On this page you will find
- Why Quebec is prioritising expiring work permits
- Which foreign workers will be processed first
- How the federal temporary policy affects Quebec workers
- Why open work permit holders are a priority
- What Quebec is asking Ottawa to change
- What this means for employers and workers
- FAQ on Quebec’s new PSTQ prioritisation policy
Quebec will prioritise permanent residence applications from temporary foreign workers whose work permits have expired or are close to expiring, in a move designed to stop established workers from being forced to leave the province.
The measure took effect on May 13, 2026 and applies to applications submitted through the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program.
The Quebec government said the change is intended to help workers already contributing to the province’s economy receive decisions more quickly while maintaining what it called Quebec’s “reception capacity.”
Immigration Minister François Bonnardel said the province wants to avoid situations where temporary foreign workers already integrated into Quebec are forced to leave before their permanent residence applications can be processed.
“It is essential that we act to avoid, as much as possible, temporary workers already well integrated into Quebec being required to leave the territory before their permanent immigration applications can be processed,” Bonnardel said.
Open Work Permit Holders Will Be Prioritised First
The policy creates a two-stage priority system based on the type of work permit applicants hold.
Quebec said workers with open work permits will be processed first because a federal temporary measure introduced earlier this year only benefits certain holders of closed work permits.
At Quebec’s request, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a temporary public policy on March 13, 2026. The policy allows some temporary foreign workers with closed permits to renew their work authorisation for 12 months if they have already submitted a PSTQ application.
Because that federal policy does not include open work permit holders, Quebec says it will prioritise them first in its own permanent selection processing.
Once those cases are processed, Quebec will move on to applicants holding closed permits.
Quebec Pushes Ottawa For Expanded Relief
Quebec is also asking the federal government to widen the scope of the IRCC temporary policy.
The province wants Ottawa to include:
- Open work permit holders
- Spouses
- Dependants
Currently, the federal policy only applies to certain workers holding employer-specific closed permits.
Quebec says broader eligibility would reduce the risk of families losing status while waiting for permanent residence decisions.
The province also warned workers whose permits are close to expiring to renew them immediately through their employer and IRCC where possible.
Officials stressed there is no guarantee a permanent selection decision will arrive before a permit expires, even with accelerated processing.
A Shift Towards Protecting In-Canada Workers
The announcement reflects a broader immigration trend in Canada towards prioritising candidates already living and working in the country.
Quebec repeatedly emphasised that the affected workers are:
- Already established in Quebec
- Actively participating in the labour market
- Seeking to remain permanently in the province
The move also aims to improve predictability for employers facing ongoing labour shortages.
Quebec said accelerating these applications could reduce the risk of businesses losing workers because of immigration processing delays.
Comes Amid Wider Quebec Immigration Changes
The announcement comes after months of major immigration changes in Quebec, including the reopening of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) for a two-year period earlier this month.
The PEQ has long served as a fast-track pathway to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and international students already established in Quebec.
At the same time, Quebec has been tightening overall immigration policy by reducing admission targets, limiting some streams and shifting more applicants into the PSTQ system.
The province has increasingly focused on selecting candidates already living in Quebec, with strong French-language ability and direct links to the labour market.
The new prioritisation policy reflects that broader strategy by giving faster processing to workers already contributing to Quebec’s economy and facing possible permit expiry.
Pressure On Quebec’s Immigration System
The announcement also highlights the growing pressure on Quebec’s immigration processing system.
By prioritising workers with expiring permits, the province is effectively triaging applications based on urgency rather than processing them in standard order.
The government acknowledged the need to balance faster processing with Quebec’s capacity to receive newcomers.
The PSTQ replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program and uses an invitation-based system designed to target candidates who match Quebec’s labour market needs.
What This Means For Foreign Workers
For temporary foreign workers already in Quebec, the policy could reduce the risk of losing status before permanent residence decisions are made.
However, workers should not assume prioritisation guarantees approval or immediate processing.
Applicants whose permits are nearing expiry are still encouraged to:
- Renew their work permits as soon as possible
- Maintain legal status in Canada
- Monitor IRCC and Quebec immigration updates closely
The policy may offer particular relief for open work permit holders who were excluded from Ottawa’s earlier temporary extension measures.
FAQ
Who qualifies for Quebec’s new priority processing measure?
The measure applies to temporary foreign workers who submitted permanent selection applications through the PSTQ and whose work permits have expired or are close to expiring. Quebec says it will prioritise these applications to reduce the risk of workers being forced to leave the province before receiving a decision.
Why are open work permit holders being prioritised first?
Quebec says open work permit holders are more vulnerable because a federal temporary public policy introduced in March 2026 only helps certain workers holding closed permits. The province therefore decided to prioritise open permit holders first in its own permanent selection processing system.
Does the new policy guarantee faster permanent residence approval?
No. Quebec says prioritised processing does not guarantee applicants will receive a decision before their work permits expire. Workers are still encouraged to renew their permits through IRCC and their employers wherever possible to maintain legal status while waiting for decisions.
What changes is Quebec requesting from the federal government?
Quebec has asked IRCC to expand its temporary public policy to include open work permit holders, spouses and dependants. The province says broader eligibility would better protect families and reduce the risk of workers losing status during permanent residence processing delays.
Why is Quebec introducing this measure now?
The province says it wants to prevent established workers already contributing to Quebec’s economy from being forced to leave because of permit expiry and processing delays. The move also aims to give employers more workforce stability during ongoing labour shortages.