Arrima is the immigration system for Quebec

To assess immigration candidates, Quebec uses the Arrima expression of interest system.

Arrima is a system for evaluating and selecting candidates for immigration to the province of Quebec. It's similar to the federal Express Entry system. Potential candidates submit their applications online and enter a pool. Winners are determined based on the number of points they score.

How the Arrima System Works

Immigration through Quebec programs that use Arrima happens in several stages:

The candidate fills out an expression of interest form on the online portal.
They receive points for human capital criteria and alignment with Quebec labor market needs.
Those with the highest scores receive invitations.
Selected candidates have 90 days to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
After that, they can submit documents for permanent residence.

Immigration Programs Through Arrima

As of November 29, 2024, the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) operates through the Arrima system, replacing the former Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ).

The PSTQ program includes 4 streams:

Stream 1 — highly skilled and specialized skills (FEER categories 0, 1, 2)
Stream 2 — intermediate and manual skills (FEER categories 3, 4, 5)
Stream 3 — regulated occupations
Stream 4 — exceptional talents

The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) ended on November 19, 2025. Candidates who previously could have applied for immigration through PEQ can now submit an expression of interest through Arrima in the appropriate PSTQ program stream.

Point Allocation

The Arrima point system for the PSTQ program is divided into three categories. You can earn up to 520 points for human capital factors, up to 700 points for meeting Quebec labor market needs, and up to 180 points for adaptability factors. In total, you can score up to 1,400 points, which are awarded as follows:

Human Capital — maximum 520 points

1. French language proficiency according to the Quebec language proficiency scale:

Language Level	Points for Principal Applicant	Points for Spouse
Listening Comprehension (maximum 50 points for principal, 40 for spouse)
1 to 4	0	0
5, 6	38	30
7, 8	44	35
9, 10	50	40
11, 12	50	40
Speaking (maximum 50 points for principal, 40 for spouse)
1 to 4	0	0
5, 6	38	30
7, 8	44	35
9, 10	50	40
11, 12	50	40
Reading (maximum 50 points for principal, 40 for spouse)
1 to 4	0	0
5, 6	38	30
7, 8	44	35
9, 10	50	40
11, 12	50	40
Writing (maximum 50 points for principal, 40 for spouse)
1 to 4	0	0
5, 6	38	30
7, 8	44	35
9, 10	50	40
11, 12	50	40

2. Age (maximum 120 points for principal applicant, 100 for spouse):

Age	Points for Principal Applicant	Points for Spouse
18 to 19 years	110	90
20 to 30 years	120	100
31 years	110	95
32 years	100	90
33 years	90	81
34 years	80	72
35 years	75	68
36 years	70	63
37 years	65	59
38 years	60	54
39 years	55	50
40 years	50	45
41 years	40	36
42 years	30	27
43 years	20	18
44 years	10	9
45 years and older	0	0

3. Length of work experience in the last 5 years (maximum 70 points for principal applicant, 50 for spouse):

Duration	Points for Principal Applicant	Points for Spouse
Less than 12 months	0	0
12 to 23 months	20	15
24 to 35 months	40	30
36 to 47 months	50	35
48 months or more	70	50

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4. Education level (maximum 130 points for principal applicant, 110 for spouse):

Education	Points for Principal Applicant	Points for Spouse
Completed high school	13	11
Vocational secondary 600–899 hours (Quebec diploma)	13	11
Vocational secondary 900 hours or more (Quebec diploma)	26	22
Vocational secondary 1 year or more (non-Quebec diploma)	26	22
Post-secondary general 2 years	39	33
Post-secondary technical 900 hours or more (Quebec diploma)	52	44
Post-secondary technical 1 or 2 years (non-Quebec diploma)	52	44
Post-secondary technical 3 years	78	66
University undergraduate 1 year	78	66
University undergraduate 2 years	91	77
University undergraduate 3 or 4 years	104	88
University undergraduate 5 years or more	110	93
University graduate (Master's) 1 year	110	93
University graduate (Master's) 2 years or more	117	99
University medical specialization 2 years or more	130	110
University doctorate (PhD)	130	110

Quebec Labour Market Needs — Maximum 700 points

1. Labour market assessment and work experience in main occupation over the past 5 years according to the occupation assessment (maximum 120 points):

Occupation Assessment	Work Experience	Points
Balanced occupation or no assessment	Less than 12 months	0
Balanced occupation or no assessment	12 to 23 months	5
Balanced occupation or no assessment	24 to 35 months	10
Balanced occupation or no assessment	36 to 47 months	15
Balanced occupation or no assessment	48–60 months	25
Occupation with slight labour shortage	Less than 12 months	0
Occupation with slight labour shortage	12 to 23 months	70
Occupation with slight labour shortage	24 to 35 months	80
Occupation with slight labour shortage	36 to 47 months	90
Occupation with slight labour shortage	48–60 months	100
Occupation with labour shortage	Less than 12 months	0
Occupation with labour shortage	12 to 23 months	90
Occupation with labour shortage	24 to 35 months	100
Occupation with labour shortage	36 to 47 months	110
Occupation with labour shortage	48–60 months	120

2. Having a diploma from a Quebec educational institution (maximum 200 points):

Quebec Diploma	Points
Completed high school	20
Vocational secondary 600–899 hours	20
Vocational secondary 900 hours or more	40
Post-secondary general 2 years	60
Post-secondary technical 900 hours or more	80
Post-secondary technical 3 years	120
University undergraduate 1 year	120
University undergraduate 2 years	140
University undergraduate 3 or 4 years	160
University undergraduate 5 years or more	170
University graduate (Master's) 1 year	170
University graduate (Master's) 2 years or more	180
University medical specialization 2 years or more	200
University doctorate (PhD)	200

