Maple News reports that Quebec has announced the largest Arrima draw of 2021 to date, issuing invitations to 515 skilled worker candidates to apply for permanent selection through the province’s immigration system.
The draw, which occurred on August 12, was conducted under Quebec’s Regular Skilled Worker Program (Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés, or PRTQ). Candidates were selected from the province’s Arrima expression of interest pool, based on new selection criteria recently introduced to streamline and target the immigration process.
In this latest round, invitations were issued to candidates who met one or more of the following conditions: they had a score of at least 591 and worked in an occupation targeted by Quebec; they held a valid job offer outside the Greater Montreal area; they were diplomats, consular officials, UN representatives, or representatives of international governmental organizations currently residing in Quebec; or they were self-employed individuals.
The Arrima portal is Quebec’s platform for managing immigration applications. It allows prospective immigrants to submit a Declaration of Interest (DI), signaling their intent to settle in the province. A DI is not an application but rather the first step in being considered for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ). Once a candidate receives a CSQ, they may then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
This draw marks the sixth invitation round in 2021 conducted by Quebec. The provincial government has been holding regular monthly draws, and so far has issued a total of 1,060 invitations for permanent selection this year.
Quebec operates its own immigration programs, distinct from Canada’s federal immigration streams, allowing the province to set its own selection criteria and manage its intake of skilled workers. However, final approval of permanent residence remains under the jurisdiction of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
This draw reflects Quebec’s ongoing effort to attract skilled professionals aligned with its labor market needs, particularly outside the Montreal area where demand for regional economic development remains high.
Maple News will continue to monitor monthly rounds and changes in Quebec’s immigration policies that impact skilled migrants seeking to make the province their home.