Quebec Expands PSTQ Invitations, Issuing 273 ITAs in First-Ever Draw for Intermediate and Manual Skills Stream
Quebec's immigration ministry took a key step forward on July 31, 2025, signaling a new implementation phase for its new Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). In its latest draw, a total of 273 candidates qualifying under the "Intermediate and Manual Skills" stream were invited to apply for a Quebec permanent selection certificate. This is the first time since the PSTQ program was launched earlier this year that a draw has been conducted specifically for this category of workers.
Draw Details: A Focus on Regional Labor Markets
According to official information, the invited candidates were selected from the Arrima immigration applicant bank on July 28, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. To receive an invitation, applicants had to meet three strict criteria:
- Arrima Score: Have a score of 661 points or higher.
- Place of Residence: Reside in Quebec at the time of application, but outside the Montreal Metropolitan Community. This criterion clearly reflects the government's policy objective of directing new immigrants to regions beyond Montreal to promote balanced development across the province.
- Work Experience Requirement: Have at least 24 months of work experience in the last five years, with a minimum of 12 of those months gained in Quebec in their main occupation.
The Intermediate and Manual Skills Stream Explained
The Intermediate and Manual Skills stream is a crucial immigration pathway under the PSTQ, designed to attract and retain the technical and manual workers who form an essential part of Quebec’s economy. The specific eligibility requirements for this stream include:
- Occupation: The main occupation must fall under FEER categories 3, 4, or 5 of Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. (FEER is the French acronym for Formation, Études, Expérience et Responsabilités, which corresponds to the English TEER system).
- Regulation: The occupation must not be on Quebec’s list of regulated professions.
- French Proficiency:
- The principal applicant must demonstrate a French speaking and listening proficiency of level 5 or higher on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français.
- If accompanied by a spouse or common-law partner, that person must demonstrate a French speaking and listening proficiency of level 4 or higher.
- Education: Applicants must meet one of the following educational requirements:
- Hold a diploma equivalent to a Quebec high school diploma.
- Have completed a full-time study program of at least one year and obtained a diploma that is equivalent in Quebec to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS), an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS), or an Attestation of College Studies (ACS). Furthermore, the program must consist of at least 600 hours at the secondary level or 900 hours at the college level, and the diploma must have been obtained before the application was submitted.
Background Information: An Overview of FEER Categories 3, 4, and 5
- FEER 3 Occupations: Typically require the completion of a post-secondary program of less than two years (e.g., at a community college or CEGEP), completion of an apprenticeship of less than two years, or more than six months of on-the-job training and relevant work experience.
- FEER 4 Occupations: Typically require a high school diploma, or some high school education combined with several weeks of on-the-job training.
- FEER 5 Occupations: Typically require a brief work demonstration with no formal educational requirements.
Program Progress and Outlook
Quebec's PSTQ officially replaced the former Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) in late 2024 and began issuing invitations in mid-2025. The program's inaugural draw took place on July 17, 2025, with 238 invitations issued to candidates in the "Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills" and "Exceptional Talent" streams.
This latest draw targeting the "Intermediate and Manual Skills" stream is a significant step in the PSTQ's implementation plan. It demonstrates that Quebec's immigration selection system is becoming more diverse and targeted, providing clear pathways not only for highly educated professionals but also for workers with practical skills and hands-on experience. The move is seen as a direct response to labor market needs in Quebec, particularly in regions outside of Montreal, and is expected to open the door for more foreign workers in these fields to settle permanently in the province.
Canada holds second monthly CEC draw, CRS score drops to lowest level since July
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another Express Entry draw on November 26, 2025, inviting 1,000 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates to apply for permanent residence. This round set a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 531—the lowest CEC cut-off since July—and ended a five-draw streak where the CRS threshold was locked at 533 or 534. To date, IRCC has issued a total of 88,476 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system in 2025.
11/28/2025
Canada Announces 2026 Study Permit Target: Total Allocation Reduced to 408,000, Down 7% from 2025
On November 25, the Government of Canada officially released its 2026 study permit allocation and distribution plan for international students. According to newly published data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the total number of study permits to be issued in 2026 will be capped at 408,000. This continues the federal government’s trend of tightening temporary resident levels, representing a 7% decrease from the 2025 cap of 437,000 and a 16% decrease compared to 485,000 in 2024. The new plan outlines detailed allocation rules by student category, confirms exemptions from Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) for master’s and PhD students, and distributes PAL-required application volumes and anticipated approvals across provinces based on population share.
