Quebec Immigration Levels Plan
This guide from Career Education Consultancy Australia (CECA) outlines Quebec’s immigration targets up to 2026, including planned admission numbers, category-based ranges, and the proportion of economic immigrants compared to total admissions across all Quebec immigration streams.
Overview of Quebec’s Immigration Levels Plan
Under Quebec’s Immigration Levels Plan 2026, the province has established a total admissions target ranging between 43,000 and 47,000 individuals across immigration categories that fall within Quebec’s selection authority.
Within this overall target, Quebec plans to admit:
29,810 to 31,920 skilled workers
450 to 550 business immigrants
Up to 50 candidates under other economic immigration programs
Economic immigration is expected to make up approximately 64% of all admissions to Quebec in 2025, highlighting the province’s continued focus on attracting workers who can contribute to its labour market and economic growth.
The table below presents a breakdown of projected admissions by the end of 2025 as well as planned admission levels for 2026 by immigration category. It also illustrates the share and percentage of economic immigration compared to other immigration classes for both 2025 and 2026.
Quebec's Immigration Targets Until 2026
| Category | Forecasted Admissions for 2025 | Planned Admissions for 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Economic immigration category (total) | 29,810 | 31,920 | 27,500 | 30,100 |
| Skilled Workers | 29,300 | 31,300 | 27,050 | 29,500 |
| Business People | 500 | 600 | 450 | 550 |
| Other economic categories | 10 | 20 | 0 | 50 |
| Family reunification | 10,200 | 10,500 | 9,600 | 10,400 |
| Refugees and people in similar situations | 6,500 | 7,000 | 5,500 | 6,000 |
| Refugees selected abroad | 2,200 | 2,500 | 700 | 900 |
| State-supported refugees | 1,600 | 1,700 | 400 | 500 |
| Sponsored refugees | 600 | 800 | 300 | 400 |
| Refugees recognized in Canada | 4,300 | 4,500 | 4,800 | 5,100 |
| Other immigration categories | 700 | 800 | 400 | 500 |
| Percentage selected by Quebec | 75% | 75% | 67% | 67% |
| Percentage selected under an economic immigration program | 70% | 70% | 64% | 64% |
| Percentage selected with French language proficiency | 78% | 79% | 64% | 64% |
| Percentage of admission spots for candidates in Quebec | 55% | 55% | 54% | 54% |
| Overall totals | 41,700 | 41,700 | 43,000 | 47,000 |
What Is the Quebec Immigration Process?
Under the 1991 Canada–Quebec Accord, the Government of Quebec has the authority to select immigrants who wish to settle in the province. This makes Quebec unique, as it operates its own immigration selection system, separate from most other Canadian provinces.
Who Manages Immigration Selection in Quebec?
Immigration selection is managed by Quebec’s immigration ministry:
Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI)
MIFI is responsible for:
Assessing immigration applications under Quebec programs
Selecting candidates who meet Quebec’s criteria
Issuing the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Federal Government’s Role (IRCC)
After Quebec issues a CSQ, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes over responsibility for:
Security background checks
Criminality checks
Medical examinations
Final approval and issuance of permanent residence
The federal government also:
Sets overall immigration categories and classes
Establishes annual immigration targets in coordination with Quebec
Quebec’s Economic Immigration Programs
1. Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP)
- Quebec’s main pathway for skilled workers
Uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system through the Arrima platform
Candidates are ranked using a points-based system
Points are awarded for factors such as:
Education and training
Skilled work experience
French and/or English language ability
Age, job offers, and ties to Quebec
Top-ranked candidates are invited to apply for a CSQ.
2. Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
Designed for:
International graduates of Quebec institutions
Temporary foreign workers with Quebec work experience
Does not use a points system
Focuses on Quebec experience and French proficiency
⚠ Important update:
As of November 19, 2025, the PEQ will close entirely.
Applications already submitted will continue to be processed within Quebec’s admission targets. The Quebec government has not announced whether the program will reopen in the future.
3. Quebec Business Immigration Programs
These programs are for individuals who can demonstrate sufficient financial resources and business experience, including:
Investors
Entrepreneurs
Self-employed individuals
Each stream has its own eligibility criteria related to assets, investment, or business plans.