Requirements that need to be met under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (Skilled Worker Selection Program)

There are four streams to the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ (Qualified Worker Selection Program) covering all occupations on the Québec job market.

General requirements apply to all streams. Each stream has its own selection criteria based on the occupations it targets.

Based on the primary occupation you indicated in your Declaration of Interest, and the related information, the Ministère will determine the component in which you may receive an invitation to apply for permanent selection.

To be selected under the PSTQ, you must meet both the general requirements and the specific requirements of the stream under which you are applying for permanent selection.  

To be eligible for the PSTQ, you must be considered a skilled worker. You must:  

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Intend to settle in Québec to take up employment, which:
  • Is not on behalf of a company over which you exercise legal or de facto control, directly or indirectly;
  • Is not in one of the following ineligible areas:
    • Payday loans, cheque cashing or pawnbroking;
    • Production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages.
• Be likely to be able to do the job.

For all 4 streams, you must also:  

• Meet the criteria that led to the invitation to submit the application for permanent selection, you have received;
• Demonstrate, by signing a Financial Self-Sufficiency Contract, your capacity to provide for yourself and, if applicable, that of your accompanying family members for the three months after becoming a permanent resident. Please consult the current scales (PDF 157 Kb) (in French only) to find out the total amount that applies to your situation;
• Obtain the Attestation d’apprentissage des valeurs démocratiques et des valeurs québécoises (Attestation of learning of democratic and Québec values) as expressed in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Accompanying family members aged 18 or over also need to obtain one;
• Comply with any conditions for returning to your country imposed by a scholarship in Québec, if applicable. 

Your main occupation is the one you wish to practice in Québec and in which you are likely to be able to hold a job.

This is the occupation you must specify in your declaration of interest and on the basis of which you may receive an invitation to apply for permanent selection. The component in which you may receive an invitation is determined by your primary occupation and the related information you have provided.

You must find the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code that corresponds to your main occupation, as well as the corresponding program stream(s) by visiting the page Find the NOC code for your main occupation and the corresponding stream.

Certain selection conditions depend on the "training, education, experience and responsibilities" (in French “formation, études, expérience et responsabilités” - FEER) category of the main occupation. The FEER category corresponds to the second digit of the five-digit NOC code. It identifies the job requirements that usually characterize occupations.  

There are six FEER categories. These are listed in the table below:  

Example: Example: NOC code 21211 - Data Scientists is FEER 1 since the second digit of the code is "1". This means that to work in this profession, a university education is usually required. 

To qualify for Stream 1: Highly qualified and specialized skills, you must comply with the conditions below.

Your main occupation must be in the category FEER 0, 1 or 2.  

You do not need a licence to practice your profession in Québec, or you must be able to practice in a context where such a licence is not required. If not, see Stream 3: Regulated professions. 

You must have at least 1 year of full-time or equivalent paid work experience in your main occupation, in Québec or outside Québec, during the 5 years prior to the date of your application.

If your experience was acquired during one or more compulsory internships as part of a degree program, it can be recognized for up to 3 months, whether paid or unpaid. 

You must:  

• Have a diploma leading directly to the practice of a profession, attesting to a program of study of at least 1 year full-time and corresponding, in Québec, to one of the following diplomas:
  • Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) or Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP) at the secondary level;
  • Attestation of Collegial Studies (AEC) or Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) in technical college studies;
  • Certificate, minor, major, bachelor's degree, specialized graduate diploma, master's degree or doctorate at university level;
• If you obtained your diploma in Québec, you must have a diploma from a degree program:
  • At least 900 hours, if it is at secondary or college level. Please note that a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) followed by an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (ASP) must lead to a specific trade, and total at least 900 hours;
  • At least 30 credits if at university level;  
• Have obtained your diploma before submitting your application. 

You do not need to request a comparative evaluation of your diploma from the Ministère for studies completed outside Québec. The information provided on this form is sufficient for your declaration of interest and your application for permanent selection. However, if you obtained a comparative evaluation of studies on or after January 31, 2013, you may use that document.

You must have an oral knowledge of French of level 7 or higher and a written knowledge of level 5 or higher according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (in French only) (Québec scale of French proficiency levels).

