Your Quebec Experience Opens Doors to Permanent Residence

Understanding PEQ's Two Streams

The Quebec Experience Program operates through two distinct streams, each designed for different populations with Quebec experience. Whether you've studied in the province or gained valuable work experience here, PEQ recognizes that your integration journey has already begun. This recognition translates into faster processing times and more straightforward requirements compared to other Quebec immigration pathways.

Quebec Graduate Stream

International students who've completed eligible Quebec studies can transition directly to permanent resident status through this stream. The province recognizes that graduates from its educational institutions possess valuable skills, cultural understanding, and language abilities that contribute immediately to Quebec's economic and social fabric.

Eligible Programs of Study

Your diploma or degree must come from a recognized Quebec institution and meet specific criteria. Eligible programs include bachelor's degrees (minimum three years), master's degrees, doctoral degrees, college-level technical training diplomas (minimum 1,800 hours), and certain specialized vocational training diplomas (minimum 1,800 hours) in specific high-demand fields.

The program must have been completed no more than three years before your application submission. This ensures you're applying based on current qualifications and recent Quebec experience rather than decades-old credentials. If you studied partly online due to COVID-19 pandemic measures, those studies remain eligible under temporary regulatory adjustments.

Advanced French Proficiency Requirements

Quebec values its French linguistic heritage and requires demonstrable proficiency. You must prove French language skills equivalent to level 7 of the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes, corresponding roughly to intermediate-advanced level.

Acceptable proof includes French language test results (TEF Canada, TCF Canada, TCF Québec, DELF, or DALF), completion of at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary studies taught in French, or successfully completing French courses offered by Quebec educational institutions specifically recognized for PEQ purposes. Language requirements have tightened in recent years, emphasizing Quebec's commitment to French language preservation.

Timeline and Status Requirements

You must hold valid temporary resident status when you apply and intend to live in Quebec once you become a permanent resident. The application must be submitted while you maintain legal status in Canada, though you don't need to be physically present in Quebec at the time of application if you're elsewhere temporarily.

Temporary Foreign Worker Stream

Skilled workers who've gained substantial Quebec work experience can apply through this stream, converting temporary work authorization into permanent status. The stream recognizes that workers already contributing to Quebec's economy have demonstrated their ability to succeed in the province's labor market.

Work Experience Requirements

You need at least 24 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time hours) in Quebec within the three years before applying. This experience must have been gained while holding valid work authorization, with work performed in Canada at a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3).

Not all work counts toward your 24 months. Self-employment doesn't qualify, nor does work performed while you were a full-time student. Work experience gained under off-campus work permits for international students or post-graduation work permits counts only if the occupation meets the skilled level requirement. Each position must fall within eligible NOC categories, though you may combine different positions to reach the 24-month minimum.

Employment at Time of Application

Current employment requirements have evolved. While earlier versions of PEQ didn't require a job offer, current regulations typically require you to hold a full-time job in Quebec when you apply. This job must be in a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) with a Quebec employer. The position should be permanent and continuous rather than seasonal or temporary contracts.

Language Requirements for Workers

Like the graduate stream, workers must demonstrate advanced French proficiency at level 7 on Quebec's scale. The same proof options apply: standardized French tests, French-language education, or specific French courses. Additionally, knowledge of Quebec values as expressed in the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms is evaluated, typically through attestations of learning about Quebec society.

Advantages of PEQ Over Other Programs

PEQ offers distinct benefits compared to Quebec's Regular Skilled Worker Program:

• Faster Processing: PEQ applications typically process within several months versus 1-3 years for regular skilled worker applications
• No Points Grid: Meet the requirements and you qualify—no competitive ranking against other applicants
• No Expression of Interest: Apply directly when eligible without waiting for selection from a pool
• Simplified Assessment: Your Quebec experience speaks for itself without complex documentation of foreign credentials
• Validation Letter: Receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) confirming Quebec's selection before federal processing begins

The Two-Step Process: Provincial and Federal

Permanent residence through PEQ requires approval at both Quebec and federal levels. First, Quebec's Ministry of Immigration evaluates your application against PEQ criteria. Upon approval, Quebec issues your CSQ, confirming the province has selected you for permanent residence.

Next, you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence. Federal processing includes security and criminality checks, medical examinations, and verification that you meet admissibility requirements under federal law. While Quebec assesses your qualifications, the federal government ensures you don't pose security, health, or criminality concerns. Most federally refused applications relate to medical inadmissibility or criminal records rather than Quebec-assessed criteria.

Required Documentation

Thorough documentation strengthens your PEQ application. Graduate stream applicants need:

1. Official transcripts and diploma from your Quebec educational institution
2. French language test results or alternative proof of proficiency
3. Proof of valid temporary resident status in Canada
4. Identification documents and photos
5. Application fees payment

Worker stream applications require additional employment documentation including reference letters detailing job duties, employment duration, full-time status, and salary for each position counting toward your 24 months. Current employment letter from your Quebec employer, work permits covering your employment period, and pay stubs or tax documents confirming continuous employment all support your work experience claims.

Common PEQ Pitfalls to Avoid

Application refusals often stem from preventable issues. French proficiency documentation that's expired or doesn't meet the specific level requirement causes delays or refusals. Work experience in occupations that don't qualify under NOC TEER levels 0-3 doesn't count, even if you worked full-time. Gaps in temporary resident status during your qualifying period can disqualify otherwise valid experience.

For graduates, applying too soon after graduation without ensuring you have valid status causes problems. For workers, losing your Quebec job between application and decision may result in refusal if current employment was part of your original eligibility. Timing your application carefully and maintaining valid status throughout processing proves essential.

Our PEQ Application Support

MTK Immigration Services guides you through PEQ's complexities:

• Eligibility verification for both graduate and worker streams before you invest time and fees
• Document checklist customized to your stream and situation
• French language testing strategy and preparation resources
• Work experience documentation review ensuring all positions meet NOC requirements
• Application form completion with careful attention to Quebec's specific requirements
• Supporting document compilation and translation coordination
• Quebec application submission and tracking
• Federal permanent residence application preparation after CSQ issuance
• Response management for any additional information requests

After PEQ Approval: Your Next Steps

Receiving your CSQ represents Quebec's confirmation that you meet provincial selection criteria. You must then submit your federal permanent residence application within a specific timeframe. Federal processing adds several months, during which maintaining valid temporary status in Canada remains crucial if you're already here.

Once approved federally, you confirm your permanent residence by completing landing procedures if you're already in Canada, or entering Canada as a new permanent resident if you're abroad. Your commitment to reside in Quebec becomes binding—permanent residents selected by Quebec must establish their primary residence in the province and demonstrate genuine intention to remain there.

Schedule Your PEQ Consultation