Quebec just announced its fifth immigration selection draw of 2026, and the numbers are worth paying attention to. On June 4, the province invited 2,549 candidates through its Program for the Selection of Quebec Skilled Workers (PSTQ) — commonly known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program or QSWP — across all four streams. The majority, 42.9%, went to workers with highly qualified and specialized skills.
The selections were made from the Arrima candidate pool on June 1, 2026, at 6:00 a.m. This draw marks another indication that Quebec continues to run a steady, structured immigration pipeline throughout the year, targeting specific occupational needs across all skill levels.
Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills — 1,094 Invitations
Stream 1 was the largest draw, accounting for over 43% of all invitations. This stream targets workers in TEER 0, 1, or 2 occupations who are currently living in Quebec with at least 12 months of work experience over the past five years. All candidates needed a Quebec diploma (at least 900 hours or 30 credits of full-time study) and demonstrated strong French proficiency — level 7 or higher for oral skills and level 5 or higher for written skills.
The 1,094 invitations were distributed across four exercises. Exercise 1 (Qualifying Quebec diploma) issued the most invitations with 459. Candidates needed a score of at least 677 points and a Quebec university, college, or vocational secondary school diploma. Exercise 2 focused on priority occupations in health, education, and early childhood sectors, issuing 239 invitations to workers with a score of at least 379 points in NOCs such as physician assistants, pharmacy technicians, counselors, social workers, and early childhood educators.
Exercise 3 targeted engineering and construction trades with 165 invitations. Candidates needed at least 666 points and their main occupation had to be in a priority sector, including engineering managers, industrial and manufacturing engineers, civil and mechanical engineering technologists, electricians, welders, carpenters, bricklayers, chefs, and aircraft mechanics. Exercise 4, the most general under Stream 1, issued 231 invitations to diploma holders with a score of at least 692 points.
What is notable about Stream 1 is the emphasis on Quebec-educated candidates. The requirement for at least one year of full-time study in the province means this stream strongly favors international students who have already invested time and money into a Quebec education. The French language threshold is also the highest across all streams, reinforcing Quebec’s linguistic integration expectations.
Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills — 756 Invitations
Stream 2 addressed a different segment of the labor market, targeting TEER 3, 4, or 5 occupations with 756 invitations. Unlike Stream 1, this stream requires 24 months of work experience in the last five years (with at least 12 months in Quebec) and a lower French proficiency requirement — level 5 or higher for oral skills.
The four exercises under Stream 2 covered a wide range of trades and service occupations. Exercise 1 issued 229 invitations to diploma holders with a score of at least 624 points. Exercise 2 focused on healthcare support roles, inviting 256 candidates in priority occupations including medical laboratory assistants, nurse aides, and pharmacy technical assistants with a minimum score of 330 points. This was the lowest scoring threshold across all exercises, reflecting the acute demand for healthcare support workers.
Exercise 3 targeted hospitality, cleaning, and construction trades with 90 invitations. Priority occupations included program leaders in recreation and fitness, cooks, food and beverage servers, kitchen helpers, cleaners, concrete finishers, tilesetters, plasterers, roofers, glaziers, painters, floor installers, heavy equipment operators, and construction laborers. Candidates needed at least 653 points.
Exercise 4 issued 181 general invitations to diploma holders with a score of at least 652 points. Stream 2 is particularly interesting because it shows Quebec’s willingness to draw from intermediate and manual skill categories. The demand for cooks, cleaners, and construction trades reflects broader labor shortages in sectors that often go unfilled. The lower French requirement (level 5 vs. level 7) also makes this stream more accessible to candidates who may not have advanced French proficiency.
Stream 3: Regulated Professions — 677 Invitations
Stream 3 is unique to Quebec’s immigration system. It targets candidates practicing a regulated profession appearing on the Ministère de l’Immigration’s official list, and currently residing in Quebec. The 677 invitations were spread across five exercises.
Exercise 1 issued 73 invitations to diploma holders in TEER 0-2 regulated occupations with a score of at least 562 points. Exercise 2 was by far the largest, issuing 393 invitations to priority occupations in healthcare — specialists in clinical medicine, surgeons, family physicians, veterinarians, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, registered nurses, social workers, early childhood educators, and many more. The minimum score was 275 points.
Exercise 3 invited 118 candidates in engineering and construction trades, including civil engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, welders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and bricklayers. Exercise 4 issued 71 invitations to TEER 0-2 regulated occupations with a score of at least 580 points. Exercise 5, unique to this stream, invited 22 candidates in TEER 3-5 regulated occupations with a score of at least 637 points.
The dominance of healthcare professionals in Exercise 2 is striking. With 393 out of 677 invitations (nearly 58%) going to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and allied health professionals, Quebec’s healthcare staffing needs are clearly the driving force behind this stream. The minimum score of 275 for healthcare roles is significantly lower than other exercises, suggesting the province is actively lowering barriers to bring in medical professionals.
