Quebec's September 24 PSTQ Round: 519 Invitations, Manual Skills Workers Take Nearly Two-Thirds

Quebec held its latest Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) round on September 24, 2026, inviting 519 candidates across all four streams. As with August's round, the biggest share went to workers in intermediate and manual occupations already living in the province — 316 invitations, more than either of July's rounds issued to the same group.

First, an important distinction

Quebec runs its own immigration system, separate from Express Entry and from provincial nominee programs like BC's or Ontario's. Under the Canada–Quebec Accord, the province selects economic immigrants through the Arrima portal, scores them on its own points grid, and issues a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) — after which candidates apply to the federal government for permanent residence. Your CRS score doesn't apply here. Quebec's own criteria — occupation, French ability, and residency — decide everything.

What happened

Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) extracted profiles from the Arrima pool on September 21, 2026 for Streams 1 through 3, and on September 24, 2026 for Stream 4:

Stream 1 comprised three exercises, with minimum scores of 634, 706, and 696. Stream 3's four exercises included minimum scores as high as 697. Stream 2 — the largest share of the round at 61% — issued invitations at scores as low as 611.

Manual-skills workers keep taking the largest share

This is now the third straight PSTQ round where Stream 2 — intermediate and manual skills occupations, from construction trades to home care — has taken the biggest slice of invitations, and this round's 316 is larger than either of Quebec's July rounds (289 on July 3, 296 on July 30). Quebec has kept overall PSTQ volumes well below the 2,500+ invitations it issued in some rounds earlier in the year, a deliberate choice tied to the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), which reopened on July 2, 2026. Until the PEQ's first intake period closes on October 31, 2026, Quebec is holding PSTQ invitation numbers down to stay within the targets in its 2026–2029 immigration plan, concentrating what it does issue on TEER 3–5 occupations and candidates already living and working in the province.

What this means for you

If you're in an intermediate or manual-skills occupation and already living in Quebec: you remain the priority group under this invitation strategy, and this round's 611-point floor for Stream 2 is broadly in line with recent rounds. If you meet the residency, work experience, and French requirements, this is currently the more accessible path to a CSQ.

If you're in a TEER 0–2 specialist occupation or applying from outside Quebec: Stream 1 issued only 86 invitations this round, and every exercise required Quebec residency. This remains a longer road right now than it was earlier in 2026, when Stream 1 rounds ran larger.

If you're weighing PSTQ against the reopened PEQ: Quebec has said PSTQ volumes stay held down until the PEQ's October 31 intake closes, after which the province plans to recalibrate both programs together. If you already qualify under PEQ criteria — typically Quebec work or study experience — it may still be the faster route to a CSQ for the next several weeks. See our Quebec PEQ reopens 2026 guide.

Every stream requires French, and the bar varies by stream: Streams 1 and 3 require oral French at level 7+, Stream 2 requires level 5+, and accompanying spouses need level 4+. A qualifying occupation and a strong score won't clear the bar without the matching French level.

If you got invited

You'll need to submit a complete application for a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Once approved, that CSQ lets you apply to the federal government for permanent residence. Requirements vary by stream and exercise, but generally include proof of your qualifying occupation and work experience, French test results at the level required for your stream, and — for most streams — proof of Quebec residency.

PSTQ score check

Quebec PEQ Reopens 2026 | Quebec's August 27 PSTQ Round | PNP Guide — All Provinces | NOC Codes Explained

Sources

• Immigration.ca — Quebec Invites 519 Candidates Across Four PSTQ Streams In September 24, 2026 Arrima Draws
• Québec — Invitations in Arrima for the Skilled Worker Selection Program (2026)