Immigration to Quebec through the ARRIMA platform: new opportunities and priorities in 2025
The province of Quebec has made significant changes to its immigration system, making it accessible to a much wider range of applicants. The updated ARRIMA platform, a tool for submitting applications for the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is at the center of these changes.
The platform resembles the federal Express Entry system, but with Quebec specifics and priorities.
Let's see what is the updated system all about?
The new assessment system in ARRIMA now allows you to score a maximum of 1400 points, although in practice such a high result is almost impossible.
Points are distributed across three main categories:
- Human Capital - up to 520 points: this includes age, education, language skills and work experience.
- Quebec needs — up to 700 points: level and place of education, work experience in the province and demand for the specialty are taken into account.
- Adaptation factors — up to 180 points: includes, for example, the age and characteristics of the spouse.
Age and experience
Age still plays a significant role: candidates from 20 to 30 years old can receive 100 points. The age restrictions that previously existed (up to 55 years) have been lifted. Now candidates over 50 simply do not receive points for age, but can participate.
Work experience also significantly affects the points. For example:
- 4 years of work experience in Quebec = 50 points;
- work experience in a specialty in demand = up to 120 points;
- 4+ years of work experience in the province of Quebec = 160 points.
Education and language
A significant emphasis is placed on education received in Quebec:
- University education (3 years or more) gives up to 200 points;
- Master's or doctoral degree - up to 110 points.
French is mandatory. Skilled workers require level 7 oral and 5 written. For unskilled workers, the requirements are lower: level 5 oral.
Priorities of Quebec: who benefits from it?
For the first time, Quebec has announced its intention to actively attract not only skilled but also unskilled workers. This drastic change covers professions previously ignored in the Express Entry and in the ARRIMA, such as:
- cashiers,
- waiters,
- kitchen assistants,
- cleaners,
- agricultural machinery operators,
- harvesters,
- landscapers, etc.
For these categories, the requirements for points and language proficiency are reduced, and the chance of being selected is high. At the same time, Quebec continues to focus on highly in-demand and scarce occupations.
The recently published list includes 516 occupations, which are divided into three groups:
- Highly in demand;
- In demand;
- Neutral (no significant impact).
Among the most in-demand professions are:
- database analysts,
- programmers and software developers,
- engineers, chemists, mechanics,
- dental hygienists,
- teachers, educators, social workers,
- cooks,
- builders and construction equipment drivers. And many, many more!
So what has changed compared to the previous versions of ARRIMA?
The previous system attached great importance to having a valid work contract (offre d’emploi) - it could bring up to 360 points. Now it gives only 30-50 points, having become less significant.
Quebec has also officially confirmed that it will give priority to candidates:
- with an education received in Quebec;
- with work experience within the province;
- speaking French;
- related to priority specialties.
The updated ARRIMA system provides a real chance to immigrate to Quebec not only for IT specialists, engineers and doctors, but also for those who previously did not have the opportunity to enter Canada through other programs.
Even if you are unskilled, the chance to receive an invitation from Quebec has become more than real.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration and Refugee Consultant in Canada
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