Quebec’s immigration ministry has conducted its seventh selection round of 2026, issuing invitations to applicants across every stream of the province’s Skilled Worker Selection Program. The Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 selected 523 candidates from the Arrima pool, with the largest single share going once again to workers with intermediate and manual skills under Stream 2.
This latest Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 was drawn from the Arrima pool on July 27, 2026, at 4:39 p.m., and arrives at a notable moment for the province’s economic immigration strategy, as Quebec simultaneously scales back PSTQ volumes to accommodate the newly reopened Quebec Experience Program.
Quick Highlights : Quebec PSTQ Draw July 30
- The Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 issued 523 invitations across all four program streams
- Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills) received the largest share at 296 invitations
- This marks Quebec’s seventh PSTQ selection round of 2026
- Cutoff scores ranged from 376 to 702 depending on the specific exercise
- Stream 4 (Exceptional talent) issued just 12 invitations across two exercises
- Quebec is deliberately scaling back PSTQ invitations through October 31, 2026 as the reopened Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) runs its first intake
- Future invitation volumes from November 2026 onward will depend on PEQ application numbers
Full Breakdown of the Quebec PSTQ Draw July 30
This round distributed invitations across all four streams simultaneously, with Stream 2 dominating overall volume.
| Stream | Focus | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|---|
| Stream 1 | Highly qualified and specialized skills | 105 |
| Stream 2 | Intermediate and manual skills | 296 |
| Stream 3 | Regulated professions | 110 |
| Stream 4 | Exceptional talent | 12 |
| Total | 523 |
Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
This portion of the Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 targeted TEER 0–2 occupations for candidates residing in Québec with at least 12 months of work experience within the last five years.
| Exercise | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Priority occupation (TEER 1, 2) | 44 | 651 |
| Exercise 2 – Priority occupation (TEER 2) | 12 | 702 |
| Exercise 3 – Priority occupation (TEER 0–2) | 49 | 701 |
Exercise 1 targeted 10 specific occupations including biologists, early childhood educators, physicists, and social and community service workers, requiring a cutoff of 651. Exercise 2 covered only two occupations—chefs and food service supervisors—but demanded the round’s highest cutoff at 702. Exercise 3 spanned 25 occupations including cybersecurity specialists, data scientists, and various engineering and skilled trades roles, at a cutoff of 701.
Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills
This stream delivered the largest share of invitations in this Quebec PSTQ draw July 30, targeting TEER 3–5 occupations.
| Exercise | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Qualifying diploma + priority occupations (TEER 3, 4) | 37 | 656 |
| Exercise 2 – Qualifying diploma + priority occupations (TEER 3, 5) | 10 | 702 |
| Exercise 3 – TEER 4 or 5 primary occupation | 249 | 621 |
Exercise 3 alone accounted for the overwhelming majority of Stream 2 invitations, requiring only a 621-point score for any TEER 4 or 5 occupation without additional priority-sector restrictions. Exercise 1 targeted healthcare and education support roles like medical laboratory assistants and elementary school teacher assistants, while Exercise 2 covered only cooks and light duty cleaners at the stream’s highest cutoff of 702.
Stream 3: Regulated Professions
This portion of the Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 targeted candidates intending to work in regulated professions, issuing 110 invitations across three exercises.
| Exercise | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Priority occupation (TEER 1, 2) | 72 | 649 |
| Exercise 2 – Priority occupation (TEER 1, 2) | 33 | 700 |
| Exercise 3 – TEER 4 or 5 occupation | 5 | 376 |
Exercise 1 spanned 31 healthcare and education-related occupations at a cutoff of 649. Exercise 2 covered 30 engineering and skilled trades occupations, requiring the stream’s highest cutoff at 700. Exercise 3, targeting regulated TEER 4 or 5 occupations broadly, had by far the lowest cutoff in this entire draw at just 376.
Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
The smallest category in the Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 issued just 12 total invitations across two exercises, targeting candidates with at least 36 months of work experience in the last five years.
| Exercise | Invitations |
|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Positive opinion letter | 15 |
| Exercise 2 – Exceptional achievement + doctorate | Fewer than 5 |
Exercise 1 required a positive opinion letter from a Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) partner in a targeted field. Exercise 2 required documented evidence of achievement listed on MIFI’s List of Exceptional Achievements, alongside a level of education equivalent to a doctorate in Québec.
