The Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés -PSTQ (Skilled Worker Selection Program) allows skilled workers to settle in Québec permanently. The program has four streams, each with specific selection criteria based on targeted occupations, along with general requirements applicable to all applicants.
To qualify, applicants must be skilled workers aged 18 or older, intending to settle in Québec for employment that is not self-controlled and does not fall into ineligible industries.
All applicants must:
- Meet the criteria that led to their invitation for permanent selection.
- Sign a Financial Self-Sufficiency Contract proving they can support themselves and their family for three months.
- Obtain the Attestation d’apprentissage des valeurs démocratiques et des valeurs québécoises (including for family members over 18).
Applicants must identify their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code and corresponding PSTQ stream to determine eligibility criteria. Job requirements vary based on the FÉER category (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities), which is determined by the second digit of the NOC code and ranges from management roles (0) to unskilled jobs requiring only on-the-job training (5).
1) Highly qualified and specialized skills
To qualify, applicants must:
- Have a main occupation in FÉER category 0, 1, or 2.
- Not require a licence to practice in Québec (or be able to work in a context where one is not needed).
- Have at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent) paid work experience in their main occupation within the last 5 years (in QC or outside QC).
- If experience includes mandatory internships, up to 3 months can be recognized
- Hold a specialized diploma leading to employment, equivalent to:
- Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) or Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP)
- Attestation of Collegial Studies (AEC) or Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) in technical fields
- Certificate, minor, major, bachelor’s, graduate diploma, master’s, or doctorate
- If studied in Québec: 900+ hours for secondary/college diplomas and 30+ credits for university level.
- Meet language requirements:
- French oral proficiency – min. Level 7
- French written proficiency – min. Level 5
- Accompanying spouse: spoken French at level 4 or higher.
2) Intermediate and manual skills
To qualify, applicants must:
- Have their main occupation in FÉER 3, 4, or 5
- Not require a licence to practice in Québec (or be able to work in a context where one is not needed)
- Have at least 2 years of paid experience in the main occupation within the last 5 years (at least 1 year must be in Québec)
- Have one of the following diplomas:
- High school diploma equivalent to the same in Québec.
- At least 1 year of full-time study equivalent to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP), Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP), or Attestation of College Studies (AEC).
- If obtained in Québec: 600+ hours for secondary-level programs and 900+ hours for college-level programs
- Meet French language requirements: minimum Level 5 (spoken) Level 4 (spoken) for accompanying spouse.
3) Regulated professions
To qualify under this stream, your main profession must be listed in the Liste des professions réglementées du Ministère, which includes occupations requiring a licence to practice in Québec.
Types of Regulated Professions:
- Fully Regulated Professions – All associated jobs require regulation
- Non-Fully Regulated Professions – Only some jobs within the occupation are regulated
- You may apply under Stream 1, 2, or 3, depending on your FÉER category.
Regulatory Requirements:
- Authorization to practice your occupation
- Proof of full or partial recognition of diploma/training equivalence (issued within the last 5 years)
French Language Requirements:
- FÉER 0, 1, or 2: Spoken French at level 7+, written at level 5+.
- FÉER 3, 4, or 5: Spoken French at level 5+.
- Spouse: Spoken French at level 4+.
4) Exceptional talent
To qualify for Stream 4: Exceptional Talents, you must have outstanding expertise in your field that contributes to Québec’s prosperity, a proven track record of achievements, and at least three years of experience within the last five years. Your expertise must be recognized through an achievement listed by the Ministère or an opinion from one of its partners in a targeted field, such as strategic economic sectors, research, arts and culture, or sports.
The The Programme de l’expérience québécoise (Québec Experience Program – PEQ) is designed for foreign students who have graduated in Québec or temporary foreign workers looking to settle permanently. It provides a pathway to obtaining a Québec selection certificate, provided all eligibility conditions are met at the time of application.
The program has two streams: one for Québec graduates and another for temporary foreign workers.
General requirements include:
- intent to settle in Québec for employment
- being at least 18 years old
- meeting the French language requirement (spoken French – level 7 for applicants and level 4 for spouses; for graduates also written French – level 5)
- demonstrating financial self-sufficiency.
1) For temporary foreign workers, eligibility depends on:
- having legal status in Québec as a temporary worker, youth exchange program participant or under specific permits
- working in TEER 0, A, or B occupations
- accumulating at least 24 months of full-time paid work in the last 36 months.
- employment must be full-time (30+ hours per week), and not in ineligible sectors.
Applicants may need to complete an interview to verify their information, and spouses may apply for permanent selection as a principal applicant or obtain an open work permit under certain conditions.
2) Québec graduates must:
- have obtained an eligible diploma within the past 36 months from a Québec institution, having studied full-time
- demonstrate French proficiency either through their diploma, 3 years of full-time study in French, or other qualifying criteria
- have also resided in Québec for at least half of their program.
Eligible diplomas include bachelor’s, master’s (including MBA), Ph.D., technical Diplomas of College Studies (DCS), and vocational Diplomas of Vocational Studies (DVS) of at least 1,800 hours, with or without an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS). No other diplomas qualify.
The Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Food Processing allows temporary foreign workers in Québec’s food processing sector to apply for permanent selection and obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). The program is in effect until January 1, 2026.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old and
- Intend to settle in Québec
- Hold an eligible full-time job in the food processing sector at the time of application
- Have at least 24 months of relevant work experience in Québec within the last 36 months
- Possess at least a high school diploma or a Québec vocational diploma
- Demonstrate spoken French proficiency at level 7 on the Québec scale
- Prove financial self-sufficiency.
Eligible occupations include industrial butchers, food and beverage processing labourers, fish and seafood processing workers, specialty cleaners, machine operators, and livestock care workers. The eligible sectors fall under food manufacturing (NAICS 311) and beverage manufacturing (NAICS 3121).
The program has two streams:
- Work
- Work-study
Eligibility Requirements (Common to Both Streams)
- Be at least 18 years old and intend to settle in Québec
- Hold a full-time job as an orderly (NOC 33102) in Québec at the time of application
- Have spoken French proficiency at level 7 of the Québec scale
- Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least three months
- Work for a company you do not control legally or de facto.
1. Work Stream
Applicants must:
- Hold a diploma related to the orderly profession (at least 1 year, full-time, equivalent to a QC Diploma of Vocational Studies).
- Have at least:
- 24 months of full-time experience as an orderly in Québec within the last 36 months, OR
- 12 months as an orderly in Québec + 12 months in a healthcare-related occupation outside Québec (NOC 31300, 31301, 31302, or 32101).
2. Work-Study Stream
Applicants must:
- Have obtained a Québec Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in Institutional and Home Care Assistance within the last 24 months.
- Have at least 12 months of full-time work experience as a patient service associate in Québec within the last 24 months (after completing studies).