Quebec immigration

The Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) selects economic immigrants through PSTQ and the Arrima pool, issues the Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) and the Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ), and sets its own fees and processing rules. Federal IRCC handles the permanent-residence step that follows.

Last verified: Aug 11, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What do PSTQ, Arrima, CSQ and CAQ mean?

The PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés) is Quebec's economic-class selection program, organized into four streams. Arrima is the MIFI portal where you file a declaration of interest and wait to be invited to apply for permanent selection. The CSQ (Certificat de sélection du Québec) is the permanent-selection certificate that results. The CAQ (Certificat d'acceptation du Québec) is a separate certificate for temporary status (studies and most work permits) and has nothing to do with permanent residence.

What are the four PSTQ streams?

Stream 1 covers highly qualified and specialized skills, for occupations in FEER category 0, 1 or 2. Stream 2 covers intermediate and manual skills, in FEER 3, 4 or 5. Stream 3 covers regulated professions on the Ministère's published list, and Stream 4 covers exceptional talent. FEER stands for formation, études, expérience et responsabilités, and is the second digit of the five-digit NOC code.

How much French does the PSTQ require?

Levels are set on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français, not on the federal NCLC scale. Stream 1 asks the applicant for oral level 7 or higher and written level 5 or higher; Stream 2 asks for spoken level 5 or higher. An accompanying spouse needs spoken level 4 or higher in either stream.

Does a CSQ make me a permanent resident?

No. Under the Canada-Quebec immigration agreement, Quebec selects and IRCC admits, so a CSQ is the first of two applications. You apply to Quebec, then to the federal government for permanent residence. That second step carries its own fee, from $1,590, and its own queue; IRCC republishes the processing time rather than holding a fixed service standard, so read it from the live processing-times page instead of a quoted range.

Do I need a CAQ to study in Quebec?

Yes, for any program longer than six months, and it comes first. Apply to MIFI for temporary selection as soon as you have your letter of admission, then apply to IRCC for the study permit once MIFI confirms the CAQ. Programs of six months or less need no CAQ, unless the stay is part of a longer program. Some situations are exempt outright, including recognized refugees and protected persons, and holders of a valid Canadian work permit whose application IRCC received on or before June 7, 2023.

Can I use Express Entry or a PNP to settle in Quebec?

No. Quebec and Nunavut are the two jurisdictions with no Provincial Nominee Program, and Quebec selects its own economic immigrants under its agreement with Canada instead. The Arrima pool runs separately from the federal Express Entry pool. The two do not combine, and a ranking in one says nothing about your position in the other. Canadian citizenship stays federal throughout, granted by IRCC under the Citizenship Act on the same rules nationwide.

Is the PEQ open again?

Yes, temporarily. The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ), suspended on November 19, 2025, reopened on July 2, 2026 for staged application windows through July 2, 2028, covering both the Quebec Graduates and Temporary Foreign Workers streams. The first window, July 2 to October 31, 2026 with no cap, is limited to candidates who already met the pre-suspension requirements as of November 19, 2025; MIFI publishes the dates and criteria for later windows.