Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) (Now Closed)
The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) was known as the programme de l’expérience québécoise, and was one of Quebec’s several immigration programs. However, as of November 19, 2025, this program has been officially closed by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI). MIFI has announced that the program will not reopen.
Alternative Programs Available
We will continue to keep you informed about any potential future immigration programs. In the meantime, we encourage you to explore the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) or PSTQ, which is available for candidates who have skilled work experience and wish to settle permanently in Quebec.
What were the different streams under the Quebec PEQ?
The Quebec Experience program was for foreign students who were Québec graduates or those who were temporary foreign workers since the PEQ offered two different streams for applicants:
- Temporary Foreign Workers stream (TFW)
- Quebec Graduates stream.
What was the process after becoming eligible for PEQ?
A certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate) was required for all PEQ pathway programs. Upon receiving an approval for the CSQ, the applicant would only then be able to submit an application for their Canadian permanent residence.
PEQ Requirements
In addition to the following general requirements for PEQ on this page, the primary eligibility requirements for the Quebec Experience Program were as follows:
- Lived temporarily in Quebec for work or study, following the conditions of their stay
- Planned to settle in Quebec to work for a company where they had no direct or indirect authority, either legally or in practice.
- TFW must have spoken French at a level 7 on the Quebec French proficiency scale.
- Students must have had French language proficiency at a level of 7 orally and a level 5 in writing.
- Applicant’s common-law partner or spouse was required to have French speaking skills at level 4 (If applicable).
- Must have had a valid passport and must have been at least 18 years old.
- Required to be present in Quebec at the time of application.
- Required to provide proof of financial independence.
For a detailed list of conditions for the temporary foreign workers stream see here.
For a detailed list of conditions for the graduates stream see here.
PEQ Language Requirements
As of November 23 , 2024, the PEQ required demonstration of advanced intermediate knowledge of French-language proficiency. Applicants were required to provide one of the following documents listed below with their declaration:
- Accepted French-language tests:
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 that the applicant had successfully completed at least three years of full-time study in French at secondary or post-secondary school.
- Held a regular license to practice from a professional order in Quebec.
Did you know?
MIFI immigration officers always reserved the right to request an interview with PEQ candidates to assess French in-person.
Eligibility Requirements for Temporary Foreign Workers under PEQ
Applicants who applied through the TFW stream were required to be legally in Québec as a skilled temporary foreign worker or part of a youth exchange program.
Applicants must have worked full-time (min. 30 hours) for at least 24 out of the 36 months before submitting their application. Part-time work was not accounted for under this program.
The eligible work experience must have corresponded to an occupation in the “Training, education, experience, responsibilities” categories TEER 0, A or B1, 2 or 3 National Occupational Classification codes.
Eligibility Requirements for International Students under Quebec Graduates Stream
- Applicants were required to have lived in Québec temporarily for at least half the duration of their study program with a main purpose of studying full-time and were required to adhere to the conditions of their stay.
- They were required to have an eligible Québec diploma.
- Were residing in Québec at the time of application submission.
Note: Not all diploma’s in Québec were eligible for PEQ.
Eligibility Update:
On November 23, 2024, it was announced that 75% of the courses or credits in an eligible program, such as vocational and college training, as well as university programs, must have been completed in French. However, certain work such as a thesis, master’s dissertations, internships, and research lab work may have been completed in a language other than French as long as 75% of other courses or credits were completed in French.
Graduates Stream Additional French Proficiency Requirements
As of November 23, 2024, there were changes to the documents needed to demonstrate French speaking and writing skills for the Québec Graduates stream:
- Students were required to provide a final transcript with marks showing that they have successfully completed an eligible program in French in Québec.
- If students were in a post-secondary program in English in Quebec, they needed to demonstrate that they have completed 3 years of high school or post-secondary studies in French.
Q&A
What was the application process for PEQ?
- Applicants would select the stream for which they wanted to apply to and they would complete the application accordingly. If they wanted to apply under the temporary foreign workers stream, they needed to complete the Demande de sélection permanente Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) – Travailleur étranger temporaire form. If they wanted to apply under the Québec graduates stream, they needed to complete the Demande de sélection permanente Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) – Diplômé du Québec form.
- Must have submitted the necessary paperwork as listed on the application.
- Applied on the Arrima platform after setting up their account.
