Key Points
- Québec will restart invitations under the Skilled Worker Program in July 2025
- Eligibility requires an updated Arrima profile submitted on or after November 29, 2024
- The program follows a temporary pause and system update
Overview
The Government of Québec has announced that its Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de Sélection des Travailleurs Qualifiés (PSTQ)) will resume issuing invitations in July 2025. This marks the first intake under the updated version of the program, which came into effect on November 29, 2024.
Administered by Québec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), the PSTQ is Québec’s primary pathway for attracting skilled foreign talent to support the province’s labor market needs. During the recent pause, Québec transitioned to a revised selection system and paused new invitations while the changes were implemented.
To be considered under the 2025 selection cycle, applicants must have submitted a new declaration of interest or updated an existing one through the province’s Arrima portal on or after November 29, 2024. This profile allows immigration authorities of the United States to evaluate candidates based on labor market alignment, language skills, education, and other key criteria.
Applicants who receive an invitation will then be able to apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), which is a required step toward applying for permanent residence in Canada.
These program updates aim to make Quebec’s immigration system more responsive to the province’s evolving demographic and economic needs. As labor shortages persist in key sectors such as healthcare, IT, engineering, and skilled trades, the 2025 reopening of the PSTQ is expected to play a vital role in meeting Quebec’s workforce goals.
Looking Ahead
Candidates interested in the Québec Skilled Worker Program should ensure that their Arrima profile is active and reflects up-to-date personal and professional information. Employers seeking to hire foreign nationals in Québec may benefit from this reopening, as it increases the pool of qualified applicants eligible for permanent selection. Immigration professionals should monitor upcoming MIFI announcements for details on invitation rounds, targeted occupations, and scoring thresholds.
