Quebec Experience Program (PEQ): Reopening Guide
The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), known in French as the Programme de l’expérience québécoise, is one of Quebec’s fastest pathways to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and international graduates already established in the province.
MIFI, Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration, closed the PEQ on November 19, 2025. It has now reopened, but not in the way many applicants expect. Here’s exactly where things stand.
Important Update: PEQ Has Reopened, But Only in Phases
MIFI has reopened the PEQ for a two-year period, from July 2, 2026, to July 2, 2028, covering both the Temporary Foreign Worker stream and the Quebec Graduates stream. This is genuinely good news, but the details of how the reopening works matter enormously for whether you can actually apply right now.
The first intake period runs from July 2 to October 31, 2026, and it is retroactive. To apply during this window, you must have already met the eligibility requirements of your stream as of November 19, 2025, the date the program closed. If you became eligible after that date, you are not eligible for this first intake period.
There is no cap on the number of applications accepted during this first period, though MIFI estimates that between 8,000 and 12,000 applications may be submitted. Additional intake periods are expected to follow, including one intended for candidates who became eligible after November 19, 2025, though MIFI has not yet announced the exact criteria or timing for that phase.
If you submitted a PEQ application before the closure, your file continues to be assessed under the rules that applied at the time of your application. Speak with an immigration professional before withdrawing or amending that application, as doing so could affect the protections attached to it.
Find out if you qualify for the current PEQ intake period →
Immigration Tip 💡
MIFI immigration officers always reserve the right to request an interview with PEQ candidates to assess French in-person.
What Are the Two Streams Under the PEQ?
The Quebec Experience Program serves two distinct groups:
- Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) stream: for skilled workers already employed in Quebec
- Quebec Graduates stream: for international students who completed an eligible diploma in Quebec
Both streams lead to the same outcome: a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), Quebec’s official selection certificate. Once you hold a CSQ, you can move forward with your application for Canadian permanent residence at the federal level through IRCC.
PEQ Requirements
In addition to the eligibility date requirement above, applicants must generally meet the following conditions, as they stood before the program’s closure:
- Live temporarily in Quebec for work or study, in compliance with the conditions of their stay
- Intend to settle in Quebec to work for an employer over whom they hold no direct or indirect control
- Hold a valid passport and be at least 18 years old
- Be physically present in Quebec at the time of application
- Provide proof of financial autonomy
Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
- Must be legally in Quebec as a skilled temporary foreign worker or through a youth exchange program
- Must demonstrate spoken French proficiency at level 7 on the Quebec French proficiency scale
- Must have worked full-time (minimum 30 hours per week) for at least 24 of the 36 months before applying; part-time, self-employed, and entrepreneurial work do not count
- Eligible work experience must correspond to an occupation classified under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 in the National Occupational Classification
Quebec Graduates Stream
- Must have lived in Quebec for at least half the duration of a full-time study program and complied with the conditions of that stay
- Must hold an eligible Quebec diploma, obtained on or before November 19, 2025, to qualify for the current intake period
- Must demonstrate spoken French proficiency at level 7 and written proficiency at level 5 on the Quebec scale
- At least 75% of courses or credits in the eligible program must have been completed in French (with limited exceptions for theses, dissertations, internships, and lab work)
A spouse or common-law partner included in either stream’s application must demonstrate spoken French proficiency at level 4.
Not every Quebec diploma qualifies. Contact Canadim to confirm whether your specific diploma is eligible.
Accepted French-Language Tests
Applicants must provide one of the following to demonstrate their French proficiency, per MIFI’s official language requirements:
- Test d’évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec (TEFAQ)
- Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCF-Québec)
- Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF-Canada)
- Test d’évaluation du français (TEF)
- Test d’évaluation du français pour le Canada (TEF Canada)
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF)
- Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF)
- Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF)
- A final transcript showing at least three years of full-time study in French at the secondary or post-secondary level
- A valid license to practice from a professional order in Quebec
MIFI immigration officers reserve the right to request an in-person interview to assess an applicant’s spoken French directly.
Contact Us To Assess your eligibility for different programsHow to Apply
- Confirm which stream applies to you and that you met eligibility as of November 19, 2025
- Complete the appropriate application form: Demande de sélection permanente – Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) – Travailleur étranger temporaire, or the equivalent Graduates stream form
- Gather the required supporting documentation
- Create an account and submit your application through the Arrima platform
- Include information for any family members you intend to include in your application
- Pay the applicable processing fees in Canadian dollars
Applicants can submit missing documents while their application is being processed. Once MIFI receives a complete application, processing has historically taken around six months, though timelines may shift given the volume expected during this reopening.
A Note for Employers and PSTQ Candidates
While PEQ applications are being accepted, Quebec has indicated it will temporarily reduce the number of invitations issued under the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ).
If you’re currently pursuing PSTQ selection, it’s worth discussing how this reopening period might affect your invitation timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PEQ open right now?
Yes, as of July 2, 2026. However, the first intake period, running until October 31, 2026, is limited to applicants who already met their stream’s eligibility requirements as of November 19, 2025.
A future intake period for applicants who became eligible after that date has not yet been detailed by MIFI.
What if I became eligible for PEQ after November 19, 2025?
You cannot apply during the first intake period. MIFI has indicated that a future intake period will address this group, but no criteria or dates have been confirmed. Contact Canadim to be notified as soon as that information becomes available.
What is a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)?
A CSQ is the Quebec government’s official confirmation that an applicant has been selected for immigration. It’s a required step before applying for Canadian permanent residence under the PEQ, and it also allows holders of an existing Quebec work permit to apply for an extension.
Do I need a job offer to apply for the PEQ?
No. However, under the Temporary Foreign Worker stream, you must be employed at the time you submit your application and able to demonstrate your eligible work experience through an employment letter.
Can I apply for the PEQ from outside Quebec?
No, for either stream. Graduate stream applicants must be physically present in Quebec at the time of application. Applicants for the Temporary Foreign Worker stream must be in Quebec and actively working when they submit their application.
Can I include my spouse or common-law partner in my application?
Yes, provided they meet the required French proficiency (spoken level 4 on the Quebec scale). Spouses can be added to or removed from an application, and a spouse may also serve as the main applicant.
What happens if I already applied before the November 2025 closure?
Your application continues to be processed under the eligibility rules that applied when you submitted it. Speak with an immigration professional before making any changes to that file.
Ready tostart?
Contact Us Today!
If you met PEQ eligibility requirements before November 19, 2025, this reopening is a real opportunity, but the window is narrow. Missing a documentation requirement or misunderstanding the retroactive eligibility date can mean waiting for a future intake period that hasn’t been scheduled yet.
Canadim’s Quebec immigration team can confirm your eligibility, prepare your Arrima application, and help you avoid the mistakes that most commonly delay or derail PEQ applications.
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