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Quebec PSTQ points calculator (Arrima score)

Québec ranks every declaration of interest in Arrima, the Québec government’s online immigration platform, by points. Enter your French levels, age, work, education and Québec ties to estimate your score with the grid Québec published in the Gazette officielle du Québec. It is an unofficial estimate: only Québec decides your score.

SettleCanada editorial teamLast reviewed How we check

Your profile

This changes the points table Québec uses for your own French, age, work experience and education. Your spouse or partner can then add points of their own. This question gives no points by itself.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit. With a spouse or partner coming with you, each skill is worth up to 40 points instead of 50.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit. With a spouse or partner coming with you, each skill is worth up to 40 points instead of 50.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit. With a spouse or partner coming with you, each skill is worth up to 40 points instead of 50.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit.
Your level on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), from 1 to 12. A French test (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ) or French evaluation diploma (DELF, DALF) must be 2 years old or less. Québec’s official table converts test scores to levels. Some secondary diplomas (the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) or the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton) count as level 9, with no 2-year limit. With a spouse or partner coming with you, each skill is worth up to 40 points instead of 50.
Your age on the day Québec takes the data from the Arrima pool for an invitation round.
Your age on the day Québec takes the data from the Arrima pool for an invitation round.
Full-time work in the last 5 years, in any job, in Québec or elsewhere. Part-time work (under 30 hours a week) counts as its full-time equivalent. Internships of up to 3 months that were part of a diploma program count.
Full-time work in the last 5 years, in any job, in Québec or elsewhere. Part-time work (under 30 hours a week) counts as its full-time equivalent. Internships of up to 3 months that were part of a diploma program count.
Your highest completed diploma. Québec compares a diploma from outside Québec with its own school system, so it may count as the same level or a lower one. Diplomas you did not finish do not count.
Your highest completed diploma. Québec compares a diploma from outside Québec with its own school system, so it may count as the same level or a lower one. Diplomas you did not finish do not count.
Your main occupation is the job you plan to do in Québec, as a 5-digit National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. Québec’s list of medium-term diagnoses for 516 occupations says whether it is in shortage. This question gives no points by itself.
Full-time work in your main occupation in the last 5 years, in Québec or elsewhere. Part-time work counts as its full-time equivalent.
Full-time work in your main occupation in the last 5 years, in Québec or elsewhere. Part-time work counts as its full-time equivalent.
Full-time work in your main occupation in the last 5 years, in Québec or elsewhere. Part-time work counts as its full-time equivalent.
A diploma you completed in Québec. Programs you did not finish, or that were shorter than shown, do not count.
Work in any job in Québec. Part-time work counts as its full-time equivalent.
The Montréal area means the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM). Your stay outside it must have started before the invitation round and still be going on. If you live inside the CMM or outside Québec, choose the first answer.
Work done outside the CMM. If you live outside the CMM but work for a company in the CMM (on site or from home), it does not count here.
How long your studies outside the CMM lasted.
The job offer must be validated by the Québec immigration ministry, and its NOC code must match your main occupation.
Regulated professions (for example nurses or engineers) need a permit or licence from the body that regulates them in Québec (autorité de réglementation). People who plan to work in one are invited in Stream 3 (Volet 3). This question gives no points by itself.
You have a permit or licence to practise your main occupation in Québec. Or the body that regulates it in Québec has recognized your diploma or training, in part or in full.
Studies at a designated school in Québec that did not lead to a Québec diploma. Current studies must have started before the invitation round and must not follow a Québec diploma you already have. Language courses do not count. Like Québec’s own self-assessment form, this calculator gives no points here if you have a Québec diploma.
A family member aged 18 or older who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and lives in Québec. You must plan to settle outside the Montréal area (CMM), in the same administrative region as them. It can be your spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, or the child, parent, brother or sister of your spouse or partner.
Your spouse or partner’s level on the Québec French scale. A French test or evaluation diploma must be 2 years old or less. An accepted secondary diploma (French baccalauréat, Belgian CESS, Swiss maturité) counts as level 9.
Your spouse or partner’s level on the Québec French scale. A French test or evaluation diploma must be 2 years old or less. An accepted secondary diploma (French baccalauréat, Belgian CESS, Swiss maturité) counts as level 9.
Your spouse or partner’s level on the Québec French scale. A French test or evaluation diploma must be 2 years old or less. An accepted secondary diploma (French baccalauréat, Belgian CESS, Swiss maturité) counts as level 9.
Your spouse or partner’s level on the Québec French scale. A French test or evaluation diploma must be 2 years old or less. An accepted secondary diploma (French baccalauréat, Belgian CESS, Swiss maturité) counts as level 9.
Your spouse or partner’s age on the day Québec takes the data from the Arrima pool for an invitation round.
Work in any job in Québec. Part-time work counts as its full-time equivalent.
Your spouse or partner’s highest completed diploma, compared with the Québec school system.
A diploma your spouse or partner completed in Québec.

