Quebec’s immigration ministry has conducted its eighth Skilled Worker Selection Program round of 2026, issuing invitations across all four PSTQ streams. The Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 selected 790 candidates from the Arrima pool, with the largest single share once again going to workers with intermediate and manual skills under Stream 2.
Selections for this Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 were pulled from the candidate pool on August 24, 2026, at 11:48 a.m., and those chosen will have the opportunity to submit complete applications for a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which they can subsequently use to apply to the federal government for permanent residence with intent to settle in Québec.
Quick Highlights : Quebec PSTQ Draw August 27
- The Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 issued 790 invitations across all four program streams
- Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills) received the largest share at 324 invitations
- This marks Quebec’s eighth PSTQ selection round of 2026
- Cutoff scores ranged from 393 to 710 depending on the specific exercise
- Stream 4 (Exceptional talent) issued 21 invitations across two exercises
- Quebec continues concentrating PSTQ invitations on TEER 4/5 occupations amid the PEQ’s reopened intake
- Invitation volumes will be recalibrated starting November 2026 based on PEQ application numbers
Full Breakdown of the Quebec PSTQ Draw August 27
This round distributed invitations across all four streams, with a clear concentration in Stream 2.
| Stream | Focus | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|---|
| Stream 1 | Highly qualified and specialized skills | 87 |
| Stream 2 | Intermediate and manual skills | 324 |
| Stream 3 | Regulated professions | 109 |
| Stream 4 | Exceptional talent | 21 |
| Total | 541 core exercises + additional volumes = 790 |
Stream 1: Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills
This portion of the Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 targeted TEER 0–2 occupations for candidates residing in Québec with 12 months of work experience in the last five years.
| Exercise | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Priority occupation (TEER 1, 2) | 26 | 639 |
| Exercise 2 – Priority occupation (TEER 2) | 11 | 710 |
| Exercise 3 – Priority occupation (TEER 0–2) | 50 | 694 |
Exercise 1 targeted 10 healthcare, education, and natural science occupations including biologists, early childhood educators, and social and community service workers at a cutoff of 639. Exercise 2 covered only chefs and food service supervisors but demanded the round’s highest cutoff at 710. Exercise 3 spanned 26 occupations in engineering, manufacturing, and technology—including cybersecurity specialists and data scientists—at a cutoff of 694.
Stream 2: Intermediate and Manual Skills
This stream delivered the largest share of invitations in this Quebec PSTQ draw August 27, targeting TEER 3–5 occupations with 24 months of work experience in the last five years, including 12 months within Quebec.
| Exercise | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Priority occupation (TEER 3, 4) | 314 | 638 |
| Exercise 2 – Priority occupation (TEER 3, 5) | 10–15 | 706 |
| Exercise 3 – Priority occupation (TEER 3–5) | Fewer than 5 | 695 |
| Exercise 4 – TEER 4 or 5 primary occupation | 249 | 616 |
Exercise 1 dominated this stream with 314 invitations, targeting six healthcare and home care occupations including nurse aides, medical laboratory assistants, and home support workers. Exercise 4, requiring only TEER 4 or 5 status without occupation restriction, added a further 249 invitations at the stream’s lowest cutoff of 616. Exercise 3 targeted 11 construction, manufacturing, and transportation occupations including transport truck drivers and concrete finishers.
Stream 3: Regulated Professions
This portion of the Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 issued 109 invitations across three exercises to candidates intending to work in regulated professions.
| Exercise | Invitations | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 – Priority occupation (TEER 1, 2) | 77 | 639 |
| Exercise 2 – Priority occupation (TEER 1, 2) | 25–30 | 694 |
| Exercise 3 – TEER 4 or 5 occupation | Fewer than 5 | 393 |
Exercise 1 spanned 32 healthcare, education, and social service occupations at a cutoff of 639. Exercise 2 covered 30 engineering, skilled trades, and transportation occupations at 694. Exercise 3, targeting regulated TEER 4 or 5 occupations broadly, had by far the lowest cutoff in this entire draw at just 393.
Stream 4: Exceptional Talent
The smallest category in the Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 issued 21 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 | 6 |
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 on MIFI’s List of Exceptional Achievements, alongside education equivalent to a Québec doctorate.
Why This Draw’s Composition Matters: The PSTQ-PEQ Balancing Act
The Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 continues to reflect a significant strategic shift underway in Quebec’s economic immigration approach. Following the reopening of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) on July 2, 2026, the province is deliberately concentrating PSTQ invitations through October 31, 2026—the close of PEQ’s first intake period—to remain within admission targets set under its 2026–2029 multi-year immigration plan.
This scaling strategy specifically targets candidates in TEER 4 and 5 occupations and those who have not yet accumulated two years of work experience—a pattern clearly visible in this round’s heavy concentration in Stream 2’s Exercise 1 and Exercise 4, which together accounted for 563 of the draw’s total invitations.
Beginning in November 2026, Quebec plans to adjust PSTQ invitation numbers based on actual application volume received during PEQ’s first intake period. The government has 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 August 27 round marks Quebec’s eighth PSTQ selection round of 2026. With the PSTQ-PEQ rebalancing strategy explicitly in effect through October, candidates should expect this pattern of concentrated invitations toward TEER 4/5 and less-experienced candidates to continue through the remainder of Q3 2026, with a potential recalibration once PEQ intake data becomes available in November.
How the PSTQ System Works
The Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) remains Quebec’s primary 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, which then allows them to apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
What Candidates Should Take Away From This Draw
The wide variance in cutoff scores across this Quebec PSTQ draw August 27—from 393 in Stream 3’s Exercise 3 up to 710 in Stream 1’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 facing considerably steeper competition, regardless of the broader policy shift underway.
Key Takeaways Of Quebec PSTQ Draw August 27
This Quebec PSTQ draw August 27 issued 790 invitations across all four program streams, with intermediate and manual skills workers once again receiving the largest share. This draw took place squarely within Quebec’s deliberate scaling 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 August 27
How many invitations were issued in the Quebec PSTQ draw August 27?
The draw issued 790 invitations across all four PSTQ streams, with Stream 2 (Intermediate and manual skills) receiving the largest share at 324 invitations.
Why is Quebec concentrating PSTQ invitations on TEER 4/5 occupations right now?
The Quebec Experience Program reopened July 2, 2026, and Quebec is reducing broader 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 393 in Stream 3’s Exercise 3 to 710 in Stream 1’s Exercise 2, depending on the specific exercise and targeted occupations.
How many PSTQ draws has Quebec held in 2026?
This was Quebec’s eighth 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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