Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) - Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills
Points-ranked expression-of-interest stream in Arrima for people whose main occupation is TEER 0, 1 or 2 and is not a regulated profession. Oral French 7 and written French 5 are required.
Who it suits
- Skilled professionals in TEER 0-2 occupations who do not need a Quebec licence
- Candidates with strong French (oral 7, written 5)
Requirements
- OccupationMain occupation in FEER/TEER category 0, 1 or 2, with no licence needed to practise it in Quebec (otherwise Stream 3). ↗ quebec.ca
- Work experienceAt least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent) paid work in the main occupation, in or outside Quebec, in the 5 years before applying. ↗ quebec.ca
- EducationDiploma from a full-time program of at least one year that leads to a profession (vocational, college or university level); Quebec diplomas need at least 900 hours (secondary/college) or 30 credits (university). ↗ quebec.ca
- LanguageOral French level 7 and written level 5 on the Quebec scale; accompanying spouse oral level 4. ↗ quebec.ca
- GeneralAge 18 or older; intend to settle in Quebec for a job (not with a business you control); sign a financial self-sufficiency contract covering three months; obtain the attestation of learning of democratic and Quebec values. ↗ quebec.ca
How candidates are selected
Candidates submit an expression of interest in Arrima. The ministry applies stream filters, then extra round-specific criteria (priority occupations, being in Quebec, Quebec diploma), and invites the highest-scoring candidates. Scores are on Quebec's own scale, not CRS.
Location requirement: must intend to settle in Quebec; recent rounds only invited people already staying in Quebec
Processing: Quebec publishes no fixed processing time for the CSQ step on the pages checked; the ministry dropped its six-month commitment for PEQ files received during the 2026 intake. After the CSQ, a federal PR application follows.
Recent rounds
| Date | Round | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 674 | 1,094 |
| Feb 26, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 627 | 907 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 588 | 893 |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 571 | 983 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 666 | 1,094 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 628 | 74 |
| Jul 30, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 651 | 105 |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 639 | 87 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Stream 1 (highly qualified and specialized skills) invitation round | 634 | 86 |
Related pathways
Programme de l'experience quebecoise - Quebec Graduates stream
Limited intakeProgramme de l'experience quebecoise - Temporary Foreign Workers stream
OpenSkilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) - Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills
OpenSkilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) - Stream 3: Regulated professions
OpenSkilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) - Stream 4: Exceptional talent
Official sources
- quebec.caPSTQ program pageChecked 2026-10-01
- quebec.caPSTQ requirementsChecked 2026-10-01
- quebec.caHow invitations workChecked 2026-10-01
- quebec.ca2026 invitation roundsChecked 2026-10-01
- quebec.ca2025 invitation roundsChecked 2026-10-01
- quebec.caMinistry news release of 3 July 2026Checked 2026-10-01
Program rules change often. This page summarizes the official pages listed above; the official page always takes precedence.