Maple News reports that the province of Québec invited 208 candidates to apply for permanent selection on March 30, 2021, marking the second selection round of the year under the Québec Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ).
The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) extended these invitations to individuals who had submitted a declaration of interest (DI) via Arrima, Québec’s online immigration platform. Arrima matches skilled workers with the province’s labor market needs, replacing the previous first-come, first-served system.
This round targeted two specific candidate groups: those with a validated job offer from a Québec employer and individuals currently residing in Québec in diplomatic or similar high-level roles, such as representatives of the United Nations or intergovernmental organizations.
The current draw follows the January 2021 selection, which saw 95 candidates invited. Québec’s immigration system operates separately from the federal immigration programs and has its own unique selection criteria and process. However, final immigration approval remains under the jurisdiction of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
To be eligible for the PRTQ, candidates must be at least 18 years old and create a profile in the Arrima portal. Once a declaration of interest is submitted, candidates enter a selection pool where MIFI evaluates their profiles based on Québec’s labor market needs and their potential to integrate successfully into Québec society.
Those selected receive an invitation to apply for permanent selection and are given 60 days to submit their complete immigration file, including fee payment and documentation. Profiles are then assessed against the PRTQ points grid, which considers factors such as education, age, language proficiency, and work experience.
Successful applicants are issued a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), an official document confirming they have been selected by the province for permanent residence. The CSQ is a fundamental step toward becoming a permanent resident of Canada through Québec.
Québec continues to use its targeted immigration strategy to address labor shortages and demographic needs, promoting not only economic growth but also long-term integration into society. Maple News will continue to provide the latest updates on Québec’s immigration programs.