Your accompanying spouse must have a spoken knowledge of French at level 4 or higher on the Échelle québécoise.

Refer to page Demonstrate your knowledge of French to find out which documents are accepted by the Ministère.

To qualify for Stream 2: Intermediate and manual skills, you must comply with the conditions below.

Your main occupation must be in the category FEER 3, 4 or 5.  

You do not need a licence to practice your profession in Québec, or you must be able to practice in a context where such a licence is not required. If not, see Sream 3: Regulated professions.

You must have at least two years' paid work experience in your main occupation, including at least one year in Québec, on a full-time or equivalent basis, in the five years preceding the date on which you submitted your application.

Work experience acquired outside Québec is eligible for up to one year. It may have been acquired in the main occupation or in an occupation belonging to the same broad occupational category, as defined by the NOC. This means that the first digit of the NOC code for your two professions is the same.

If your experience was acquired during one or more compulsory internships as part of a degree program, it can be recognized for up to 3 months, whether paid or unpaid. Internships carried out in Québec must be in the main occupation, and those carried out outside Québec may be in the main occupation or in an occupation belonging to the same broad occupational category, as defined by the NOC.  

You must:

• Minimum of one of the following diplomas:
  • Diploma corresponding, in Québec, to a high school diploma;
  • Diploma attesting to a full-time program of study lasting at least one year and corresponding, in Québec, to a Diploma of Vocational Studies or an Attestation of Vocational Specialization at the secondary level or an Attestation of College Studies at the CEGEP level;
• If you obtained your diploma in Québec, it must be from a program of study of at least 600 hours at the secondary level or 900 hours at the college level;  
• Have obtained your diploma before submitting your application.

You do not need to request a comparative evaluation of studies from the Ministère for your diploma. The information provided on this form is sufficient for your declaration of interest and your application for permanent selection. However, if you obtained a comparative evaluation of studies on or after January 31, 2013, you may use that document. 

You must have a spoken knowledge of French at level 5 or higher according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (in French only) (Échelle québécoise).

Your accompanying spouse must have a spoken knowledge of French at level 4 or higher on the Échelle québécoise.

Refer to page Demonstrate your knowledge of French to find out which documents are accepted by the Ministère. 

To qualify for Stream 3: Regulated professions, you must comply with all of the conditions below.

Your main profession must be included in the Liste des professions réglementées du Ministère (PDF 262 Kb) (List of Regulated Professions of the Ministère - in French only). This list identifies the occupations for which a licence to practice is required in Québec. It's important to familiarize yourself with the list to find out if your profession is regulated in Québec and to learn about its specifics. Please note that this list is updated on January 31 of each year.

If the regulations relate solely to the professional title, and not to the practice of the occupation, these trades are not considered for the purposes of the Ministère's list. For example, the profession "51114 — Translators, terminologists and interpreters", which is linked to the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec, can be practiced in Québec without using the title of translator, terminologist or interpreter. For this reason, this profession is not included in the list.  

The List includes two types of regulated professions: "fully regulated professions" and “non-fully regulated professions”.

“Fully regulated occupations” are those in which all associated jobs are regulated in Québec. For example, in the profession “31301 – Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses,” the jobs of clinical nurse, research nurse, community health nurse, private care nurse, nursing consultant, etc., are all regulated by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec. 

Individuals declaring a main occupation that is a fully regulated profession must go through Stream 3 to be invited and, if applicable, selected as part of the PSTQ.

"Non-fully regulated occupations" are those in which only some of the associated jobs are regulated in Québec. For example, In the occupation "41409 - Other professionals in the social sciences", among all the associated jobs, only that of criminologist is regulated by the Ordre professionnel des criminologues du Québec.  

Individuals who declare a main occupation that is a non-fully regulated profession may go through Stream 1, 2 or 3, depending on the FÉER category of their profession, to be invited and, if applicable, selected as part of the PSTQ. In the above example, the criminologist has the choice of going through Stream 3 or 1.

For some occupations, the associated jobs are regulated only if they are carried out in the construction industry. For example, in occupation "72310 - Carpenters", only jobs in the construction industry are regulated by the Commission de la construction du Québec.  