Your Arrima score

Enter your details to see the result.

Grid as of July 2, 2025, checked November 6, 2026 against Document sur les critères d’invitation et leur pointage (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, MIFI; explanatory document, updated June 26, 2026) and the other official sources listed under Sources. Unofficial estimate, not a government tool.

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Key takeaways

  • The PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, Québec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program) is Québec’s own program for skilled workers, under a special immigration agreement with Canada. If Québec selects you, you get a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ), then you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
  • The grid has 3 groups: human capital (up to 520 points), Québec labour market needs (up to 700) and adaptation factors (up to 180). 1,270 is the highest score Québec’s own self-assessment form allows with a spouse or partner, and 1,230 without.
  • French is scored skill by skill on the Québec French scale (levels 1 to 12). English gives no points.
  • If your spouse or partner comes with you, your own points use a lower table, and your spouse can add up to 140 points.
  • Québec does not set one minimum score. Each invitation exercise has its own. On September 24, 2026, they ranged from 380 to 706, and every points-based exercise in 2026 invited only people staying in Québec.

How the score is used

The PSTQ has 5 steps:

  1. Declaration of interest. You fill in a free declaration of interest (déclaration d’intérêt) in Arrima, Québec’s online platform. It stays valid for 12 months. You can update it at any time, but updating does not make it last longer.
  2. Ranking and invitation. Québec gives your declaration a score with the grid on this page. In each invitation round, Québec picks a stream (volet), applies criteria such as occupation, French level, education or being in Québec, and then invites the people with the highest scores. The score of the last person invited is that exercise’s minimum score.
  3. Application for permanent selection. You have 30 days to accept the invitation in Arrima. You then have 60 days to apply, or 1 year in Stream 3 if you do not yet have recognition from the Québec regulatory body for your profession.
  4. Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). If Québec selects you, it gives you a Certificat de sélection du Québec.
  5. Permanent residence. With your CSQ, you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. IRCC decides your permanent residence application.

Québec has a special immigration agreement with Canada, so you apply to Québec first and to IRCC second. Québec selection leads to a CSQ, not to a provincial nomination.

Your score only decides your place in the pool. It does not mean you meet the program’s selection conditions, and minimum scores change from one round and one exercise to the next.

The full Arrima declaration of interest ranking grid (critères d’invitation et leur pointage)

Every factor and point value in Québec’s published grid, out of 1,270 points. Grid as of July 2, 2025, checked November 6, 2026 against Document sur les critères d’invitation et leur pointage (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, MIFI; explanatory document, updated June 26, 2026) and the other official sources listed under Sources.