Stream 4: Exceptional Talent — 22 Invitations
The smallest stream, Stream 4, issued just 22 invitations across both exercises. This stream recognizes candidates with exceptional talent in artistic endeavors, sports, or other specialized fields. Candidates need at least 36 months of work experience in the last five years.
While numerically small, this stream provides an important pathway for individuals with extraordinary abilities who may not meet the standard point-based criteria but bring significant value to Quebec society.
How the Arrima System Works
Understanding the Arrima system is essential for anyone considering Quebec immigration. The process begins with candidates submitting an expression of interest through the Arrima online portal. Once submitted, profiles enter a pool where they are evaluated based on factors such as age, education level, work experience, French language proficiency, and existing ties to Quebec.
Unlike Express Entry which assigns a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, Quebec’s Arrima system uses its own point grid with different weights. The PSTQ selection criteria assign points across several categories: age (maximum 8 points), education level and field of study (maximum 15 points), authorized work experience in Quebec (maximum 12 points), work experience outside Quebec (maximum 6 points), French language proficiency (maximum 26 points), English proficiency (maximum 4 points), adaptability including family connections and study history in Quebec (maximum 15 points), and job offer in Quebec (maximum 14 points). The maximum possible score is 94 points for single candidates and 102 points for candidates with a spouse.
Quebec conducts regular draws from the Arrima pool, typically every few weeks. Each draw specifies which streams and exercises are being targeted, along with minimum score thresholds. Candidates whose profiles meet or exceed those thresholds receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Once you receive the CSQ, you then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
The Arrima system gives Quebec significant control over who enters its immigration pipeline. The province can adjust draw criteria rapidly in response to labor market conditions, which is exactly what we are seeing with the healthcare-focused exercises and the varying score thresholds across streams.
Quebec Immigration Targets for 2026
Quebec sets annual immigration targets through its Immigration Equity and Responsibility Plan (PIRI), which runs in three-year cycles. For 2024-2026, the province has committed to welcoming a substantial number of economic immigration applicants, with the PSTQ remaining the primary vehicle for skilled worker selection.
The fact that Quebec has already conducted five draws by early June suggests the pace of selection is consistent with meeting or exceeding annual targets. Historically, Quebec has run between 8 and 12 PSTQ draws per year, so five draws by June is on track.
The total number of invitations in this draw — 2,549 — is a solid figure that sits comfortably between previous draws of the year. It is not record-breaking, but it demonstrates that Quebec is maintaining a steady selection rhythm rather than clustering all invitations into fewer, larger draws.
Key Takeaways for Prospective Applicants
The June 4, 2026 draw reveals several important trends about Quebec’s immigration strategy this year.
First, the province continues to balance its draws across all skill levels. With 1,094 invitations in Stream 1, 756 in Stream 2, 677 in Stream 3, and 22 in Stream 4, Quebec is not exclusively targeting high-skilled workers. The substantial numbers in Streams 2 and 3 show a recognition that the province’s economy needs workers at all levels — from engineers and doctors to cooks, cleaners, and construction trades.
Second, French proficiency remains the single most important differentiator. Stream 1 requires level 7 oral and level 5 written. Stream 2 drops to level 5 oral. Stream 3 varies but generally requires level 7 oral for professional roles. If you are planning to apply through the Arrima pool, investing in French language training is the highest-return activity you can do. Even a single level increase in your oral French score can dramatically improve your competitiveness.
Third, the healthcare sector continues to be Quebec’s priority. Across Streams 1, 2, and 3, healthcare occupations received preferential treatment through lower scoring thresholds and dedicated exercises. If you work in healthcare and are living in Quebec, your chances of receiving an invitation are significantly higher than in other fields. The minimum score of 275 for healthcare professionals in Stream 3 is particularly noteworthy — it is the lowest threshold mentioned in this entire draw.
Fourth, Quebec-educated candidates have a clear advantage. All exercises under Streams 1 and 2 require a qualifying Quebec credential. This means international students completing programs in Quebec have a structured pathway to permanent residence that candidates outside the province simply do not have access to.
Finally, this was only the fifth draw of 2026. Quebec has a history of running regular draws throughout the year, and with the province’s immigration targets remaining ambitious, candidates who submitted their Arrima expression of interest should continue monitoring their profiles. The combination of four streams, multiple exercises per stream, and consistent draw frequency makes Quebec’s PSTQ one of the most structured and predictable provincial immigration programs in Canada.
If you are currently in Quebec with a Quebec diploma, relevant work experience, and sufficient French proficiency, this draw is a strong signal that your profile may be in demand. The key is ensuring your Arrima profile is complete and up to date, as invitations are issued from the pool on a regular basis.