3. Duration of work experience in Quebec over the past 5 years (maximum 160 points):

Duration	Points
Less than 12 months	0
12 to 23 months	40
24 to 35 months	80
36 to 47 months	120
48–60 months	160

4. Residence outside the Montreal metropolitan area (maximum 120 points):

Type of Stay	Duration	Points
Residence (maximum 40 points)
Residence	0 to 5 months	0
Residence	6 to 11 months	6
Residence	12 to 23 months	16
Residence	24 to 35 months	24
Residence	36 to 47 months	32
Residence	48 months or more	40
Work Experience (maximum 60 points)
Work Experience	0 to 5 months	0
Work Experience	6 to 11 months	9
Work Experience	12 to 23 months	24
Work Experience	24 to 35 months	36
Work Experience	36 to 47 months	48
Work Experience	48 months or more	60
Study (maximum 20 points)
Study	0 to 5 months	0
Study	6 to 11 months	3
Study	12 to 23 months	8
Study	24 to 35 months	12
Study	36 to 47 months	16
Study	48 months or more	20

5. Job Offer (maximum 50 points):

Employer Location	Points
Outside the Montreal Metropolitan Area	50
Within the Montreal Metropolitan Area	30

6. Work permit or diploma recognition by a professional regulatory body (maximum 50 points):

50 points are awarded to a candidate who has a work permit for their main occupation in Quebec or has a diploma with partial or full recognition from a professional regulatory body in Quebec.

Adaptability Factors — maximum 180 points

1. Duration of study in Quebec without obtaining a diploma (maximum 30 points):

Type of Study	Duration	Points
Completed Studies (maximum 10 points)
Completed	Less than 6 months	0
Completed	6 to 11 months	1
Completed	12 to 23 months	3
Completed	24 to 35 months	5
Completed	36 to 47 months	8
Completed	48 months or more	10
Studies in Progress (maximum 30 points)
In Progress	Less than 6 months	0
In Progress	6 to 11 months	5
In Progress	12 to 23 months	12
In Progress	24 to 35 months	18
In Progress	36 to 47 months	24
In Progress	48 months or more	30

2. Having a relative in Quebec (maximum 10 points):

Relative	Points
Relative of the principal applicant	10
Relative of the spouse	5

3. Spouse's French language proficiency (maximum 40 points — 10 points per skill):

Level	Points per Skill
1 to 3	0
4	4
5, 6	6
7, 8	8
9, 10	10
11, 12	10

4. Spouse's age (maximum 20 points):

Spouse's Age	Points
16 to 19 years	18
20 to 30 years	20
31 years	18
32 years	17
33 years	16
34 years	15
35 years	14
36 years	12
37 years	10
38 years	8
39 years	7
40 years	6
41 years	5
42 years	4
43 years	3
44 years	2
45 years and older	0

5. Spouse's work experience in Quebec over the last 5 years (maximum 30 points):

Duration	Points
0 to 5 months	0
6 to 11 months	5
12 to 23 months	10
24 to 35 months	15
36 to 47 months	23
48–60 months	30

6. Spouse's education level (maximum 20 points):

Spouse's Education	Points
Completed high school	2
Vocational secondary 600–899 hours (Quebec diploma)	2
Vocational secondary 900 hours or more (Quebec diploma)	4
Vocational secondary 1 year or more (non-Quebec diploma)	4
Post-secondary general 2 years	6
Post-secondary technical 900 hours or more (Quebec diploma)	8
Post-secondary technical 1 or 2 years (non-Quebec diploma)	8
Post-secondary technical 3 years	12
University 1st level 1 year	12
University 1st level 2 years	14
University 1st level 3 or 4 years	16
University 1st level 5 years or more	17
University 2nd level (master's) 1 year	17
University 2nd level (master's) 2 years or more	18
University medical specialization 2 years or more	20
University 3rd level (doctorate)	20

7. Spouse's Quebec diploma (maximum 30 points):

Spouse's Quebec Diploma	Points
Completed high school	3
Vocational secondary 600–899 hours	3
Vocational secondary 900 hours or more	6
Post-secondary general 2 years	9
Post-secondary technical 900 hours or more	12
Post-secondary technical 3 years	18
University 1st level 1 year	18
University 1st level 2 years	21
University 1st level 3 or 4 years	24
University 1st level 5 years or more	25
University 2nd level (master's) 1 year	25
University 2nd level (master's) 2 years or more	27
University medical specialization 2 years or more	30
University 3rd level (doctorate)	30

Features of the Arrima System

The system ensures that no more than 25% of invitations in each draw can be issued to candidates from a single country.
Quebec aims to have 95% of economic immigrants (principal applicants) proficient in French.
Invitations are issued regularly to candidates who meet the selection criteria and have the highest scores in their stream.
An Expression of Interest is valid for one year and can be renewed.
Candidates who submitted or updated their Arrima profile on or after November 29, 2024, are eligible to receive invitations under the new PSTQ program.

Conclusion

The Arrima system allows Quebec to select candidates who best meet the province's needs. With the introduction of the PSTQ program in late 2024, the system has become more structured, with clear streams for different occupation categories. Success in this system depends on French language proficiency, relevant education, work experience, and other factors valued by Quebec.

Source

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