Preparing your file
CSQ processing times under the PSTQ: where to find them and how to read them
Where Québec publishes the processing time for PSTQ permanent selection applications, how to interpret it and what can slow your file down.
Published on · 6 min read
How long does it take to get a CSQ? It is probably the question most often asked by people who have submitted a permanent selection application under Québec's Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). There is an official answer, but it does not come as a number of months. Here is where to find it, how to read it and what can change the pace of your file.
Where the Ministère publishes its processing time
The Ministère de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (MII, formerly MIFI) posts the status of its processing in the "Processing Time" section of the PSTQ page on submitting an application for permanent selection, on Québec.ca. That section carries its own update date, so check it every time you look.
What the page says right now
According to the information updated on October 13, 2026, the Ministère is reviewing PSTQ permanent selection applications received in February and March 2026. It adds that some applications received earlier may still be pending because they were incomplete or needed additional checks, and that their review is continuing.
How to read this information
The Ministère does not announce an average duration. It tells you which months of receipt it is currently working on. To see where you stand:
- Find the date your application was received, not the date of your invitation. Processing time starts when the permanent selection application is received. The 30 days to accept the invitation and the time you took to submit do not count.
- Compare that month with the months under review. If your application was received in February or March 2026, it falls within the period the Ministère says it is reviewing. If it was received later, it is outside the announced period, unless it benefits from the prioritization described below.
- Check the update date. Information that is several weeks old may no longer reflect the situation.
Be wary of "number of months" estimates built from this page: the Ministère does not publish such a figure, and every file follows its own path.
What can slow a file down
The page is clear that an incomplete or non-compliant application, or one that needs additional checks, may take longer. In practice, several steps of the review can add weeks:
- Missing documents or wrong format: you receive a letter of intent to reject and have 60 days to send what is missing.
- Intent to refuse: if the Ministère believes you do not meet every requirement, it writes to you and you must reply within the stated deadline.
- Interview: the Ministère may call you in to verify your information; the notice arrives in your Arrima account.
- Values attestation: after you apply, you and any family members aged 18 or over who need it have 60 days to obtain it, unless you already hold it.
On the other hand, using an immigration professional does not get you priority processing, according to the Ministère.
Prioritization for work permit holders
From May 13, 2026, until May 13, 2027, the Ministère is giving priority to certain PSTQ applications submitted since July 17, 2025, by temporary foreign workers whose permits have expired or are about to. The announced order is:
- applications tied to an open work permit, starting with expired permits, then permits expiring soon;
- then applications tied to an employer-specific (closed) work permit, in the same order.
For an application submitted after May 13, 2026, priority applies if the permit expires within three months of submission. The Ministère warns, however, that it cannot commit to issuing a CSQ before the permit expires. You must keep legal status at all times and, where possible, renew your permit with your employer and IRCC without delay. On the federal side, IRCC is offering, until December 31, 2026, an employer-specific work permit valid for up to 12 months to certain PSTQ candidates who have already submitted their selection application. The conditions are on Canada.ca.
Other deadlines along the way
Processing time is only one of the timelines to watch:
- an expression of interest stays valid for 12 months;
- an invitation must be accepted within 30 days;
- the application must be submitted within 60 days of accepting (one year under Stream 3 without proof from the regulatory authority).
After the CSQ: the federal step
A CSQ is not permanent residence. Once Québec selects you, you must apply for permanent residence with the Government of Canada, which decides on admission. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes its own processing times in an online tool and states that they are neither a maximum nor a guarantee.
FAQ
Does processing time start on the date of my invitation?
No. It starts when your permanent selection application is received.
My application was received before February 2026 and I have no decision. Is that normal?
The Ministère says some earlier applications that were incomplete or under verification have not been finalized yet. Check your Arrima message centre and, if needed, contact the Ministère using the details published on Québec.ca.
Can a consultant speed up my file?
No. The Ministère states that using an immigration professional does not lead to any priority or special treatment.
Track your file with CSQ Tracker Pro
CSQ Tracker Pro is an independent app and is not affiliated with the Government of Québec. Its step-by-step journey tracker lets you record your key dates, and its chat rooms bring together candidates invited on the same date, with automatic translation.
Official sources
- Submitting an application for permanent selection through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (Processing Time section)
- Priorisation du traitement des demandes dans le PSTQ (in French)
- Examination of the permanent selection application
- Receiving an attestation of learning about the democratic values and Québec values
- Invitation to apply for permanent selection through the PSTQ
- Completing an expression of interest in immigrating to Québec
- Apply to the federal government for permanent resident status
- Work permits for Quebec temporary workers who applied for permanent selection under the PSTQ (IRCC, Canada.ca)
- Check our current processing times (IRCC, Canada.ca)
- Le ministère de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration poursuit sa mission au service des personnes immigrantes (in French)
Information checked on November 5, 2026. Rules can change: always check Québec.ca before acting.
General information only, not legal advice. CSQ Tracker Pro is independent and is not affiliated with the Government of Québec, the ministère de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration or IRCC. Québec.ca remains the reference for every rule and form.