Starting October 9, 2024, Quebec will limit invitations under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) to a maximum of 25% from any single country, a policy announced by Immigration Minister Jean François Roberge. This initiative aims to enhance the diversity of national origins among economic immigrants, addressing a decline in diversity observed in 2024 applications. While this policy currently applies only to the PRTQ, it may also be extended to the upcoming Skilled Worker Selection Program ..

Roberge said that the policy is intended to promote diversity of national origin among economic immigrants settling in Quebec.

He explained that in 2024, applications for the Regular Skilled Worker Program have exhibited a marked decrease in diversity of origin.

The Quebec government noted that although the policy currently applies only to the Regular Skilled Worker Program, it may be renewed for the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), which is set to replace the Regular Skilled Worker Program, as per CIC News.

The government added that this policy is expected to have no effect on the proportion of French speakers who receive invitations.

All about Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program:
Skilled immigration to Quebec works differently than it does for other Canadian provinces and territories.

To immigrate to Quebec, candidates must first submit an expression of interest (EOI) in the Arrima pool.

Quebec evaluates candidates using various criteria to determine their scores. These factors include age, education, language proficiency, work experience, family composition, job offers, and connections to family in Quebec. Each element plays a significant role in assessing a candidate's suitability for immigration, reflecting the province's specific needs and priorities.

Under the scoring grid for the Regular Skilled Worker Program, candidates are awarded significantly more points for French proficiency than they are for English.

The Quebec government issues invitations to top-ranking candidates from the pool, who then apply to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) on the Mon Project Quebec portal.

If a candidate is successful, the Quebec government issues them a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which they require in order to apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence.