Quebec Issues 2,573 ITAs to Skilled Workers
Quebec Issues 2,573 ITAs to Skilled Workers in Major February Immigration Round
On February 23, the provincial immigration authority of Quebec, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), issued a large-scale round of invitations under its Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, PSTQ). This round marked only the second invitation exercise of the year under the PSTQ framework, yet it resulted in 2,573 invitations being distributed across four distinct immigration streams, demonstrating the province’s continued commitment to attracting foreign talent in priority sectors.
With the recent closure of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), the PSTQ has formally taken centre stage as the province’s primary pathway for skilled workers who wish to obtain permanent selection. The February 23 exercise illustrates how Quebec is now leveraging multiple targeted streams within the PSTQ to address labour shortages across highly qualified occupations, intermediate and manual trades, regulated professions, and exceptional talent categories.
Stream One: Highly Qualified and Specialised Skills
Under the first stream, which focuses on highly qualified and specialised professionals, a total of 901 invitations were issued through three separate selections. Candidates considered under this stream were required to be employed in occupations classified under TEER 0, 1, or 2 of Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, and to have accumulated at least 12 months of work experience in Quebec.
Breakdown of Invitations
- Selection One – Quebec diploma (minimum 900 hours or 30 credits annually): 254 invitations
- Selection Two – Quebec diploma and priority occupations: 419 invitations
- Selection Three – Quebec diploma: 234 invitations
Each selection operated under distinct eligibility and scoring thresholds. In Selection One, applicants needed to hold a Quebec diploma of at least 900 hours in duration, or 30 credits per year at the university level, and achieve a minimum score of 741 points. Selection Two required candidates to work in an occupation identified as a priority for this draw and to meet a lower minimum score threshold of 627 points. Meanwhile, Selection Three targeted diploma holders who achieved at least 722 points under the selection grid.
TEER categories, ranging from TEER 0 (managerial roles requiring significant experience and education) to TEER 5 (occupations requiring minimal formal training), play a central role in organising occupations based on the level of preparation required. For this stream, only higher-skilled TEER 0–2 occupations were eligible.
Stream Two: Intermediate and Manual Skills
Stream Two addressed labour needs in non-regulated occupations classified under TEER 3, 4, and 5. A total of 495 invitations were issued across three targeted selections. Candidates were required to have at least one year of Quebec work experience, along with broader employment history in their primary occupation.
Distribution of Invitations
- Selection One – Quebec diploma: 104 invitations
- Selection Two – Priority occupations: 194 invitations
- Selection Three – Minimum score threshold: 197 invitations
Core Eligibility Conditions
- Work in a TEER 3–5 occupation and do not intend to practice a regulated profession listed by the Minister.
- Demonstrate French oral proficiency at level 5 or higher under the Québec Scale of French Proficiency Levels (or equivalent).
- If accompanied by a spouse, ensure the spouse meets at least level 4 oral French proficiency.
- Be residing in Quebec at the time of the invitation.
- Possess at least 24 months of work experience in their main occupation over the previous five years, including at least 12 months in Quebec.
- Hold education credentials recognised in Quebec, ranging from secondary diplomas and vocational training (minimum 600 hours) to university degrees, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral qualifications.
Stream Three: Regulated Professions
The largest share of invitations, 1,141 in total, was issued under Stream Three, which focuses on regulated professions. Six distinct selections were conducted within this stream, reflecting Quebec’s acute labour shortages in regulated occupations, including engineering, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
Invitations by Selection
- Selection One – Quebec diploma: 151 invitations
- Selection Two – In-demand TEER 0–2 occupations: 841 invitations
- Selection Three – Physicians: 39 invitations
- Selection Four – In-demand TEER 3–5 occupations: 30 invitations
- Selection Five – TEER 0–2 occupations: 70 invitations
- Selection Six – TEER 3–5 occupations: 10 invitations
Selection Criteria Overview
Selection One required a Quebec diploma of at least 900 hours (vocational or college) or 30 university credits annually, alongside a minimum score of 730 points and advanced French proficiency (level 7 oral and level 5 written).
Selection Two focused on priority TEER 0–2 regulated occupations, including civil engineers (21300), mechanical engineers (21301), electrical engineers (21310), veterinarians (31103), dentists (31110), pharmacists (31120), psychologists (31200), physiotherapists (31202), registered nurses (31301), nurse practitioners (31302), medical laboratory technologists (32120), teachers (41220 and 41221), social workers (41300), electricians (72200), plumbers (72300), heavy equipment mechanics (72401), crane operators (72500), and many others. Candidates needed at least 632 points and a strong proficiency in French.
Selection Three specifically targeted physicians under NOC 31100 (clinical and laboratory medicine specialists), 31101 (surgery specialists), and 31102 (general practitioners and family physicians). Applicants were required to hold authorisation to practise or to have their credentials recognised by the relevant Quebec regulatory body.
Selection Four addressed regulated TEER 3–5 occupations, including construction-related trades such as plasterers (73102), roofers (73110), heavy equipment operators (73400), and drillers and blasters (73402). A minimum score of 452 points and oral French proficiency at level 5 were required.
Selection Five targeted regulated TEER 0–2 occupations with a higher minimum score requirement of 693 points, while Selection Six applied to regulated TEER 3–5 occupations with a notably high threshold of 774 points and required oral French proficiency at level 5.
Across all regulated profession selections, candidates were required to reside in Quebec and demonstrate appropriate French proficiency levels, with accompanying spouses also required to meet minimum oral language benchmarks where applicable.
Stream Four: Exceptional Talents
- Selection One – Positive opinion letter plus three years’ experience: 3 invitations
- Selection Two – Documented exceptional achievement plus three years’ experience: 3 invitations
Eligibility Requirements
For Selection One, candidates needed a positive opinion letter from a recognised MIFI partner in a targeted field and at least 36 months of relevant work experience within the past five years.
For Selection Two, applicants had to present documentation proving an exceptional achievement listed by MIFI, hold an education equivalent to a Quebec doctoral degree, and demonstrate a minimum of 36 months of recent professional experience in their primary occupation.
Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
Limited Invitations for High-Impact Profiles
A small number of candidates were invited under the exceptional talent stream. This pathway is reserved for individuals with recognized achievements or endorsements in strategic sectors such as research, innovation, culture, or sports. Applicants were required to present evidence of exceptional accomplishments, advanced academic credentials (equivalent to a Quebec doctorate), and extensive professional experience.
Quebec’s Strategic Immigration Direction
This extensive February 23 draw signals a clear strategic direction from Quebec’s immigration authorities. By distributing invitations across multiple skill levels and occupational categories, the province is responding directly to labour shortages in engineering, healthcare, education, construction, and technical trades.
With the PEQ no longer available as a pathway for many applicants, the PSTQ now represents the central framework for skilled worker immigration to Quebec. Through targeted scoring thresholds, language requirements, and occupation-specific selections, Quebec continues to prioritise candidates who are already integrated into the province’s labour market and who demonstrate strong French-language proficiency.
As Quebec moves forward in 2026, the PSTQ appears positioned to remain the cornerstone of the province’s economic immigration strategy, ensuring that invitations align closely with labour market needs while maintaining linguistic and professional integration standards.
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