Economic Immigration
Quebec Skilled Worker Processing Time
About 21,200 people waiting · IRCC data as of August 10, 2026
The Quebec Skilled Worker program is for people selected by Quebec to settle in the province as skilled workers. Quebec runs its own immigration selection: applicants destined for Quebec first obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from the provincial government, and IRCC then handles the federal stage — admissibility, security, and medical checks. That extra provincial step is why IRCC publishes separate processing times for Quebec-bound applications.
The time shown here is the federal (IRCC) stage only — after you already hold a CSQ. This page tracks how that number has changed over time.
Processing Time History
| Date | Processing Time (months) |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2025 | 11 |
| November 6, 2025 | 11 |
| December 9, 2025 | 11 |
| January 14, 2026 | 11 |
| February 12, 2026 | 11 |
| March 9, 2026 | 11 |
| April 7, 2026 | 11 |
| May 12, 2026 | 11 |
| June 8, 2026 | 11 |
| July 7, 2026 | 11 |
| August 10, 2026 | 11 |
People Ahead by Application Month
IRCC also publishes how many applications submitted in each month are still ahead of you in the Quebec Skilled Worker queue.
| Month | People Ahead |
|---|---|
| 2024/08 | 2000 |
| 2024/09 | 2300 |
| 2024/10 | 2600 |
| 2024/11 | 2900 |
| 2024/12 | 3100 |
| 2025/01 | 3400 |
| 2025/02 | 3700 |
| 2025/03 | 4000 |
| 2025/04 | 4200 |
| 2025/05 | 4500 |
| 2025/06 | 4700 |
| 2025/07 | 4900 |
| 2025/08 | 5200 |
| 2025/09 | 5600 |
| 2025/10 | 6100 |
| 2025/11 | 7400 |
| 2025/12 | 9000 |
| 2026/01 | 10400 |
| 2026/02 | 12200 |
| 2026/03 | 14000 |
| 2026/04 | 16100 |
| 2026/05 | 17600 |
| 2026/06 | 19400 |
| 2026/07 | 21200 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Quebec Skilled Worker take right now?
As of August 10, 2026, IRCC reports a processing time of 11 months for Quebec Skilled Worker applications, with about 21,200 people waiting.
Does this time include getting the CSQ?
No. Quebec's own selection process through Arrima and the Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés has its own timeline managed by the MIFI. IRCC's published time starts when your federal application, including your CSQ, is received.
Why is the Quebec Skilled Worker time longer than Express Entry?
Quebec-bound skilled worker files are processed outside Express Entry as a separate inventory, and federal admission volumes for Quebec are capped by Quebec's immigration levels plan, so the queue moves at its own pace.