Factor and your situationPoints
Human capital (capital humain): up to 520 points in total
Is your spouse or common-law partner coming with you to Québec? (no points; decides which factors apply)
No (single, or my spouse or partner is not coming)0
Yes, my spouse or partner is coming with me0
Your French: listening (compréhension orale) (up to 50) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 638
Level 7 or 844
Level 9 to 1250
Your French: listening (compréhension orale) (up to 40) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 630
Level 7 or 835
Level 9 to 1240
Your French: speaking (production orale) (up to 50) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 638
Level 7 or 844
Level 9 to 1250
Your French: speaking (production orale) (up to 40) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 630
Level 7 or 835
Level 9 to 1240
Your French: reading (compréhension écrite) (up to 50) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 638
Level 7 or 844
Level 9 to 1250
Your French: reading (compréhension écrite) (up to 40) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 630
Level 7 or 835
Level 9 to 1240
Your French: writing (production écrite) (up to 50) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 638
Level 7 or 844
Level 9 to 1250
Your French: writing (production écrite) (up to 40) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
Level 1 to 4, or no result0
Level 5 or 630
Level 7 or 835
Level 9 to 1240
Your age (âge) (up to 120) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
18 or 19110
20 to 30120
31110
32100
3390
3480
3575
3670
3765
3860
3955
4050
4140
4230
4320
4410
45 or older0
Your age (âge) (up to 100) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
18 or 1990
20 to 30100
3195
3290
3381
3472
3568
3663
3759
3854
3950
4045
4136
4227
4318
449
45 or older0
Your full-time work experience, last 5 years (durée de l’expérience de travail) (up to 70) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
Less than 12 months0
12 to 23 months20
24 to 35 months40
36 to 47 months50
48 months or more70
Your full-time work experience, last 5 years (durée de l’expérience de travail) (up to 50) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
Less than 12 months0
12 to 23 months15
24 to 35 months30
36 to 47 months35
48 months or more50
Your highest level of education (niveau de scolarité) (up to 130) (if no spouse or partner comes with you)
No completed diploma on this list0
General secondary school (Secondaire général)13
Vocational secondary, 600 to 899 hours (Québec diploma)13
Vocational secondary, 900 hours or more (Québec diploma)26
Vocational secondary, 1 year or more full-time (diploma from outside Québec)26
General post-secondary, 2 years full-time (Postsecondaire général)39
Technical post-secondary, 900 hours or more (Québec diploma)52
Technical post-secondary, 1 or 2 years full-time (diploma from outside Québec)52
Technical post-secondary, 3 years full-time78
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 1 year full-time78
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 2 years full-time91
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 3 or 4 years full-time104
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 5 years or more full-time110
University, 2nd cycle (master level), 1 year full-time110
University, 2nd cycle (master level), 2 years or more full-time117
University medical specialization, 2 years or more full-time130
University, 3rd cycle (doctorate)130
Your highest level of education (niveau de scolarité) (up to 110) (if your spouse or partner comes with you)
No completed diploma on this list0
General secondary school (Secondaire général)11
Vocational secondary, 600 to 899 hours (Québec diploma)11
Vocational secondary, 900 hours or more (Québec diploma)22
Vocational secondary, 1 year or more full-time (diploma from outside Québec)22
General post-secondary, 2 years full-time (Postsecondaire général)33
Technical post-secondary, 900 hours or more (Québec diploma)44
Technical post-secondary, 1 or 2 years full-time (diploma from outside Québec)44
Technical post-secondary, 3 years full-time66
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 1 year full-time66
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 2 years full-time77
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 3 or 4 years full-time88
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 5 years or more full-time93
University, 2nd cycle (master level), 1 year full-time93
University, 2nd cycle (master level), 2 years or more full-time99
University medical specialization, 2 years or more full-time110
University, 3rd cycle (doctorate)110
Québec labour market needs and government priorities (besoins du marché du travail au Québec et priorités gouvernementales): up to 700 points in total
Labour market diagnosis of your main occupation (diagnostic de main-d’œuvre) (no points; decides which factors apply)
In balance, or no diagnosis (en équilibre ou sans diagnostic)0
