)
- ✓ A required amount of recent, eligible full-time work experience in Quebec (Quebec has set this at multiple years of experience within a defined recent window, verify the current figure)
- ✓ Eligible work experience generally tied to authorized status in Quebec
- ✓ Mandatory French proficiency (advanced-intermediate oral French, around level 7 on the Quebec/CLB scale, demonstrated by an accepted test or French-language schooling)
- ✓ Intention to live in Quebec and meet all selection conditions
PEQ Graduate Stream (general idea)
- ✓ An eligible Quebec diploma obtained by a Quebec-set cut-off date (for example a university degree, a technical DEC, or a DEP of sufficient length, verify which diplomas and minimum hours currently qualify)
- ✓ Graduation from a recognized Quebec institution, with the program on Quebec's eligible-training lists where required
- ✓ Mandatory French proficiency (advanced-intermediate, around level 7)
- ✓ Applying within the open intake window and meeting all selection conditions
What this means for you: the PEQ has historically been faster than the regular skilled-worker route for CSQ issuance, but it is no longer a simple "fast track". French is mandatory, the worker-experience and graduate-diploma rules have changed, and applications are only accepted during set intake periods. Treat the bullets above as the general shape of the program and confirm every specific (experience length, eligible diplomas, French level, current intake dates) on Quebec.ca, because these have all been revised.
CAQ: Certificat d'acceptation du Québec
The Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) is required for temporary residence in Quebec, specifically for international students and foreign workers. It is the Quebec equivalent of a provincial endorsement for temporary status applications.
- ✓ CAQ for studies: Required to apply for a Canadian study permit to study in Quebec. Apply to MIFI before applying to IRCC.
- ✓ CAQ for work: Required for most work permit applications for Quebec employers. The employer typically initiates this process.
- ✓ Processing time: around 25 business days once complete for study CAQ; varies for work CAQ. Verify current MIFI times
CUSMA/USMCA work permit holders and certain other LMIA-exempt categories may be exempt from the CAQ requirement. Verify on the MIFI website for your circumstances.
French Language Requirements
French is central to Quebec immigration, and it became more central with the PSTQ. Unlike federal Express Entry, where English and French are valued equally, Quebec now sets mandatory minimum French levels for its key skilled-worker streams rather than simply rewarding French with extra points. Quebec measures French on its own Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence (closely related to the Canadian Language Benchmarks), and reported requirements have included, for example, oral French at level 7 with a written-French minimum on the most highly qualified PSTQ stream, with somewhat different levels on other streams and a lower level for an accompanying spouse. These levels are set by Quebec and change, so confirm the exact requirement for your stream on Quebec.ca before testing.
| Program | French Requirement | Test Used |
|---|---|---|
| PSTQ | Mandatory minimum French on key streams (e.g. oral level 7 / written level 5 on the highly qualified stream); levels vary by stream, verify on Quebec.ca | TEF Canada, TCF Canada (or recognized French schooling) |
| PEQ Worker | Mandatory advanced-intermediate oral French (around level 7) | TEF Canada, TCF Canada, accepted tests or French-language education |
| PEQ Graduate | Mandatory advanced-intermediate French (around level 7) | TEF Canada, TCF Canada, accepted tests or French-language education |
Verify exact current French level requirements on the MIFI website, levels and requirements are updated periodically. Use the Language Converter to compare CLB, TEF, TCF, and IELTS equivalencies.
Quebec Values Test
Quebec's immigration process includes a declaration of adherence to Quebec values as part of the CSQ application. Under Quebec's Loi sur l'immigration au Québec, applicants must declare they understand and agree to adhere to Quebec's democratic values and the principle of gender equality. As of 2024, MIFI incorporates a values assessment in certain program applications.
This is an area of ongoing policy development. Check the MIFI website for current requirements in the specific program you are applying under. Consult a Quebec immigration lawyer for complex situations.
Processing Times
| Stage | PSTQ | PEQ |
|---|---|---|
| CSQ (Quebec/MIFI) | Varies with intake and invitation rounds | Historically faster than the regular program |
| Federal PR (IRCC, after CSQ) | Per IRCC's current published time | Per IRCC's current published time |
| How to estimate | Quebec stage + IRCC stage combined | Quebec stage + IRCC stage combined |
We deliberately do not publish fixed month-counts here because Quebec's intake volumes and IRCC's processing times both change frequently, and quoting a stale number would mislead you. For a realistic estimate, add the current Quebec (MIFI) CSQ time to IRCC's current federal PR processing time. Check the official Quebec.ca / MIFI announcements for CSQ timelines and IRCC's online processing-times tool for the federal step. Files that are complete and well-documented at submission generally move faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Express Entry to move to Quebec?+
Not directly. Express Entry (federal) is generally for immigrants intending to live outside Quebec. If you want to settle in Quebec, you generally go through a Quebec selection program (such as the PSTQ or the PEQ) and obtain a CSQ first. After your CSQ is issued, you apply to IRCC, which processes the federal permanent-residence step and does its own admissibility checks.
Can I get a PNP nomination from Quebec?+
No. Quebec does not participate 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 like the PSTQ or PEQ, is Quebec's equivalent provincial approval.
Do I have to speak French to immigrate to Quebec?+
For Quebec's economic programs, in practice yes. With the PSTQ, Quebec sets mandatory minimum French levels on its key skilled-worker streams (rather than just rewarding French with points), and the PEQ requires advanced-intermediate French. Federal pathways that do not go through Quebec do not require French. Because the exact levels are set by Quebec and change, confirm the current requirement for your stream on Quebec.ca.
What happened to the QSWP / PRTQ?+
Quebec's former regular skilled-worker program, the Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ, sometimes called the QSWP in English), was replaced in late 2024 by the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), the Skilled Worker Selection Program. The PSTQ uses the Arrima declaration-of-interest and invitation system and is organized into multiple streams. If you find older guides referring to the PRTQ or QSWP, check the current PSTQ rules on Quebec.ca.
What is the difference between a CSQ and a CAQ?+
They are not the same. A CSQ (Certificat de sélection du Québec) is Quebec's selection certificate for permanent immigration, the step before you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. A CAQ (Certificat d'acceptation du Québec) is for temporary stays in Quebec, mainly international students and many foreign workers, before you apply to IRCC for a study or work permit. One is for becoming a permanent resident; the other is for temporary status.
Do I apply to Quebec or to IRCC first?+
For permanent economic immigration, the Quebec step generally comes first: you go through a Quebec program, and Quebec issues your CSQ, then you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. For temporary status (studying or working in Quebec), you typically obtain your CAQ from Quebec first and then apply to IRCC for the study or work permit. Exact sequencing can vary, so follow the official instructions for your specific program.
Can I live in Quebec on a federal Express Entry PR?+
If you received federal PR through a non-Quebec pathway (such as the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or another province's PNP), your mobility rights as a permanent resident generally let you live anywhere in Canada, including Quebec. However, you were not selected by Quebec, and some Quebec settlement or integration programs are oriented toward Quebec-selected immigrants.
Does Quebec recognize federal criminal rehabilitation?+
Criminal inadmissibility is a federal matter under IRPA s.36, assessed by IRCC regardless of whether your pathway runs through Quebec. A federal Temporary Resident Permit or approved Criminal Rehabilitation addresses the federal inadmissibility and applies across Canada, including Quebec. For anything involving inadmissibility, get advice from a licensed immigration lawyer or a CICC-regulated consultant.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.