Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) or PSTQ
As of November 29, 2024, Quebec replaced its Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) with the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP). The Skilled Worker Selection Program is an immigration program operated by the province of Quebec for candidates who have skilled work experience and want to settle in Québec permanently.
To apply for permanent residency under the SWSP, applicants must demonstrate that they can contribute meaningfully to Quebec’s economy by becoming valuable members of the workforce. To evaluate eligibility, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) follows a structured process and specific criteria that all candidates must meet.
Overview
- Streams Under the SWSP
- How to Apply
- Arrima Online Portal
- Permanent Selection
- Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program processing time
- Incomplete Documentation
- Skilled Worker Selection Program fees
- Is French required for the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program?
Quebec Skilled Worker Selection points
- Quebec Skilled Worker Selections points systems
- Selection Factors – Quebec Immigration Selection Grid
- Recent Draws Using the Arrima Portal
Streams Under the SWSP
The SWSP has four streams that you may be eligible to receive an invitation for. All the streams cover all of Quebec’s labour-market needs:
- Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills
- Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills
- Stream 3: Regulated professions in Quebec
- Stream 4: Exceptional talent
It is important to note that under the SWSP, if you reside in Quebec, it is in your advantage to hold a diploma from Québec or have Québec work experience. Additionally, French language proficiency is a requirement for streams 1, 2 and 3.
Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) or PSTQ: How to Apply
Before applying for permanent residency through the SWSP, applicants must obtain a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from MIFI in order to be able to submit a permanent selection application.
The SWSP operates on a declaration of interest system. This means that candidates must submit their expression of Interest, free of charge, through MIFI’s Arrima portal. In the expression of interest, candidates prove their intent to live in Quebec as well as disclose their relevant background and skills. If you receive an invitation to apply for permanent selection, then that means that your profile met SWSP’s requirements and stood out from other candidates in the scoring system.
At Canadim, we understand that this application process can be confusing, so we help you create your account in MIFI’s Arrima as well as submit the required applications on your behalf.
Contact us to get started today!
Contact UsArrima Online Portal
The Quebec Ministère de l’Immigration, Francisation et Integration (MIFI) launched the Arrima online portal to manage applications for the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP). MIFI selects candidates from this pool to apply for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
Candidates have 90 days to complete and submit their EOI from the date they create the expression of interest through Arrima. If you do not submit your EOI within 90 days, it will be deleted.
Once your profile is selected, depending on whether it corresponds to Québec’s needs, and who have the level of French proficiency required under the stream applicable to their occupation, may receive an invitation to apply for permanent selection under one of the SWSP’s four streams.
Only once your profile is chosen, and you receive an invitation for permanent residency from MIFI will you then be eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
Permanent Selection
A CSQ is the first step towards getting permanent residence to settle in Québec. Although processing times vary, applications for a CSQ submitted through the Arrima portal are expected to be processed within 9 months.
Once the invitation for permanent residence is accepted, you will receive a second message explaining how to apply for permanent selection.
It’s important to note that if you’re not ready to submit your permanent residence application right away, you have 30 days to either decline the invitation but keep your Expression of Interest (EOI) in the database, allowing you to remain in the pool for future invitations, or decline the invitation and notify the MIFI to remove your EOI from the system.
You can only apply for permanent selection under the Skilled Worker Selection Program if you receive an invitation (CSQ) and accept it within 30 days. If you don’t respond within that window, your EOI will be removed from the MIFI’s database! There will always be future opportunities.
Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program processing time
There are two processing times to consider for your Skilled Worker Selection Program: the processing time for the CSQ and for the Canadian permanent residence application. For permanent residency application processing times it takes about 9 months, this does not include the time it will take the province of Quebec to process the Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec) as indicated above. It is important to note that both CSQ and PR processing times are subject to change. The most up-to-date processing times can be found on the government website.
Incomplete Documentation
If documents are incomplete or not provided in the required format, you will receive a letter from MIFI stating that documents have been rejected and that you have 60 days to submit them in accordance with the Ministère’s requirements. After this time, if you fail to do so, your application will be rejected.
