How do you get a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ)?

General information, not immigration advice. The Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is issued when Québec selects you and the family members who accompany you. It is not enough by itself: to immigrate to Québec, you must also apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This page describes the steps of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) as read on Québec.ca: declaration of interest in Arrima, invitation, then application for permanent selection. Programs and their rules change often: always check the official page.

Estimate your situation

PEQ calculator: am I eligible? ↗ Tool offered by ITAG

Arrima calculator: PSTQ score ↗ Tool offered by ITAG

Immigration programs comparison tool ↗ Tool offered by ITAG

Demande au Québec is published by ITAG, which also offers these tools. They give an estimate, not an official decision. Some require creating an account, free or paid depending on the tool. This link is not a source.

Key facts

Who decides

The ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (Québec) handles selection; IRCC handles admission (permanent residence).

Declaration of interest (PSTQ)

Free, online in Arrima, age 18 or older. Valid for one year (12 months), cannot be extended; you can create a new one.

Deadlines after the invitation (PSTQ)

30 days to accept the invitation. Then 60 days to submit the application (streams 1, 2 and 4, or stream 3 with proof of recognition from the regulatory authority); 1 year for stream 3 without that proof.

Fees for the permanent selection application (PSTQ, from January 1, 2026)

$940 for the principal applicant, $201 for the spouse or common-law partner, $201 for each dependent child. Fees are adjusted every January 1, paid by credit card, and non-refundable.

Processing time (PSTQ)

No fixed time. The page said, updated on September 14, 2026, that applications received during January 2026 were being reviewed. The time starts when the permanent selection application is received.

Contact the Ministry

Montréal area: 514 864-9191. Elsewhere in Québec (toll-free): 1 877 864-9191.

Steps

1. Understand the difference between selection and admission: Québec selects (that is the CSQ), then Canada admits. You must meet the requirements of both.
2. For the PSTQ, read the program's requirements page on Québec.ca before you start. The page mentions four streams, and the stream assigned to you depends on the main occupation you indicate.
3. Complete a declaration of interest online in Arrima. It is free and you must be 18 or older. You have 90 days to complete and submit it, and it stays valid for one year (12 months).
4. Wait for an invitation to submit an application for permanent selection: it is not automatic, and there is no random draw. You receive it in your Arrima message centre.
5. If you are invited, accept the invitation in Arrima within 30 days of its date. If you do not reply in that time, your declaration of interest becomes invalid.
6. Submit your application for permanent selection within the stated time (60 days after accepting in most cases, 1 year in a specific situation under stream 3), with the required documents in PDF and payment of the fees.
7. Once you have the CSQ, continue your steps: apply for permanent residence with IRCC.

General information drawn from official sources. It does not replace legal, medical or financial advice. For your situation, contact the organization concerned or a professional.