Quebec's Economic Immigration Programs: CSQ, Arrima, and the PEQ Explained
Quebec selects, Canada admits: understanding the two-step process, Arrima's role, and why you must verify program status before starting any process.
This page describes the general structure of the system, which stays stable. But exact thresholds, fees, and specific program statuses can change within weeks — the PEQ, for example, was suspended and then reopened in 2026, and CAQ fees changed twice within the same year. Before relying on a specific figure or date below, confirm the current status on quebec.ca/immigration or canada.ca.
While researching this guide, we found sources just weeks apart that already contradicted each other on the status of certain programs (the PEQ, for example, was suspended in 2025 and then reopened for July 2026-2028). This guide explains the general structure, which has been stable for years — but exact program names, thresholds, and processing times can change several times a year. Always verify current status at quebec.ca/immigration and canada.ca/immigration before starting any process or paying any fees.
Quebec's key difference: two governments, two steps
Unlike other Canadian provinces, where economic immigration flows almost entirely through the federal Express Entry system, Quebec signed an agreement giving it the power to select its own economic immigrants. In practice, this creates a two-step process:
- Step 1 — Selection by Quebec: you obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ, Quebec Selection Certificate) through one of the provincial economic programs.
- Step 2 — Admission by Canada: once you have your CSQ, you apply for permanent residence with the federal government (IRCC), which conducts its own checks (security, health, admissibility) before granting permanent residence.
This structure explains why a file can move quickly at the provincial stage and then slow down federally, or vice versa — these are two independent processes, each with its own timelines.
Arrima: the expression of interest portal
Most economic applications go through Arrima, Quebec's online platform where candidates declare their profile (education, experience, French proficiency, etc.). Quebec then periodically invites the most relevant profiles to submit a full application — a "pool" system rather than a simple first-come, first-served queue.
PEQ vs. the regular skilled worker program: two different logics
The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ, Quebec Experience Program) follows a different logic: rather than a points system, it targets people who already have Quebec-based work experience or a Quebec diploma, on the reasoning that an already-started integration carries less risk. The regular skilled worker program (whose exact name and criteria have changed more than once recently) instead targets candidates abroad, selected through a points system based on education, experience, and French proficiency.
The PEQ has been suspended and reopened more than once in recent years — a sign that it's not a program to build a life timeline around without checking its exact status at the time of your application.
How this differs from the rest of Canada
A candidate targeting Ontario or British Columbia generally goes through Express Entry, the federal points-based system. A candidate specifically targeting Quebec must instead obtain a CSQ before IRCC will review their file — Express Entry does not apply to settling in Quebec. This is a frequent source of confusion for people who start their research with guides written for the rest of Canada.
French language proficiency: a central criterion
Unlike the rest of Canada, demonstrated French proficiency (usually through a standardized test) carries significant weight in nearly all Quebec economic programs — often much more than in equivalent federal grids. This is a stable factor over time, even as exact thresholds change.
Planning your settlement
Once you have your CSQ and permanent residence, see our guide on Quebec health insurance (RAMQ) for newcomers and our guide on the real cost of settling in, and compare cities using our French-language city comparator (30 cities, not yet translated).