On January 8, Québec issued its first invitations of 2026 through the Arrima portal, marking an early development in the province’s permanent selection activity this year.

The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) issued six supplementary invitations for permanent selection under special provisions of the Quebec Immigration Act. These invitations were issued outside the mainstream Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) streams, making them distinct from the regular Arrima invitation rounds typically monitored by practitioners.

Invitations Issued Under Special Provisions

The six invitations were granted pursuant to sections 26 and 47 of Québec’s provincial immigration regulations. These provisions allow MIFI to issue invitations outside the standard Arrima selection channels, highlighting the continued use of discretionary or supplementary mechanisms within Québec’s immigration framework.

For immigration practitioners, this underscores the importance of monitoring non-standard Arrima activity, particularly where clients may fall outside traditional PSTQ selection pathways.

Arrima Invitation Totals Since Launch

Since the launch of Arrima in 2019, Québec has issued a total of 58,747 invitations for permanent selection.

In 2025, the province issued 2,910 invitations, including 21 supplementary invitations issued outside the main PSTQ streams.

Key Takeaway for Practitioners

The issuance of supplementary invitations early in 2026 confirms that Québec continues to rely on special regulatory provisions alongside mainstream PSTQ selection mechanisms. Practitioners advising clients under Québec’s skilled worker framework should remain alert to these non-mainstream invitation rounds when assessing eligibility and strategy.