Québec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) published Arrima results on July 14 showing 501 invitations issued on June 26 across all four streams of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ). Stream 2, aimed at intermediate and manual skills (TEER 3-5), received the largest share, reflecting Québec’s need for workers in construction, manufacturing and elder-care. The draw is the sixth this year under the PSTQ, and the smallest so far—evidence that Québec is calibrating intake in line with its 2026 target of 57,000 new permanent residents. Candidates required a valid job offer outside the Montréal CMA or six months of Québec experience in priority occupations, highlighting the province’s regionalisation strategy. Employers should act quickly once an employee receives an invitation: provincial selection applications must be filed within 60 days, and supporting documents—including language test results—cannot be older than two years. Once a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is issued, federal permanent-residence processing currently averages 12 months. Given the province’s Bill 96 language rules, candidates without advanced French will find opportunities largely limited to Stream 3’s talent-retention pathway, which still demands a commitment to reach CLB 5 in French within two years of arrival. Relocation providers are advising companies to budget extra time for school enrolment and health-card registration, as some regional CLSCs report appointment backlogs ahead of the fall intake of international students.
Source: CIC News
