Quebec Immigration: Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
If you have studied or worked in Quebec and would like to settle in the province permanently, you may be eligible for immigration under the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). This is a fast-track Canadian immigration program that aims to process applications within six months.
This complete CanadaVisa page provides an overview of everything you need to know about this immigration program.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Eligibility Criteria for Temporary Foreign Workers
- Eligibility Criteria for Quebec Graduates
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Cohen Immigration Law for Assistance
Overview
The Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, or PEQ) provides a fast-track way for foreign graduates and individuals with work experience in Quebec to obtain a Quebec selection certificate — a mandatory step towards permanent residency that is granted by the federal government. Unlike other Canadian provinces, Quebec's case is unique because of the Quebec-Canada Agreement, in effect since April 1991, which gives Quebec the authority to select its economic immigrants in the skilled worker category.
When the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) created the PEQ, its goal was to ensure that Quebec society could benefit from the contribution of people who had already been here for some time, who knew and shared Quebec's values, and who were already well integrated. By making it easier for employers to hire young graduates of Quebec educational institutions and foreigners already in Quebec, the government seeks both to meet its immigration objectives and to improve Quebec's difficult demographic situation.
From its launch year in 2010 through 2019, the program has issued more than 70,000 selection certificates to temporary residents. Due to the popularity of the program, which has resulted in 86 percent of Quebec selection certificates being issued to PEQ applicants, the Quebec government redesigned it in fall 2019. The purpose of the overhaul was to improve the distribution of applicants across immigration programs and to make the PEQ more responsive to labor market needs.
The PEQ is an ideal immigration option for individuals who are fluent in French and have legally acquired work experience in Quebec. The other major advantage of this program is that applications are processed within six months, which is significantly faster than other programs, such as the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).
How does the immigration process work with the PEQ?
Depending on your situation, you can apply for one of the two streams of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ):
- Temporary Foreign Workers
- Québec Graduates
As of January 2021, PEQ candidates must submit their application, pay the required fee, and upload the required documents via the Arrima portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted. However, those who mailed in their application before January 26, 2021 will not be able to use Arrima to track their file or make changes to their application.
Here are the steps to follow to submit an application to the PEQ:
Step 1: Choose one of the two permanent selection application forms and fill out the one that fits your situation.
Step 2: Prepare the supporting documents as listed in the application form.
Step 3: Create your profile on the Arrima platform.
Step 4: Submit your complete application package for permanent selection through Arrima.
Step 5: Pay the fees for the processing of your application.
The Ministère de l'Immigration du Québec will process complete applications within six months. This period begins upon receipt of the complete application, fees and supporting documents.
Eligibility Criteria for Temporary Foreign Workers
Temporary Foreign Workers in Quebec may be eligible to apply for a CSQ under the PEQ if they:
- show an intention to settle in Quebec to hold a job. Employment cannot be in a ineligible sector;
- have stayed temporarily in Quebec for the purposes of work;
- have had full-time work experience in Quebec for at least 24 months of the 36 months preceding the submission of an application in a 0, A or B level job;
- have legal status in Quebec as a temporary worker or as part of a youth exchange program, such as International Experience Canada (IEC) (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op Internship).
- be legally in Quebec at the time of the application.
Language requirements
- Have a knowledge of spoken French that corresponds to a level 7 according to the Quebec scale of French Proficiency levels. ; or
- show a final transcript attesting to the successful completion of at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary study completed entirely in French (including the master’s and doctoral theses, if applicable); or
- show that they have satisfied the French language requirements of the professional order governing their occupation in Quebec.
- spouses of principal applicants under the PEQ need to demonstrate spoken knowledge of French that corresponds to a level 4 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels.
Full-time work experience for the PEQ
The MIFI considers a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week as full-time employment. This work experience must be legally obtained, and in a Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0, A, B1, 2, or 3 profession of the National Occupation Classification (NOC).Full-time work experience acquired as an international student while on a Post-Graduation Work Permit or under a Youth Exchange/International Experience Canada (IEC) Program may be taken into account if the applicant meets all PEQ requirements. MIFI will not consider any period of part-time work, self-employment, or entrepreneurial work under the PEQ.
Eligibility Criteria for Quebec Graduates
Foreign students who have studied in Quebec may be eligible to apply for a CSQ under the PEQ if they:
- show an intention to settle in Quebec to hold a job. Employment cannot be in a ineligible sector;
- have stayed temporarily in Quebec for the purposes of study, for at least half the length of your program;
- have studied in Quebec for at least 1,800 hours (two years)
- have obtained an eligible degree or diploma from an educational institution recognised by the Quebec Ministry of Education within the past 36 months;
- be legally in Quebec at the time of their application;
- demonstrate an ability to be financially self-sufficient;
- hold a Masters, Bachelors or DEC diploma and have 12 months of work experience in a 0, A, B level job and to hold such a job at the time of application
- hold a DEP and have 18 months of work experience in a 0, A, B or C level job and required to hold such a job at the time of application. Please note that C level work must be related to the degree.
NOTE: Work experience acquired during mandatory internships will be taken into account up to a maximum of 3 months.
