By Admin, #OasisVisas 
On July 31, Quebec held another draw under its new Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), inviting candidates from the Intermediate and Manual Skills stream for the first time since the program began earlier this year.
Draw Highlights
The Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration invited 273 candidates to apply for permanent selection under the Intermediate and Manual Skills stream.
To qualify, candidates needed to:
- Have a score of 661 points or higher
- Live in Quebec but outside the Montreal Metropolitan Community
- Show at least 24 months of work experience in the last five years, including 12 months in Quebec in their main occupation
The invitations were issued from the Arrima bank on July 28, 2025, at 8 a.m.
What is the Intermediate and Manual Skills Stream?
This stream is designed for foreign nationals who:
- Work in occupations under FEER categories 3, 4, or 5 (in Quebec’s version of the NOC system)
- Are not employed in regulated professions in Quebec
- Can demonstrate French proficiency at level 5 or higher (speaking and listening) on the Échelle québécoise or equivalent tests
- If accompanied by a spouse or partner, that person must show French level 4 or higher (speaking and listening)
Additionally, there is an education requirement. Candidates must hold one of the following:
- A diploma equivalent to a Quebec high school diploma, or
- A diploma from a full-time study program of at least 1 year, equivalent to:
- Diploma of Vocational Studies
- Attestation of Vocational Specialization (secondary level)
- Attestation of College Studies (CEGEP level)
The program must last at least 600 hours (secondary level) or 900 hours (college level). The diploma must also be obtained before applying.
Understanding FEER Categories 3, 4, and 5
- FEER 3: Occupations requiring a post-secondary program of less than 2 years, an apprenticeship under 2 years, or at least 6 months of training or experience.
- FEER 4: Occupations requiring a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training.
- FEER 5: Occupations with no formal education requirement, needing only a short demonstration of work.
Quebec’s New Skilled Worker Selection Program
The PSTQ replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program in late 2024, but it only became active in mid-2025.
On July 17, 2025, Quebec held its first draw under this new system, issuing 238 invitations across the Highly Qualified and Specialized Skills stream and the Exceptional Talent stream. That draw targeted individuals already living in Quebec, fluent in French, with local work or education experience, and employed in fields facing labour shortages.
With this latest draw on July 31, Quebec has now expanded invitations to include workers with intermediate and manual skills, marking a broader effort to address labour needs across different levels of the workforce.