Slight shortage (léger déficit)0
Shortage (déficit)0
Work experience in your main occupation, last 5 years (up to 25) (occupation in balance or with no diagnosis)
Less than 12 months0
12 to 23 months5
24 to 35 months10
36 to 47 months15
48 to 60 months25
Work experience in your main occupation, last 5 years (up to 100) (occupation in slight shortage)
Less than 12 months0
12 to 23 months70
24 to 35 months80
36 to 47 months90
48 to 60 months100
Work experience in your main occupation, last 5 years (up to 120) (occupation in shortage)
Less than 12 months0
12 to 23 months90
24 to 35 months100
36 to 47 months110
48 to 60 months120
Your highest Québec diploma (diplôme du Québec) (up to 200)
No Québec diploma0
General secondary school20
Vocational secondary, 600 to 899 hours or more (DEP: diplôme d’études professionnelles, ASP: attestation de spécialisation professionnelle, or DEP-ASP)20
Vocational secondary, 900 hours or more (DEP: diplôme d’études professionnelles)40
General post-secondary, 2 years full-time60
Technical post-secondary, 900 hours or more80
Technical post-secondary, 3 years full-time120
University, 1st cycle, 1 year full-time120
University, 1st cycle, 2 years full-time140
University, 1st cycle, 3 or 4 years full-time160
University, 1st cycle, 5 years or more full-time170
University, 2nd cycle, 1 year full-time170
University, 2nd cycle, 2 years or more full-time180
University medical specialization, 2 years or more full-time200
University, 3rd cycle (doctorate)200
Your full-time work in Québec, last 5 years (expérience de travail au Québec) (up to 160)
Less than 12 months0
12 to 23 months40
24 to 35 months80
36 to 47 months120
48 to 60 months160
How long you have lived in Québec outside the Montréal area (CMM) (up to 40)
I do not live in Québec outside the CMM now0
0 to 5 months0
6 to 11 months6
12 to 23 months16
24 to 35 months24
36 to 47 months32
48 months or more40
Your work in Québec outside the Montréal area (CMM) (up to 60) (only if you live in Québec outside the CMM now)
0 to 5 months0
6 to 11 months9
12 to 23 months24
24 to 35 months36
36 to 47 months48
48 months or more60
Your studies in Québec outside the Montréal area (CMM) (up to 20) (only if you live in Québec outside the CMM now)
0 to 5 months0
6 to 11 months3
12 to 23 months8
24 to 35 months12
36 to 47 months16
48 months or more20
Validated job offer in your main occupation (offre d’emploi validée) (up to 50)
No validated job offer0
Yes, job inside the Montréal area (CMM)30
Yes, job outside the Montréal area (CMM)50
Do you plan to work in a regulated profession on Québec’s list? (profession réglementée) (no points; decides which factors apply)
No0
Yes0
Permit to practise, or recognition from the Québec regulator (autorisation d’exercer) (up to 50) (Stream 3, regulated professions only)
Yes50
No0
Adaptation factors (facteurs d’adaptation): up to 180 points in total
Studies in Québec without a Québec diploma (séjour d’études sans diplôme) (up to 30) (as in Québec’s self-assessment form)
None, or less than 6 months0
Finished: 6 to 11 months1
Finished: 12 to 23 months3
Finished: 24 to 35 months5
Finished: 36 to 47 months8
Finished: 48 months or more10
Still studying: 6 to 11 months so far5
Still studying: 12 to 23 months so far12
Still studying: 24 to 35 months so far18
Still studying: 36 to 47 months so far24
Still studying: 48 months or more so far30
Family member in Québec (membre de la parenté) (up to 10)
No0
Yes, related to me10
Yes, related to my spouse or partner5
Spouse’s French: listening (connaissance du français du conjoint: compréhension orale) (up to 10) (spouse or partner coming with you)
Level 1 to 3, or no result0
Level 44
Level 5 or 66
Level 7 or 88
Level 9 to 1210
Spouse’s French: speaking (connaissance du français du conjoint: production orale) (up to 10) (spouse or partner coming with you)
Level 1 to 3, or no result0
Level 44
Level 5 or 66
Level 7 or 88
Level 9 to 1210
Spouse’s French: reading (connaissance du français du conjoint: compréhension écrite) (up to 10) (spouse or partner coming with you)
Level 1 to 3, or no result0
Level 44
Level 5 or 66
Level 7 or 88
Level 9 to 1210
Spouse’s French: writing (connaissance du français du conjoint: production écrite) (up to 10) (spouse or partner coming with you)
Level 1 to 3, or no result0
Level 44
Level 5 or 66
Level 7 or 88
Level 9 to 1210
Spouse’s age (âge du conjoint) (up to 20) (spouse or partner coming with you)
16 to 1918
20 to 3020
3118
3217
3316
3415
3514
3612
3710
388
397
406
415
424
433
442
45 or older0
Spouse’s full-time work in Québec, last 5 years (expérience de travail du conjoint au Québec) (up to 30) (spouse or partner coming with you)
0 to 5 months0
6 to 11 months5
12 to 23 months10
24 to 35 months15
36 to 47 months23
48 to 60 months30
Spouse’s highest level of education (niveau de scolarité du conjoint) (up to 20) (spouse or partner coming with you)
No completed diploma on this list0
General secondary school (Secondaire général)2