Language requirements
- principal applicants must show a knowledge of spoken French that corresponds to a level 7, and a knowledge of written French that corresponds to at least a level 5, on the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels;
- Spouses of principal applicants under the PEQ need to demonstrate knowledge of spoken French that corresponds to a level 4 on the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels.
- show a final transcript attesting to the successful completion of at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary study completed entirely in French (including the master’s and doctoral theses, if applicable); or
- a final transcript attesting to the successful completion of an eligible study program in Québec completed entirely in French (including the master’s and doctoral theses, if applicable), in which 75% of the courses or credits were completed in French;
The Government of Quebec will not issue a CSQ until the applicant submits a complete transcript and an attestation of successful completion of diploma.
The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (Quebec Experience Program, or PEQ) is a Canadian immigration program prioritizing applicants who have studied or are working in Quebec.
No. These are two separate immigration programs for applying for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (Certificate of Selection for Quebec - CSQ). Once an applicant obtains a CSQ, he or she can submit an application to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
No, there is no requirement to meet a minimum point score in order for an individual to be eligible for the PEQ.
Applicants can apply to the PEQ on the basis of their experience in Quebec, either as a graduate with an eligible diploma, or as a foreign worker. In addition to this there are other eligibility criteria (listed above) that must be adhered to.
The Diplomé du Québec (Quebec Graduate) category is for applicants who have obtained an eligible diploma from a recognized educational institution in Quebec.
The Travailleur étranger temporaire (Temporary Foreign Worker) category is for applicants working in Quebec who have at least 12 months skilled work experience in Quebec in the last 24 months.
Applicants in the graduate category can only submit an application once they obtain their diploma. Applications must be submitted within 36 months of graduating. Applicants in the foreign worker category can submit an application as soon as all the eligibility criteria are met and as long as the applicant is currently employed in a full-time skilled job in Quebec.
Applications must be submitted online via the Arrima portal. It is no longer possible to submit an application by mail.
Quebec's Ministry of Immigration states that PEQ applications will be processed within 6 months. This estimation is applicable to complete applications when the applicant does not require any further documents to support the application or an audit interview. Applications deemed incomplete will be returned to the applicant.
The MIFI says PEQ applicants may be subject to an audit interview.
Yes, an accompanying spouse or common-law partner can be included on the application. Note that since November 2023, spouses must now show a knowledge of spoken French equivalent to a level 4 proficiency on the Quebec scale of language proficiency.
Yes, proof of language proficiency is required for the principal applicant as well as accompanying spouse.
Yes, all children must be declared on the application form, whether they are accompanying the principal applicant on the application or not. Children aged 19 and under can be included in the application. However, only children born outside of Canada are included in the application for a CSQ, as children born in Canada are already citizens.
All children must be declared on the application form. However, if an applicant has a child born in Canada, the child is already a Canadian citizen. In this case the child is not declared as accompanying the applicant on the application for a CSQ, as the child does not need a CSQ. Government processing fees are not required for Canadian-born children.
Yes. Government processing fees can be reviewed in the table below. Full payment must be supplied with the application or the application will be deemed incomplete.
Applicant | Fees |
|---|---|
Principal Applicant | CAD $822 |
Spouse, de facto spouse | CAD $176 |
Each dependant child | CAD $176 |
The checklist of required documents is included in the required application form. The form is only available in French, but documents can be submitted in English or in French. An official translation must be provided for any document that is not in English or French. All required documents and forms must be submitted to the MIFI in the correct format, along with payment, in one single application. Incomplete applications are returned to the applicant.
The principal applicant of the application must provide proof of advanced intermediate ability in oral French.
Diplomas eligible for the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program) are:
- Bachelor’s degree (university undergraduate)
- Master’s degree (including an MBA)
- Ph.D.
- Diploma of college studies, technical training (DCS)
- Diploma of vocational studies (DVS) attesting to 1,800 hours or more of study
- Diploma of vocational studies (DVS) followed by an Attestation of vocational specialization (AVS) of 1,800 hours or more of continuing education leading to a given trade
The foreign worker applicant must have at least least 24 of the 36 months of full-time work experience prior to submitting an application. Full-time work is defined as at least 30 hours a week. Part-time work experience is not recognized in the PEQ application. Work experience that is not continuous can be considered in your application if it was full time.
Yes. Potential applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the PEQ, but who have experience working or studying in Quebec, may also be eligible to apply for a CSQ through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.
Contact us for Assistance
Cohen Immigration Law is a leading Canadian immigration law firm with over 45 years of experience. Cohen Immigration Law features over 60 immigration lawyers, paralegals, and professionals who are dedicated to helping you immigrate to Canada.
CanadaVisa.com was founded as the online presence of Cohen Immigration Law. Since its launch in 1994, CanadaVisa has grown into one of the globe's most trusted resources on Canadian immigration. If you want to immigrate to Canada through Quebec's skilled workers programs or another skilled worker pathway, the first step is to complete a free CanadaVisa assessment form. If you are eligible for Quebec or Canadian immigration, a member of the Cohen Immigration Law team will reach out to provide you with as much assistance as possible.
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