Quebec PSTQ Draw July 30: 523 Invitations Across All Streams, Stream 2 Dominates with 296

Quebec PSTQ Draw July 30: 523 Invitations Across All Streams, Stream 2 Dominates with 296

David Chen | Author

Quebec’s immigration ministry delivered another multi-stream draw on July 30, issuing 523 invitations to Arrima pool candidates through the Program for Skilled Workers Selection (PSTQ). What made this round notable was the distribution pattern: nearly 60 percent of invitations went to intermediate and manual skill workers under Stream 2, a continuation of Quebec’s strategy to balance its intake across TEER levels as the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) officially reopens.

This marks the seventh PSTQ draw of 2026, and the data reveals a province actively managing its immigration numbers against the targets set in its 2026–2029 multi-year plan.

Draw Overview by Stream

The July 30 selection round covered all four PSTQ streams, with draws processed from the Arrima pool on July 27 at 4:39 p.m. Here is the complete breakdown:

Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills — 105 invitations issued across three exercises targeting TEER 0–2 workers currently residing in Quebec with at least 12 months of work experience in the past five years.

Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills — 296 invitations across three exercises, targeting TEER 3–5 workers in Quebec. This was by far the largest stream.

Stream 3: Regulated Professions — 110 invitations across three exercises for candidates intending to work in regulated professions within Quebec.

Stream 4: Exceptional Talent — 12 invitations across two exercises for candidates with at least 36 months of work experience in the last five years.

Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills — Detailed Breakdown

Stream 1 issued a total of 105 invitations across three separate exercises. Here are the scores and volumes:

The most interesting finding in Stream 1 is the significant gap between Exercise 1 (score 651) and Exercises 2 and 3 (scores 702 and 701). Exercise 1 was restricted to ten specific priority occupations — health and science fields including biologists, early childhood educators, pharmacy technicians, physicians in diagnostic roles, physicists, and social workers. This narrower focus produced a lower cutoff, rewarding candidates whose occupations aligned with Quebec’s targeted sectors.

Exercise 2, limited to chefs and food service supervisors at TEER 2 level, produced the highest cutoff in Stream 1 at 702 — suggesting intense competition among culinary professionals in the Arrima pool.

Exercise 3 opened the TEER range to 0–2 while maintaining the priority occupation requirement, drawing 49 candidates at a score of 701.

The eligible occupations under Exercise 1 included: biologists and related scientists (21110), early childhood educators and assistants (42202), instructors for persons with disabilities (42203), other professional health diagnosing and treating occupations (31209), other technical therapy and assessment occupations (32109), pharmacy technicians (32124), physician assistants and allied health professionals (31303), physicists and astronomers (21100), social and community service workers (42201), and counseling therapists (41301).

Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills — The Draw’s Largest Segment

Stream 2 accounted for 296 of the 523 total invitations — 57 percent of the entire draw. This stream targets TEER 3–5 workers currently residing in Quebec, and the distribution reveals a strong preference for lower-skilled occupations:

Exercise 3 was the clear volume driver, issuing 249 invitations at a cut-off score of 621 — the lowest in this entire draw. This exercise required only a qualifying diploma and a primary occupation at TEER 4 or 5 level, with no priority occupation restrictions. It opened the floodgates for candidates in occupations like pharmacy technical assistants, medical laboratory assistants, nurse aides, home support workers, cooks, and cleaners.

The eligible occupations under Stream 2 Exercise 1 included: elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (43100), home support workers and caregivers (44101), medical administrative assistants (13112), medical laboratory assistants (33101), nurse aides and patient service associates (33102), and pharmacy technical assistants (33103).

Stream 2 Exercise 2 targeted cooks (63200) and light duty cleaners (65310) at TEER 3 and 5 levels, issuing just 10 invitations at a surprisingly high cutoff of 702.

Stream 3: Regulated Professions — Score Variations Tell a Story

Stream 3 issued 110 invitations across three exercises for candidates in regulated professions residing in Quebec:

Exercise 1 issued the most invitations in Stream 3 — 72 — at a cut-off of 649, targeting 31 specific priority occupations at TEER 1 and 2 levels. Exercise 2, also covering TEER 1–2 but with a different set of 30 priority occupations, drew 33 invitations at a much higher score of 700.