Vocational secondary, 600 to 899 hours (Québec diploma)2
Vocational secondary, 900 hours or more (Québec diploma)4
Vocational secondary, 1 year or more full-time (diploma from outside Québec)4
General post-secondary, 2 years full-time (Postsecondaire général)6
Technical post-secondary, 900 hours or more (Québec diploma)8
Technical post-secondary, 1 or 2 years full-time (diploma from outside Québec)8
Technical post-secondary, 3 years full-time12
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 1 year full-time12
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 2 years full-time14
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 3 or 4 years full-time16
University, 1st cycle (bachelor level), 5 years or more full-time17
University, 2nd cycle (master level), 1 year full-time17
University, 2nd cycle (master level), 2 years or more full-time18
University medical specialization, 2 years or more full-time20
University, 3rd cycle (doctorate)20
Spouse’s highest Québec diploma (diplôme du Québec du conjoint) (up to 30) (spouse or partner coming with you)
No Québec diploma0
General secondary school3
Vocational secondary, 600 to 899 hours or more (DEP: diplôme d’études professionnelles, ASP: attestation de spécialisation professionnelle, or DEP-ASP)3
Vocational secondary, 900 hours or more (DEP: diplôme d’études professionnelles)6
General post-secondary, 2 years full-time9
Technical post-secondary, 900 hours or more12
Technical post-secondary, 3 years full-time18
University, 1st cycle, 1 year full-time18
University, 1st cycle, 2 years full-time21
University, 1st cycle, 3 or 4 years full-time24
University, 1st cycle, 5 years or more full-time25
University, 2nd cycle, 1 year full-time25
University, 2nd cycle, 2 years or more full-time27
University medical specialization, 2 years or more full-time30
University, 3rd cycle (doctorate)30
  • Québec has a special agreement on immigration with Canada and selects its own skilled workers through the PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés). If Québec selects you, it gives you a Québec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, CSQ). You then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
  • The grid has 3 groups. Québec states a maximum for each: human capital 520 points, Québec labour market needs and government priorities 700 points, and adaptation factors 180 points. These add up to 1,400, but no one can reach 1,400.
  • With a spouse or common-law partner who comes with you, your own French, age, work experience and education use a lower table (420 points at most instead of 520). Your spouse or partner can then add up to 140 points in the adaptation group.
  • 1,270 is the highest score Québec’s own self-assessment form allows (with a spouse or partner coming with you), and 1,230 without. The form skips the question on studies in Québec without a diploma (up to 30 points) when you have a Québec diploma (up to 200 points), and this calculator does the same. The ministerial order itself only says a finished stay must not have led to a Québec diploma, and a current stay must not follow one.
  • French is scored skill by skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing) on the Québec French scale (Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français), levels 1 to 12. Test results must be 2 years old or less. Québec gives no points for English.
  • Some secondary diplomas count as French level 9 in all 4 skills: the French baccalauréat (general, professional or technological), the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur), and the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton. The 2-year limit applies to French tests and evaluation diplomas, not to these secondary diplomas.
  • For Stream 3 (regulated professions), a regular permit from a Québec professional order (valid or expired 2 years or less ago), or a pass on the Office québécois de la langue française exam for professional orders (2 years old or less), counts as French level 7 in the 2 oral skills and level 5 in the 2 written skills. Québec uses it only when no test or accepted diploma covers a skill.
  • Points for outside the Montréal area (Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, CMM) need a stay in Québec outside the CMM that is still going on. Residence, work and study outside the CMM add up.
  • All work experience counts in full-time equivalent (30 hours a week) and must be from the 5 years before the invitation round. Internships of up to 3 months that were part of a diploma program count.
  • Ties are broken by the date and time you filed your declaration of interest.
  • Your score is only one invitation criterion. Each invitation round targets a stream and can add other criteria, such as occupation, French level, education or being in Québec. Some criteria give no points but can still be required.
  • This is an unofficial estimate. Only Québec decides your score.

