Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) published the results of Arrima Draw #85 on 7 July 2026. A total of 502 candidates received invitations to apply for permanent selection under the province’s Regular Skilled Worker Program. Unlike the federal Express Entry pool, Arrima conducts stream-specific draws; invitations this time were split among highly qualified professionals, intermediate-skilled workers, regulated occupations and exceptional-talent applicants. The draw, based on profiles submitted by 3 July, reflects Quebec’s ongoing labour-market strategy: recruit health-care professionals, engineers, skilled tradespeople and French-speaking educators who can settle outside Greater Montréal. Since Arrima does not award extra points for job offers, French proficiency and occupation in demand remain decisive factors.
![Quebec invites 502 skilled workers in Arrima Draw #85 across four streams]()
For candidates and HR teams navigating these requirements, VisaHQ offers step-by-step support with Quebec provincial applications as well as the subsequent federal work-permit filings. Their online platform streamlines document collection, tracks application milestones and provides real-time updates, helping applicants avoid common delays and ensure compliance.
For employers, the invitation totals are a bellwether of provincial nomination capacity. Québec-bound hires who receive a Selection Certificate (CSQ) can gain an expedited Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption and apply for an open work permit while waiting for PR—an attractive perk in tightening talent markets. Mobility managers should remember that Quebec immigration operates independently of IRCC’s Express Entry in selection but converges federally at the PR stage. Coordinating timelines between provincial selection, federal security checks and relocation logistics is essential to avoid work-permit gaps. With 13,240 invitations issued so far in 2026, Quebec is on pace to meet its target of roughly 18,000 skilled-worker selections, meaning further occupation-tailored draws are expected in the coming months.
For candidates and HR teams navigating these requirements, VisaHQ offers step-by-step support with Quebec provincial applications as well as the subsequent federal work-permit filings. Their online platform streamlines document collection, tracks application milestones and provides real-time updates, helping applicants avoid common delays and ensure compliance.
For employers, the invitation totals are a bellwether of provincial nomination capacity. Québec-bound hires who receive a Selection Certificate (CSQ) can gain an expedited Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption and apply for an open work permit while waiting for PR—an attractive perk in tightening talent markets. Mobility managers should remember that Quebec immigration operates independently of IRCC’s Express Entry in selection but converges federally at the PR stage. Coordinating timelines between provincial selection, federal security checks and relocation logistics is essential to avoid work-permit gaps. With 13,240 invitations issued so far in 2026, Quebec is on pace to meet its target of roughly 18,000 skilled-worker selections, meaning further occupation-tailored draws are expected in the coming months.