The most striking figure in Stream 3 was Exercise 3’s cut-off of just 376 for five invitations targeting regulated TEER 4 or 5 occupations. This exceptionally low score — the lowest in the entire draw — suggests that candidates in certain regulated trades and support professions face minimal competition in the Arrima pool.

Stream 4: Exceptional Talent — Minimal Volume, No Score Cutoff

Stream 4 issued only 12 invitations across two exercises for candidates with exceptional achievements:

Note: The total here is 12, while Exercise 1 shows 15 and Exercise 2 shows fewer than 5. This reflects the rounding convention used by Quebec’s immigration department for small-volume exercises.

These exercises do not use a points-based cutoff. Instead, candidates must either receive a positive opinion letter from a MIFI partner organization in a targeted field (Exercise 1), or demonstrate an achievement listed on MIFI’s List of Exceptional Achievements combined with a doctorate-equivalent education level (Exercise 2).

What This Draw Means for the PSTQ Landscape in 2026

This was Quebec’s seventh PSTQ draw of 2026, and the pattern is becoming increasingly clear. With the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) reopening on July 2, 2026, the province is deliberately calibrating PSTQ invitations to stay within its 2026–2029 immigration plan targets.

According to the government’s June 10, 2026 announcement, Quebec intends to issue an equal number of Quebec Selection Certificates through both PSTQ and PEQ for the remainder of the plan period. This means PSTQ draws will remain regular but controlled — not the high-volume rounds they were in some previous years.

The shift toward TEER 4 and 5 occupations in PSTQ is a direct response to the PEQ reopening. By routing high-skilled candidates (TEER 0–2) toward PEQ and reserving PSTQ for intermediate and manual skill workers, Quebec is effectively splitting its immigration pathways by skill level.

For candidates in the Arrima pool, this creates a clear strategic question: are you better positioned to compete through PEQ or PSTQ? The answer depends on your occupation, work experience, French proficiency, and whether you currently reside in Quebec.

Score Trends Across 2026 PSTQ Draws

Looking at the cut-off scores from this draw alongside previous rounds, several patterns emerge:

• Stream 1 Exercise 1 consistently produces lower scores (651 this draw) when restricted to specific priority occupations, while broader TEER ranges push scores above 700.
• Stream 2 Exercise 3 at 621 represents the lowest score tier in the program for general TEER 4–5 occupations, making it the most accessible pathway for candidates in those skill levels.
• Stream 3 Exercise 3’s score of 376 is an outlier — it applies to very few regulated trades and should not be treated as a general indicator of accessibility.
• The gap between Exercise 1 and Exercise 2/3 within any given stream can exceed 50 points, meaning candidates should pay close attention to which exercise their occupation qualifies under.

What Applicants Should Do Next

If you received an invitation: apply promptly through the Arrima portal. The window to submit your application for a Quebec Selection Certificate is time-limited, and delays can result in lost opportunities.

If you did not receive an invitation but are in the Arrima pool: review which exercise and stream best matches your profile. Candidates in TEER 4–5 occupations with a qualifying diploma had the best chance in this draw. If your occupation is on a priority list, focus your efforts there — the score gaps are significant.

If you are not yet in the Arrima pool: submit your declaration of interest as soon as possible. Quebec does not accept direct applications for the PSTQ; all candidates must enter through Arrima first, after which their profiles are evaluated and invitations are issued periodically.

Strengthening your French language proficiency remains the most reliable way to improve your Arrima score. Quebec’s points-based evaluation heavily favors French-speaking candidates, and this draw continues to reward language ability alongside occupation alignment.

The Bigger Picture: Quebec’s Immigration Strategy Through 2029

Quebec’s 2026–2029 multi-year immigration plan sets the framework for all PSTQ activity going forward. The government has signaled that PSTQ will remain a steady but targeted pathway, with draw sizes and score levels adjusted based on PEQ intake volumes and overall immigration targets.

Starting in November 2026, Quebec plans to recalibrate PSTQ invitation numbers based on the volume of applications received during PEQ’s first intake period (July through October 2026). This creates a feedback loop: if PEQ attracts more applicants than expected, PSTQ invitations may tighten further. If PEQ intake is lower, PSTQ could expand.

For anyone planning to immigrate to Quebec through the skilled worker pathway, monitoring both programs simultaneously is essential. The landscape is dynamic, and the rules of engagement shift with each draw cycle.