Worked example

Example: a single person aged 29 who finished a 2-year master’s degree in Québec, lives and works in Montréal, has French at level 7 or 8 when listening and speaking and level 5 or 6 when reading and writing, 24 to 35 months of work in a main occupation in slight shortage, 12 to 23 months of it in Québec, and a validated job offer in the Montréal area. This is the same profile the calculator above starts with.

FactorThis profilePoints
Is your spouse or common-law partner coming with you to Québec?No (single, or my spouse or partner is not coming)0
Your French: listening (compréhension orale)Level 7 or 844
Your French: speaking (production orale)Level 7 or 844
Your French: reading (compréhension écrite)Level 5 or 638
Your French: writing (production écrite)Level 5 or 638
Your age (âge)20 to 30120
Your full-time work experience, last 5 years (durée de l’expérience de travail)24 to 35 months40
Your highest level of education (niveau de scolarité)University, 2nd cycle (master level), 2 years or more full-time117
Labour market diagnosis of your main occupation (diagnostic de main-d’œuvre)Slight shortage (léger déficit)0
Work experience in your main occupation, last 5 years24 to 35 months80
Your highest Québec diploma (diplôme du Québec)University, 2nd cycle, 2 years or more full-time180
Your full-time work in Québec, last 5 years (expérience de travail au Québec)12 to 23 months40
How long you have lived in Québec outside the Montréal area (CMM)I do not live in Québec outside the CMM now0
Validated job offer in your main occupation (offre d’emploi validée)Yes, job inside the Montréal area (CMM)30
Do you plan to work in a regulated profession on Québec’s list? (profession réglementée)No0
Family member in Québec (membre de la parenté)No0
Total771 of 1,270

The 4 PSTQ streams (volets)

Everyone is ranked with the same grid. Québec puts you in a stream based on your main occupation and its TEER category (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Before it looks at scores, Québec applies these minimum invitation criteria:

  • Stream 1, highly qualified and specialized skills:
    • TEER 0, 1 or 2, and not a regulated profession.
    • At least 12 months of work in your main occupation in the last 5 years.
    • A vocational, college or university diploma from a full-time program of at least 1 year (for example a DEP or ASP of 900 hours or more, an AEC or technical DEC, or a university degree).
    • French level 7 or higher in listening and speaking, and level 5 or higher in reading and writing.
  • Stream 2, intermediate and manual skills: TEER 3, 4 or 5, not a regulated profession, at least 24 months of work in your main occupation in the last 5 years (at least 12 of them in Québec), at least a secondary diploma, and French level 5 or higher in listening and speaking.
  • Stream 3, regulated professions:
    • You plan to work in a profession on Québec’s list of regulated professions (professions réglementées).
    • TEER 0, 1 or 2: French level 7 or higher in listening and speaking, and level 5 or higher in reading and writing.
    • TEER 3, 4 or 5: French level 5 or higher in listening and speaking.
  • Stream 4, exceptional talent: a positive opinion from a partner of the Québec immigration ministry or proof of an achievement on its list of exceptional achievements, and at least 36 months of work in your main occupation in the last 5 years.

