On Thursday, the Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration, Jean-François Roberge, tabled in the National Assembly proposals for government orientations on immigration levels and composition in Québec for 2026–2029.
For the first time, the Gouvernement du Québec is introducing targets for temporary immigration and proposing a responsible decrease in the number of permit holders under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Student Program (ISP). These targets are proposed in order to reduce pressure on Québec’s capacity to receive and integrate immigrants while considering the regions’ labour needs. The Gouvernement du Québec is seeking an approximate 13% decrease in 2029 compared with 2024 in the number of permit-holders in these two programs.
For permanent immigration, three scenarios for reducing immigration levels are proposed. The first scenario seeks a 50% reduction in permanent immigration levels compared with the average for the years 2019 to 2024 to attain an annual admission of 25 000 immigrants. The second proposes a 30% reduction to attain 35 000 immigrants, and the third seeks a less pronounced reduction (10%) to establish an immigration volume of 45 000 admissions annually.
To limit the impact on the capacity to receive these admission levels, the government plans to prioritize the admission of people already in Québec, who know French and who respond to labour market needs.
All of these orientations are subject to public consultations starting today. Individuals and organizations who wish to participate can submit a brief or comment to the Commission des relations avec les citoyens or complete an online questionnaire available on the National Assembly’s website at the latest on August 15, 2025.
Start of invitations for the PSTQ
The Minister also announced that invitations to submit an application for permanent selection under the new Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ – Skilled Worker Selection Program) will gradually start as of July 2025.
Invitations will first target people already living in Québec. They will mostly prioritize people who have work experience or who studied in the regions. They must speak French and practise an occupation that contributes to relieving the labour shortage. Invitations will also target people with exceptional talents.
Decisions regarding certain permanent immigration programs
Two ministerial orders on application management were published today in the Gazette officielle du Québec.
Programme de l’expérience québécoise (Québec Experience Program)
- Extension of the temporary suspension of intake of applications for permanent selection under the Québec graduate stream until November 30, 2025
- Temporary suspension, effective today, of intake of applications for permanent selection under the temporary foreign worker stream, until November 30, 2025.
The government prioritizes respect of the selection targets established in the Plan d’immigration du Québec 2025 (Québec’s Immigration Plan for 2025). The government will make new decisions based on the pluri-annual orientations retained following the public consultation.
Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship)
- Extension of suspension of intake of undertaking applications under the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship) until December 31, 2027.
With the current high growth in the number of asylum seekers and foreign nationals recognized as refugees, Québec wishes to focus its efforts on the integration of people already present on its territory.
Information for clients
Are you a candidate for immigration? Please read the information below.
Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ – Skilled Worker Selection Program)
- To be invited under the PSTQ, interested persons must have already declared their interest in Arrima. Those who already declared their interest before November 29, 2024 must update their declaration of interest form.
- Applications for permanent selection already submitted under the Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ – Regular Skilled Worker Program), before it was repealed on November 29, 2024, continue to be reviewed by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration according to the conditions that were in place for this program.
PEQ’s Québec graduate and temporary foreign worker streams
- All applications for permanent selection already submitted under these two streams of the PEQ will continue to be reviewed by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
- Applications to add family members, including those for dependent children and spouses, are not affected by this suspension.
- Persons who have already been selected by Québec will be able to continue their immigration process leading to permanent residence.
Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship)
- All undertaking applications already submitted to the MIFI that meet the eligibility requirements will be reviewed.
- Sponsored refugees who were already selected by Québec will also be able to pursue their immigration process with the goal of obtaining permanent residence.
- Applications to add a dependent person, such as dependent children or spouses, are not affected by this suspension. These applications will continue to be received and reviewed by the MIFI.
For more details:
Gazette officielle :
- Gestion des demandes dans le cadre du Programme des personnes réfugiées à l’étranger (Parrainage collectif) pour la période 2025-2027 (in French only)
- Gestion des demandes dans le cadre du Programme de l’expérience québécoise pour l’année 2025 (in French only)
Website of the Planification pluriannuelle de l’immigration 2026-2029 on Québec.ca (in French only):