You must hold one of the following documents issued by the regulatory authority governing your occupation in Québec:  

• Authorization to practice your occupation in Québec;
• Proof of partial or full recognition of equivalence of training or diploma dated no more than five years prior to the date of submission of your application for permanent selection.

A licence to practise is an official document, issued by a competent authority such as a professional body or government office, which permits an individual to practise a regulated profession in Québec. This authorization certifies that the person meets the requirements (professional qualifications, training, etc.) to practise a specific profession and related activities within a legal framework. All licences to practise are accepted under the Qualified Worker Selection Program, including regular, restrictive, temporary and probationary licences. 

Proof of partial recognition indicates that the regulatory authority recognizes part of your training or diploma as being equivalent to what is required of persons trained in Québec with the intention of practicing a regulated profession. This proof typically indicates the courses, additional training, internships or examinations you need to take to receive an authorization to practice.

Meanwhile, proof of full recognition indicates that the regulatory authority recognizes your training or diploma as being equivalent to what is required of persons trained in Québec with the intention of practicing a regulated profession. This proof indicates that, under certain conditions, you may obtain an authorization to practice.

These proofs of partial or full recognition do not authorize you to practice a regulated profession in Québec. They represent a step towards receiving such an authorization to practice.

The list of documents accepted under Stream 3 from regulatory authorities is provided in the Expression of Interest and Permanent Selection Application forms. This list includes 11 documents that are accepted, and you must choose only one. It is important to consult the Table of accepted documents (PDF 202 Kb) (in French only), which lists these 11 documents and includes a description and the titles of the main documents issued by the relevant authorities for each one.

Please note that the acknowledgement of receipt of your application by the regulatory authority is not a recognition of your qualifications.

If you are denied recognition by the regulatory authority on the grounds that your qualifications are not recognized for the purpose of practising in Québec, you will be deemed to have failed to meet one of the requirements of Stream 3: Regulated professions under the PSTQ. 

Please note: Unless the regulatory authority governing your profession in Québec requires it, you do not need to request a comparative evaluation of studies from the Ministère for your diploma. In this case, you must wait for the authority to request it. If you obtained a diploma in Québec, you must also submit a document from the regulatory authority that governs your profession in Québec. See Table of accepted documents (PDF 202 Kb) to find out more.

The French language requirement depends on the FEER category of your occupation:

• If the category is FEER 0, 1 or 2, you must have an oral knowledge of French of level 7 or higher and a written knowledge of level 5 or higher according to the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (in French only) (Échelle québécoise);
• If the category is FEER 3, 4 or 5, you must have a level 5 or higher in spoken French according to the Échelle québécoise.

Your accompanying spouse must have a spoken knowledge of French at level 4 or higher on the Échelle québécoise.

Refer to page Demonstrate your knowledge of French to find out which documents are accepted by the Ministère.

To qualify for Stream 4: Exceptional Talents, you must comply with the conditions below.

You must:

• Distinguish yourself clearly in your main occupation through exceptional expertise likely to contribute to Québec's prosperity;  
• A proven track record of achievements related to your expertise;
• Have practiced your main occupation for at least three years during the five years prior to the date of application. If your experience was acquired during one or more compulsory internships as part of a degree program, it can be recognized for up to 3 months, whether paid or unpaid. 

To demonstrate your exceptional expertise, you must:

• Have an achievement included on the liste des accomplissements du Ministère (PDF 104 Kb) (Ministère's list of achievements - in French only), or
• Have obtained an opinion from one of the Ministère's partners in a targeted field.

To obtain the opinion of a Ministère's partner, you must already be in one of the following fields:

• Strategic economic sectors;  
• Research;  
• Arts;  
• Sports.

You will then need to visit the partner's website to find out how to proceed. The following partners issue opinions by category:  

• Strategic economic sectors: ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) (in French only);
• Research: Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ) (in French only);
• Arts: Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec (CALQ);
• Sports: Institut national du Sport du Québec (INS).

Note: You don't need a partner's opinion if your achievement is on the Ministère's list of achievements.