DEP means diplôme d’études professionnelles, ASP attestation de spécialisation professionnelle, AEC attestation d’études collégiales and DEC diplôme d’études collégiales. In Streams 1, 2 and 3, a spouse or partner who comes with you needs French level 4 or higher in listening and speaking. Québec says it may add criteria or make them stricter in any round.

Why no one gets 1,400 points

Québec’s 3 group maximums add up to 1,400 points (520 + 700 + 180). But you cannot get the top value in every group at once:

  • Single applicants can get up to 520 points for human capital, but only 40 of the 180 adaptation points (study in Québec without a diploma and a family member in Québec). The rest of that group is for a spouse or partner.
  • With a spouse or partner, your own human capital points use a lower table (up to 420), and your spouse or partner can add up to 140 adaptation points.
  • Study in Québec without a diploma (up to 30 points): Québec’s self-assessment form skips this question if you have a Québec diploma (up to 200 points). This calculator does the same, so only 10 more adaptation points are open to you (family member in Québec).

So 1,270 is the highest score Québec’s own self-assessment form allows with a spouse or partner, and 1,230 without.

Recent Québec invitation rounds

The latest Québec invitation rounds, as published on www.quebec.ca (checked November 6, 2026). Past lowest scores are not a prediction of future invitation rounds.

DateStreamMinimum scoreInvitations
September 24, 2026Stream 1 (Volet 1): highly qualified and specialized skills, 3 exercises by occupation list634, 706 and 696 (one per exercise)86
September 24, 2026Stream 2 (Volet 2): intermediate and manual skills, 4 exercises631, 706, 698 and 611 (one per exercise)316
September 24, 2026Stream 3 (Volet 3): regulated professions, 4 exercises631, 697, 696 and 380 (one per exercise)110
September 24, 2026Stream 4 (Volet 4): exceptional talent, 2 exercisesNone: chosen by other criteria, not by score7

Québec invites by stream. Each round has several “exercises” (exercices), and each exercise targets certain occupations or profiles and has its own minimum score. The rows show the latest round, September 24, 2026 (data taken from Arrima on September 21, 2026). Québec had not posted a later round as of November 6, 2026. Québec says comparing minimum scores between streams is not useful.

Common questions

What is the minimum Arrima score for the PSTQ?
Québec does not set one minimum score. It runs separate invitation exercises in each stream, and each exercise targets certain occupations or profiles. The minimum score is the score of the last person invited. On September 24, 2026, the minimum scores ranged from 380 to 706 depending on the stream and exercise. You must also meet every criterion of the exercise, so a score above a past minimum does not guarantee an invitation.
Does English give points in the PSTQ?
No. Québec says that, for now, no points are given for knowledge of English. Points come from French, scored separately for listening, speaking, reading and writing on the Québec French scale.
Which French tests does Québec accept for points?
The TCF-Québec, TCF-Canada and TCF, the DALF and DELF, and the TEFAQ, TEF Canada and TEF. Test and evaluation diploma results must be 2 years old or less when Québec takes the data for an invitation round. Québec converts scores to its own levels with its official correspondence table, which is not the same as the federal NCLC table (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens). Some secondary diplomas count as level 9 in all 4 skills, with no 2-year limit: the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS (certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur) and the Swiss certificat de maturité from a French-speaking canton.
How does a spouse or partner change my score?
If your spouse or common-law partner comes with you, your own French, age, work experience and education use a lower table: up to 420 points instead of 520. Your spouse or partner can add up to 140 points: up to 40 for French, 20 for age, 30 for work in Québec, 20 for education and 30 for a Québec diploma.
What happens if two people have the same score?
Québec ranks them by the date and time they filed their declaration of interest. The earlier declaration ranks higher.
How long is my declaration of interest valid?
12 months from the day you file it. If you are not invited in that time, it becomes invalid. You cannot extend or renew it, but you can create a new one for free. If you are invited, you have 30 days to accept or refuse. If you do not answer in 30 days, your declaration becomes invalid.

Sources

Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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General information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often and depend on your situation. Check IRCC or speak with a licensed consultant (RCIC) or lawyer before you apply.