1. Introduction

Immigration law is a unique and complex field, encompassing both administrative and judicial procedures. Since November 29, 2024, the Skilled Workers Selection Program (PSTQ) has replaced the Regular Skilled Workers Program (PRTQ). Consequently, new immigration measures have been implemented at both the federal and provincial levels, reflecting a desire to better manage migration flows based on reception capacities and available infrastructure while addressing the growing concerns of the population regarding access to housing and public services. [1]

2. Immigration Measures

2.1 On the Federal Level

On October 24, 2024, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced updates to the immigration levels plan for 2025-2027, communicating a significant reduction in permanent immigration targets. The new targets are set for:

• 395,000 permanent residents in 2025,
• 380,000 in 2026,
• 365,000 in 2027.

Additionally, in March 2024, the government announced a plan to reduce the proportion of temporary residents, including temporary foreign workers and international students, to 5% of the total population by 2027, down from 6.2% currently.

2.2 On the Provincial Level (Québec)

The Government of Québec has adopted two new measures:

• On October 31, 2024, the Minister of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration, Jean-François Roberge, announced a moratorium until June 30, 2025, on the Regular Skilled Workers Program and the graduates’ component of the Québec Experience Program (PEQ). This measure aims to prevent a massive influx of permanent immigrants, estimated at 70,000 in 2025, exceeding the province’s reception capacity.
• Since September 2024, the Québec government has partially suspended certain temporary immigration pathways for foreign workers to better control the number of temporary immigrants in the province.

However, the new measures announced do not affect permanent residence applications following the issuance of a CSQ before October 31, 2024.

3. Immigration Programs

3.1 The Old System: Regular Skilled Workers Program (PRTQ)

3.1.1 Background

The Regular Skilled Workers Program of Québec (PRTQ) represented an economic immigration program within the framework of a permanent residence application, dedicated to skilled workers in Québec. Previously, the application processing system under the PRTQ was based on a “first-come, first-served” logic. This system led to a backlog of applications and prolonged waiting times.

3.1.2 Selection Grid

The PRTQ used a selection grid based on various criteria:

• Education (max. 26 points)
• Professional experience (max. 8 points)
• Age (max. 16 points)
• Language skills (max. 22 points)
• Stay and family in Québec (max. 8 points)
• Spouse or common-law partner characteristics (max. 17 points)
• Validated job offer (max. 14 points)
• Children (max. 8 points)
• Financial self-sufficiency (1 point, eliminatory criterion)

3.2 The New System: Skilled Workers Selection Program (PSTQ)

The PSTQ is based on a more segmented structure with four distinct streams:

• High qualification and specialized skills
• Intermediate and manual skills
• Regulated professions
• Exceptional talents

Invitations for this program are suspended until June 30, 2025.

4. Differences Between PRTQ and PSTQ

5. Conclusion

The transition from PRTQ to PSTQ aims to better align with the needs of the Québec labor market. This reform reflects a desire to refine the selection of skilled workers based on priority sectors and regional needs. By strengthening the criteria and adapting the selection, Québec ensures more effective and well-aligned immigration with its labor market.

Notes

[1] Government of Québec, PSTQ, consulted on 2024-12-10

[2] Review of the permanent selection application, Government of Québec

[3] Understanding the PSTQ requirements, Government of Québec