Quebec Arrima Draw #85 has officially taken place, with the province inviting 502 candidates to apply for permanent selection under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). The latest invitation round, published by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) on July 3, 2026, reflects Quebec’s continued focus on addressing labour shortages through targeted immigration.

Unlike Canada’s Express Entry system, Quebec operates its own immigration selection process through the Arrima portal, allowing the province to select candidates based on its unique labour market priorities, French-language requirements, occupations, and regional workforce needs.

The latest draw targeted candidates across four separate streams, including highly qualified professionals, intermediate-skilled workers, regulated professions, and exceptional talent.

At ImmigCanada, our licensed immigration professionals continue to monitor Quebec immigration updates to help applicants understand how provincial selection priorities evolve throughout the year.

Quebec Invited 502 Candidates in Arrima Draw #85

The July 3 invitation round included candidates from all four streams under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program.

The invitations were distributed as follows:

Stream	Invitations
Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills	74
Intermediate and Manual Skills	289
Regulated Professions	131
Exceptional Talent	7
Special Quebec Immigration Act Provision	1

With this latest round, Quebec has now invited 13,240 candidates during 2026.

Rather than conducting one general draw, Quebec continues to issue invitations separately for each stream based on current labour market priorities.

Quebec Continues a Targeted Selection Strategy

One of the defining features of Quebec’s immigration system is that invitations are based on specific workforce needs rather than a single ranking score.

Candidates may receive invitations depending on factors such as:

• occupation;
• National Occupational Classification (NOC) category;
• French-language proficiency;
• work experience;
• education;
• intention to practise regulated professions;
• Quebec work or study experience;
• provincial labour market priorities.

This targeted approach allows Quebec to respond more directly to shortages in key industries.

Which Occupations Were Prioritized?

The latest Arrima draw covered a wide variety of occupations that remain in demand across Quebec.

Examples included:

Health Care

Several regulated healthcare occupations received invitations, including:

• physicians;
• registered nurses;
• nurse practitioners;
• pharmacists;
• physiotherapists;
• psychologists;
• dental hygienists;
• respiratory therapists;
• medical laboratory technologists.

Healthcare continues to represent one of Quebec’s highest immigration priorities.

Engineering and Skilled Trades

Quebec also focused heavily on technical occupations, including:

• civil engineers;
• mechanical engineers;
• electrical engineers;
• industrial engineers;
• engineering technologists;
• machinists;
• welders;
• electricians;
• plumbers;
• carpenters;
• crane operators;
• heavy-duty equipment mechanics.

These occupations support Quebec’s growing infrastructure, manufacturing, and construction sectors.

Community and Education Occupations

The province also invited candidates working as:

• social workers;
• therapists;
• early childhood educators;
• secondary school teachers;
• elementary school teachers;
• disability instructors.

These occupations remain important as Quebec addresses long-term demographic and workforce challenges.

French Language Continues to Play a Major Role

One of the strongest themes throughout Quebec Arrima Draw #85 is the continued emphasis on French-language proficiency.

Most invited candidates were required to demonstrate:

• oral French at Level 5 or Level 7 depending on the stream;
• written French for higher-skilled streams;
• French proficiency for accompanying spouses in many cases.

While exceptional talent applicants follow different criteria, French remains one of the province’s primary selection factors across most economic immigration streams.

Education and Quebec Experience Remain Valuable

Many invitation categories also required candidates to have:

• completed eligible education comparable to Quebec credentials;
• studied in Quebec;
• gained Quebec work experience;
• accumulated recent experience in priority occupations.

These requirements highlight Quebec’s preference for candidates who are already familiar with the province’s labour market and society.

What Makes Quebec’s Immigration System Different?

Many newcomers assume Quebec follows the same selection process as Express Entry.

However, Quebec maintains significant control over its economic immigration programs.

Some key differences include:

• Quebec uses the Arrima system instead of the federal Express Entry pool.
• French language plays a much larger role.
• Invitations are based on labour market priorities rather than only CRS scores.
• Separate invitation rounds are held for different occupational streams.

Because of these differences, eligibility for Express Entry does not automatically translate into eligibility for Quebec immigration.

What This Draw Means for Future Applicants

The latest Arrima draw reinforces several ongoing trends in Quebec immigration.

Applicants with experience in healthcare, engineering, skilled trades, education, and social services continue to receive strong attention.

Candidates who can demonstrate French-language ability, Quebec work or study experience, and qualifications in priority occupations may remain competitive in future invitation rounds.

As labour shortages evolve, Quebec may continue adjusting its selection priorities through targeted invitation exercises rather than broad-based draws.

Quebec Arrima Draw #85 demonstrates the province’s continued commitment to selecting immigrants who match its economic and demographic needs.

By inviting 502 candidates across four specialized streams, Quebec continues using a highly targeted approach that prioritizes French-language ability, skilled occupations, regulated professions, and workforce shortages.

Anyone considering immigration through Quebec should understand that the province follows a distinct selection process with its own eligibility criteria and invitation strategy.

Staying informed about Arrima invitation rounds and preparing a complete, well-documented application can improve readiness for future opportunities under Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program.

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