Quebec Qualified Worker Selection Program

Operated by Leduc International

This program is for people who wish to permanently immigrate to Québec as a skilled worker, whether they are in Québec or abroad. There are four streams to the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ (Qualified Worker Selection Program) covering all occupations on the Québec job market.

To be selected under the PSTQ, you must meet both the general requirements and the specific requirements of the stream under which you are applying for permanent selection. 

General Requirements

  • Be 18 years of age or older.
  • Intend to settle in Québec to take up employment, which:
    • Is not on behalf of a company over which you exercise legal or de facto control, directly or indirectly;
    • Is not in one of the following ineligible areas:
      • Payday loans, cheque cashing or pawnbroking;
      • Production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages.
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For all 4 streams, you must:

  • Meet the criteria that led to the invitation to submit the application for permanent selection, you have received;
  • Demonstrate, by signing a Financial Self-Sufficiency Contract, your capacity to provide for yourself and, if applicable, that of your accompanying family members for the three months after becoming a permanent resident. Please consult the current scales (PDF 153 Kb) (in French only) to find out the total amount that applies to your situation;
  • Obtain the Attestation d’apprentissage des valeurs démocratiques et des valeurs québécoises (Attestation of learning of democratic and Québec values) as expressed in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Accompanying family members aged 18 or over also need to obtain one;
  • Comply with any conditions for returning to your country imposed by a scholarship in Québec, if applicable.
  • Find the NOC code and FÉER category of your main occupation

Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills

  • FÉER Category: Your main occupation must be in the category FÉER 0, 1 or 2.
  • Work experience: You must have at least 1 year of full-time or equivalent paid work experience in your main occupation, in Québec or outside Québec, during the 5 years prior to the date of your application.
  • Education: Have obtained your diploma before submitting your application.

    Have a specialized diploma leading to the labour market attesting to a program of study of at least 1 year full-time and corresponding, in Québec, to one of the following diplomas:
    • Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) or Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP) at the secondary level;
    • Attestation of Collegial Studies (AEC) or Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) in technical college studies;
    • Certificate, minor, major, bachelor's degree, specialized graduate diploma, master's degree or doctorate at university level;

    If you obtained your diploma in Québec, you must have a diploma from a degree program:

    At least 900 hours, if it is at secondary or college level. Please note that a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) followed by an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP) must lead to a specific trade, and total at least 900 hours;
    • At least 30 credits if at university level;
  • Knowledge of French:
 

Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills

  • FÉER Category: Your main occupation must be in the category FÉER 3, 4 or 5.
  • Work experience:
    • You must have at least two years' paid work experience in your main occupation, including at least one year in Québec, on a full-time or equivalent basis, in the five years preceding the date on which you submitted your application.
    • Work experience acquired outside Québec is eligible for up to one year. It may have been acquired in the main occupation or in an occupation belonging to the same broad occupational category, as defined by the NOC.
    • If your experience was acquired during one or more compulsory internships as part of a degree program, it can be recognized for up to 3 months, whether paid or unpaid.
  • Education:
    • Minimum of one of the following diplomas:
      • Diploma corresponding, in Québec, to a high school diploma;
      • Diploma attesting to a full-time program of study lasting at least one year and corresponding, in Québec, to a Diploma of Vocational Studies or an Attestation of Vocational Specialization at the secondary level or an Attestation of College Studies at the CEGEP level;
    • If you obtained your diploma in Québec, it must be from a program of study of at least 600 hours at the secondary level or 900 hours at the college level;
    • Have obtained your diploma before submitting your application.
  • Knowledge of French:
 

Stream 3: Regulated professions

  • Have a profession included in the List of Regulated Profesions:
    • Your main profession must be included in the Liste des professions réglementées du Ministère (PDF 291 Kb) (List of Regulated Professions of the Ministère - in French only). This list identifies the occupations for which a licence to practice is required in Québec. It's important to familiarize yourself with the list to find out if your profession is regulated in Québec and to learn about its specifics.
  • Hold an assessment from a regulatory authority:
    • You must hold one of the following documents issued by the regulatory authority governing your occupation in Québec:
    • Authorization to practice your occupation in Québec;
    • Proof of partial or full recognition of equivalence of training or diploma dated no more than five years prior to the date of submission of your application for permanent selection.
  • Knowledge of French:
    • The French language requirement depends on the FÉER category of your occupation:
      • If the category is FÉER 0, 1 or 2, you must have an oral knowledge of French of level 7 or higher and a written knowledge of level 5 or higher according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (PDF 4.94 Mb) (in French only) (Échelle québécoise);
      • If the category is FÉER 3, 4 or 5, you must have a level 5 or higher in spoken French according to the Échelle québécoise.
    • Your accompanying spouse must have a spoken knowledge of French at level 4 or higher on the Échelle québécoise (PDF 4.94 Mb)
 

Stream 4: Exceptional Talents