Skilled Worker Selection Program fees
When immigrating through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP), candidates must pay for both the CSQ application, and federal permanent residence application. Please see the most up to date CSQ fees below as of January 1, 2025. These fees are updated every year.
| Applicant | Processing fee in $ CAD |
|---|---|
| Principal applicant | $921 |
| Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner | $197 |
| A dependent child under the age of 22 or a dependent over the age of 22 who is unable to support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition | $197 per dependent |
| Last updated January 1, 2025 |
Is French required for the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program?
Unlike the previous RSWP program, the SWSP does require most applicants to show proficiency in French. This gives an advantage to those who are bilingual in English and French who wish to reside in Quebec.
As mentioned earlier, French language proficiency is a requirement for streams 1, 2 and 3 only. Within these streams, the required level of French proficiency differs depending on the TEER category of your occupation.
For streams 1,2, and 3, if your spouse is accompanying you, they must have a spoken knowledge of French at least a level 4 or higher on the Échelle québécoise.
Quebec Skilled Worker Selections points systems
The SWSP uses two points systems. One system determines who is eligible to submit an Arrima profile, and the other system decides who gets invited to apply for permanent selection. If a candidate meets the minimum points required to submit an Arrima profile, they will receive a score. Quebec then uses this score to rank candidates and determine who will receive an invitation to apply for a CSQ.
Selection Factors - Quebec Immigration Selection Grid
To submit a profile to the Arrima portal under the Skilled Worker Selection Program, applicants must meet the minimum required scores on the eligibility points grid below. Even then, meeting the minimum threshold does not guarantee an invitation as candidates are selected based on how their score compares with others in the Arrima pool.
The new SWSP program uses a detailed points-based system which the maximum number of points available to get is 1,400.
The new grid scores candidates out of 1,400 points, with emphasis on three broad groups:
- Human capital (max 520 points)
- Response to Quebec needs (max 700 points)
- Adaptation factors (max 180 points)
| Factor | Maximum Points (Principal Applicant) | Maximum Points (if Principal Applicant has an Accompanying Spouse) |
|---|---|---|
| Language | 200 pts | 160 pts |
| Education | 130 pts | 110 pts |
| Age | 120 pts | 100 pts |
| Work Experience | 70 pts | 50 pts |
| Factor | Maximum Points (Principal Applicant) |
|---|---|
| Quebec Work Experience (Experience in the 5 years before profile extraction) | 160 pts |
| Quebec Education | 200 pts |
| Labour Market Diagnosis and Experience | 120 pts |
| Live/Work/Study Outside Montreal Metropolitan Area | 120 pts |
| Job Offer | 50 pts |
| Credentials | 50 pts |
| Study Period Without Diploma | 30 pts |
| Family Member in Quebec | 10 pts |
Bonus Points: Spouse/Partner Contribution
| Factor | Maximum Points (Spouse) |
|---|---|
| Language | 40 pts |
| Age | 20 pts |
| Quebec Work Experience | 30 pts |
| Education Level | 20 pts |
| Quebec Diploma | 30 pts |
Recent Draws Using the Arrima Portal
| Invitation Date | Stream | Number of Invitations | Score/Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2025 | Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills | 216 | Equal to or greater than 768 points. |
| July 17, 2025 | Stream 4: Exceptional talent | 22 | They had a post-graduate diploma (doctorate) & they had work experience in their main occupation of at least 36 months over the last five years. |
| July 31, 2025 | Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills | 273 | Equal to or greater than 661 points. |
| August 14, 2025 | Stream 3: Regulated professions | 275 | Equal to or greater than 766 points. |
| August 28, 2025 | Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills | 227 | 760 points or higher. |
| August 28, 2025 | Stream 4: Exceptional talent | 21 | They had a post-graduate diploma (doctorate) & they had work experience in their main occupation of at least 36 months over the last five years. |
| December 4, 2025 | Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills | 605 | 781 or 644 points or higher (Depending on NOC code) |
| December 4, 2025 | Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills | 604 | Equal to or greater than 573 points or 612 points (Depending on NOC code) |
| December 4, 2025 | Stream 3: Regulated professions | 649 | Equal to or greater than 717 points or 535 points (Depending on NOC code). |
| December 4, 2025 | Stream 4: Exceptional talent | 12 | They had a level of education equivalent to a doctorate in Quebec (including undergraduate doctorates) & they had work experience in their main occupation of at least 36 months over the last five years. |
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