- Submitted their application on the Arrima platform by attaching the permanent selection application form, supporting documentation, and information about any family members they planned to include in their application.
- Paid the application processing fees.
Note: Applicants were acle to submit any missing documents during the processing of their application. Once MIFI received a completed application, it was processed within six months.
What were the processing fees for a PEQ application?
As part of the PEQ application process, applicants were required to pay a processing fee. The fee must have been paid in Canadian dollars and it was required that the full amount had to be paid either by the applicant or by a third party.
How long was the PEQ process?
The average processing time for most PEQ applications took six months. The processing time started as soon as the MIFI received an applicants complete application.
To ensure that an application was processed on time, as with all government applications, it must have been completed with all the required documents. Additionally, the processing fees had to be paid in full.
What was the French language requirement for PEQ?
Temporary Foreign Workers Stream:
- Applicants must have demonstrated spoken French proficiency equivalent to level 7 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency.
- The applicant’s spouse must have demonstrated spoken French proficiency equivalent to level 4 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency.
Graduates Stream:
- Applicants were required to demonstrate spoken French proficiency equivalent to level 7 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency.
- Applicants were required to demonstrate written French proficiency equivalent to level 5 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency.
- The applicant’s spouse must have been able to demonstrate spoken French proficiency equivalent to level 4 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency.
Could one have applied for PEQ even if they didn’t speak French?
No, the applicant must have had the required level of proficiency in French in order to have been able to qualify for the PEQ. Both streams under PEQ had specific but different French language requirements for both applicants and their spouses.
Did I need a job offer to apply for the PEQ?
No, a job offer was not required. However, you needed to be employed at the time of submission of the application and must have been able to demonstrate your eligible work experience through an employment letter.
What is a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)?
The CSQ is a document that is an official endorsement by the Quebec Government which states that an applicant has been selected for immigration. Having a CSQ is one of the requirements to receive Canadian permanent residence under the PEQ.
The CSQ allows those in Quebec with an existing work permit to apply for an extension.
What were the Diplomas and Degrees eligible for the PEQ program?
Applicants who had completed any one of the following diplomas were eligible for the PEQ program:
- Bachelor’s degree (university undergraduate)
- Master’s degree (including an MBA)
- Ph.D
- Diplôme d’études collégiales techniques (DEC – diploma of college studies, technical training)
- Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP – diploma of vocational studies) attesting to 1800 hours of study or more
- Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP – diploma of vocational studies) followed by an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP – attestation of vocational specialization) attesting to a minimum of 1800 hours of continuing education and leading to a particular trade
Could I have applied for PEQ after my studies in Quebec?
Yes, applicants were able to apply for the PEQ after they completed their studies in Quebec. They had to apply under the Graduates stream of the PEQ.
How much work experience did I need as a Temporary foreign worker to apply for PEQ?
The applicant must have been employed for at least 24 of the 36 months prior to submitting their application.
They may have been ineligible if they obtained their work experience:
- In a sector that is ineligible
- From an employer that you directly or indirectly control or have legal control
You were not eligible to participate in the Québec Experience Program if you had worked part-time or fewer than thirty hours a week.
If you had a non-continuous job experience done on a full-time basis, you could have included it in your application.
Could I have applied for PEQ if I already had a work permit?
Yes, you could’ve applied for the PEQ if you had a work permit in Quebec given you also met the other eligibility requirements.
Could I have applied for PEQ from outside Quebec?
- For the PEQ graduates stream: You were not permitted to apply to the PEQ graduate stream from abroad as you must have been in Quebec at the time of the application.
- For the foreign workers stream: You were required to have been in Quebec and working at the time of submission of your application.
Was I able to include my spouse in my PEQ application?
Yes, applicants were able to include their spouse in their application for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ):
- If their spouse spoke French at level 4 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency.
- Able to include or remove a spouse from the application.
- Spouses could have also been the main applicant in the PEQ program
Was I able to apply for PEQ while being a visitor inside Canada or with visitor status inside Canada?
Under the temporary foreign workers stream you were required to be working at the time of submission of the application, meaning that you must have had a valid work permit.
For the graduate’s stream, applicants may have been eligible on a visitor’s visa If they met the other PEQ requirements.
Stay Tuned
As stated, we will share updates on any new immigration pathways. Until then, you may wish to explore the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP), available to skilled workers aiming to settle in Quebec
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