Why This Draw Matters: The PSTQ-PEQ Balancing Act
The Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 arrives during a significant strategic shift in how Quebec manages its economic immigration pathways. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) reopened on July 2, 2026, and through October 31, 2026—the close of PEQ’s first intake period—the province is deliberately scaling back PSTQ invitations to remain within the admission targets set under its 2026–2029 multi-year immigration plan.
This scaling back specifically targets invitations toward candidates in TEER 4 and 5 occupations and those who have not yet reached two years of work experience—a pattern clearly visible in this draw’s heavy concentration of invitations in Stream 2’s Exercise 3, which required only TEER 4 or 5 status without additional restrictions.
Beginning in November 2026, Quebec plans to adjust PSTQ invitation numbers based on the actual volume of applications received during PEQ’s first intake period. In its June 10, 2026 announcement confirming the PEQ reopening, the government stated its intention to issue an equal number of Québec Selection Certificates across both programs for the remainder of the period covered by the 2026–2029 immigration plan.
Quebec’s 2026 PSTQ Activity
This July 30 round marks Quebec’s seventh PSTQ selection round of 2026. Given the province’s stated intent to moderate PSTQ volumes through October while PEQ’s first intake runs its course, candidates should expect this scaled-back approach to continue through the remainder of Q3 2026, with a potential recalibration once PEQ intake data becomes available in November.
How does the PSTQ System Works
The Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) remains Quebec’s leading economic immigration pathway for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in the province. Prospective candidates must first submit a declaration of interest through the Arrima portal, after which their profile enters Quebec’s declaration-of-interest database and is assessed against factors supporting successful economic and social integration.
The stream under which a candidate may receive an invitation through a future Quebec PSTQ draw is determined primarily by their declared occupation and its corresponding National Occupational Classification category. Successful applicants receive a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which then allows them to apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
What Candidates Should Take Away From This Draw
The dramatic variance in cutoff scores across this Quebec PSTQ draw July 30—from 376 in Stream 3’s Exercise 3 up to 702 in both Stream 1’s Exercise 2 and Stream 2’s Exercise 2—demonstrates how differently Quebec weighs candidates depending on their specific occupation and exercise category.
Given the province’s current strategic emphasis on TEER 4 and 5 candidates and those with less than two years of experience amid the PSTQ-PEQ rebalancing, candidates in these categories may find more accessible pathways through the remainder of Q3 2026. Meanwhile, candidates targeting the highest-scoring exercises in Streams 1 and 3 continue to face considerably steeper competition, regardless of the broader policy shift underway.
Key Takeaways Of Quebec PSTQ Draw July 30
This Quebec PSTQ draw July 30 issued 523 invitations across all four program streams, with intermediate and manual skills workers again receiving the largest share. Critically, this draw took place against the backdrop of Quebec’s deliberate scaling back of PSTQ volumes through October 31, 2026, as the reopened Quebec Experience Program runs its first intake period. Candidates should monitor how invitation patterns evolve through Q3 and watch for Quebec’s planned November recalibration based on PEQ application data.
FAQs : Quebec PSTQ Draw July 30
How many invitations were issued in the Quebec PSTQ draw July 30?
The draw issued 523 invitations across all four PSTQ streams, with Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills) receiving the largest share at 296 invitations.
Why is Quebec scaling back PSTQ invitations right now?
The Quebec Experience Program reopened July 2, 2026, and Quebec is reducing PSTQ volumes through October 31, 2026 to remain within its 2026–2029 admission targets while PEQ’s first intake period runs.
What was the minimum score required in this draw?
Cutoff scores ranged from 376 in Stream 3’s Exercise 3 to 702 in both Stream 1’s and Stream 2’s Exercise 2, depending on the specific exercise and targeted occupations.
How many PSTQ draws has Quebec held in 2026?
This was Quebec’s seventh PSTQ selection round of 2026.
What happens after PSTQ invitation volumes are adjusted in November?
Quebec plans to set future PSTQ numbers based on application volume received during PEQ’s first intake period, aiming to issue an equal number of Québec Selection Certificates across both programs for the rest of the 2026–2029 plan period.
Source : CIC News
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