11/27/2025
Manitoba invites more in-Canada and overseas skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination
On November 21, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 35 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to skilled workers both inside and outside Canada. This round of selections continued to prioritize candidates identified through Strategic Recruitment Initiatives (SRIs), including Employer Services, Francophone Community, Regional Communities, and the Temporary Public Policy. The program also reminded applicants to ensure all key information—such as language test numbers and invitation numbers—is correctly entered to avoid affecting their eligibility.
11/26/2025
Prince Edward Island Holds Largest Provincial Nominee Draw of the Year, Focusing on In-Province Workers and International Graduates
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) recently conducted its largest immigration draw of the year, issuing invitations to apply for provincial nomination to nearly 200 candidates through the "Labour & Express Entry" category. This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province, while giving priority consideration to applicants with French language proficiency and international graduates from specific institutions. This move reflects the province's strategic intent to attract skilled talent capable of directly contributing to the local economy.
11/25/2025
British Columbia Expands Entrepreneur Immigration Invitations, Marking Largest Draw of 2025
On November 18, British Columbia held its largest entrepreneur immigration draw of the year, issuing invitations through both the Base and Regional streams of its Entrepreneur Immigration Program. Minimum scores and invitation numbers varied by stream, reflecting the province’s continued 2025 strategy of prioritizing candidates with high economic impact.
11/24/2025
Alberta Issues 1,125 Provincial Nominee Invitations in Mid-November, Maintaining High-Frequency Draws Across Key Streams
In mid-November 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) issued a total of 1,125 provincial nominee invitations across two rounds, targeting candidates in the Healthcare Priority sector under Express Entry as well as the Alberta Opportunity Stream. The November 14 draw invited 80 healthcare candidates with a minimum score of 52, while the November 10 draw issued 1,045 invitations under the Opportunity Stream—a notably large round this year. With Alberta receiving over 1,500 additional nominations in September, bringing its 2025 total to 6,403, the province continues to strengthen efforts to retain local workers and attract healthcare professionals.
11/22/2025
Canada’s Conservatives Push for Major Amendments to Border and Immigration Bill C-12
On November 20, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, announced that the Conservative Party will introduce a wide-ranging package of amendments to the federal government’s border security and immigration legislation, Bill C-12. She argued that Canada’s immigration system is under intense pressure and must undergo structural reform as soon as possible. The proposed amendments will focus on modernizing asylum procedures, strengthening border enforcement and security screening, adjusting criminality and removal thresholds, and increasing transparency across federal immigration bodies. The initiative comes amid rising asylum numbers, sustained growth in temporary residents, mounting pressure on housing and social services, and heightened scrutiny of immigration-related security reports—highlighting how immigration has become a heated issue in Canada and globally.
11/21/2025
Alberta Announces Sweeping Changes to AAIP Rural Renewal Stream: Community Quotas and New Work Permit Rules to Take Effect in 2026
The Government of Alberta has officially announced significant updates to the Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), marking one of the most substantial overhauls since the program's inception. Scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, these changes are a response to a surge in community endorsements that have far exceeded the province’s federal nomination allocations. To realign the program with provincial economic priorities and manage labor market pressures, Alberta will implement four core changes: establishing annual endorsement allocation limits for designated communities, setting a one-year validity period for candidate endorsement letters, introducing a TEER-based occupation assessment model, and enforcing a mandatory requirement for all in-Canada applicants to hold a valid work permit at both the time of application and assessment.
11/20/2025
Ontario Suspends Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream and Returns All Applications
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has suspended its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream effective November 14, 2025, following a major program review that identified systemic misrepresentation and potential fraud. As part of the suspension, all in-progress applications will be returned with full refunds. The province states that the program’s current structure must be redesigned to ensure limited nomination spots benefit genuine candidates addressing Ontario’s skilled trades shortages. Affected applicants may submit a new Expression of Interest under another OINP stream if eligible.
11/19/2025
Newfoundland and Labrador issues 330 ITAs in latest draw, marking the largest round since July
On November 12, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 330 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), marking the largest draw since July. With 220 invitations going to NLPNP candidates, the province continues to rely heavily on its provincial nomination channels. As the province reaches its 13th draw of the year and prepares for expanded federal PNP admission targets in 2026, nomination allocations may increase further.
11/18/2025
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