In a significant immigration development, the Government of Quebec carried out a large invitation round on February 23 through its primary economic immigration pathway, the Skilled Worker Selection Program, known in French as the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés. The exercise was administered by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, which selected 2,573 foreign nationals for permanent selection consideration.
This draw represents only the second round of invitations under the program this year, yet it reflects a broad and strategic approach to labour market needs. Since the closure of the Quebec Experience Program, the PSTQ has assumed a central role in attracting and retaining international professionals who are already contributing to the province’s economy or possess skills that align with urgent workforce demands.
The invitations were distributed across four structured streams, each designed to address a specific segment of Quebec’s labour market: highly qualified professionals, intermediate and manual workers, regulated occupations, and individuals with exceptional talent profiles.
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High-Level Professionals in Focus Under Stream One
The first stream concentrated on candidates employed in higher-skilled occupations classified under TEER 0, 1, and 2 of Canada’s National Occupation Classification framework. Applicants under this category were required to be living in Quebec and to have accumulated at least one year of work experience in the province.
A total of 901 invitations were issued across three separate selection categories:
- 254 invitations were granted to candidates holding a Quebec diploma of at least 900 hours or 30 university credits per year.
- 419 invitations were directed to those who not only held Quebec educational credentials but were also employed in occupations identified as priorities for the province.
- 234 invitations were extended to diploma holders who met specific scoring benchmarks without the added priority occupation condition.
Each subgroup applied distinct minimum score requirements. Candidates in the diploma-focused selection required a minimum score of 741, while those in the priority occupation category were assessed against a lower threshold of 627. The third grouping required a minimum of 722 points.
These distinctions illustrate Quebec’s effort to reward both local educational attainment and employment in sectors considered critical to economic growth.
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Targeting Skilled Trades and Essential Roles in Stream Two
Stream Two addressed occupations categorised under TEER 3, 4, and 5, focusing primarily on intermediate and manual skill positions that remain essential to Quebec’s infrastructure and service sectors. In total, 495 invitations were distributed across three selection groupings.
Under the first grouping, 104 invitations were issued to candidates who possessed Quebec diplomas meeting minimum duration requirements—600 hours for vocational programs, 900 hours for college-level education, or 30 university credits annually—and who achieved a score of at least 756 points.
The second grouping, which issued 194 invitations, targeted individuals working in priority occupations with a minimum score requirement of 562. These occupations included healthcare support roles such as medical laboratory assistants (33101), nursing assistants and patient care attendants (33102), and pharmacy assistants (33103), as well as construction-related trades like concrete finishers (73100), tilers (73101), roofers (73110), glaziers (73111), painters (73112), heavy equipment operators (73400), and construction labourers (75110).
The final grouping, accounting for 197 invitations, required candidates to meet a minimum score of 688 while satisfying general eligibility criteria.
Across all three groupings, applicants were required to demonstrate oral French proficiency at level 5 or higher under Quebec’s language scale, reside in Quebec, and possess at least 24 months of experience in their primary occupation over the previous five years, including at least one year within the province. Educational qualifications had to correspond to recognised Quebec standards, ranging from secondary diplomas to advanced university degrees.
Regulated Professions Dominate Stream Three Selections
The largest share of invitations, 1,141 in total, was allocated under Stream Three, which focuses exclusively on regulated professions. Six distinct selection categories were conducted, highlighting Quebec’s pressing need for licensed professionals across healthcare, engineering, education, and skilled trades.
The distribution of invitations was as follows:
- 151 invitations to candidates holding qualifying Quebec diplomas.
- 841 invitations to individuals employed in priority TEER 0–2 regulated occupations.
- 39 invitations to physicians.
- 30 invitations to candidates in priority TEER 3–5 regulated occupations.
- 70 invitations to additional TEER 0–2 regulated professionals.
- 10 invitations to TEER 3–5 regulated professionals under a higher scoring threshold.
Among the priority occupations were engineers across multiple disciplines, including civil (21300), mechanical (21301), electrical (21310), and chemical (21320), along with healthcare professionals such as veterinarians (31103), dentists (31110), pharmacists (31120), psychologists (31200), physiotherapists (31202), registered nurses (31301), and nurse practitioners (31302). Skilled trades, including electricians (72200), plumbers (72300), and heavy equipment mechanics (72401) were also included.
Physicians, categorised under NOC codes 31100, 31101, and 31102, were required to hold authorisation from the relevant Quebec regulatory authority or have credentials recognised for practice in the province.
Language requirements were particularly stringent for regulated professions, with most categories demanding oral French proficiency at level 7 and written proficiency at level 5. In certain TEER 3–5 regulated roles, a minimum oral proficiency of level 5 was required. Spouses accompanying principal applicants were generally expected to demonstrate at least level 4 oral French proficiency.
Minimum score requirements varied considerably across the six selections, ranging from 452 points in one category to as high as 774 points in another.
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Exceptional Talent Stream Issues: Limited but Strategic Invitations
Stream Four, which is designed to attract individuals with outstanding achievements or specialised recognition, resulted in 20 invitations.
Two targeted selections were conducted. Three invitations were issued to candidates who presented a positive opinion letter from a recognised MIFI partner and demonstrated at least three years of relevant professional experience within the past five years. Another three invitations were granted to individuals who provided documented proof of exceptional achievements listed by the ministry, possessed an education equivalent to a Quebec doctorate, and met the same 36-month work experience requirement.
The remaining 14 invitations were issued to candidates who satisfied the general eligibility criteria for this stream, indicating that Quebec continues to maintain a pathway for globally competitive talent even while prioritising broader labour market needs.
PSTQ Now at the Core of Quebec’s Economic Immigration Strategy
With the Quebec Experience Program no longer available, the PSTQ has clearly emerged as the province’s principal mechanism for economic immigration. The February 23 draw demonstrates a calibrated approach that balances high-skilled professional recruitment with the inclusion of tradespeople, healthcare support staff, educators, and exceptional achievers.
By aligning invitation rounds with occupational demand, language proficiency standards, and provincial residency requirements, Quebec is reinforcing its commitment to selecting candidates who are already integrated into its workforce or who can transition smoothly into its labour market.
As further rounds are anticipated throughout the year, the PSTQ framework will likely continue to evolve in response to workforce shortages and demographic priorities, shaping the future of skilled immigration to Quebec.
