The Quebec Experience Program (programme de l’expérience québécoise – PEQ) targets candidates with French-Language proficiency who have legally acquired work experience in Quebec.
The Quebec Experience Program is one of several immigration programs operated by the province of Quebec. This program encourages the foreign workers working in Quebec and international students to apply for permanent residence from within Quebec, after completing a period of qualified work or approved studies. PEQ is one of the Quebec’s priority immigration program, meaning that applications are processed at a much faster rate than other programs.
PEQ Program Requirements
As with all of Quebec’s immigration pathways, this program allows applicants to apply for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate). Upon receiving a CSQ, an applicant becomes eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
All PEQ applicants must meet the following general requirements for the program:
- Have the intention of settling in Québec to hold a job;
- Have lived temporarily in Québec with the primary goal of working or studying and have respected the conditions of their stay;
- Demonstrate advanced intermediate knowledge of oral French; accompanying spouses must also demonstrate knowledge of the French language
- Undertake to provide for their needs and, where applicable, those of their spouse or de facto spouse and dependent children included in their application for a certificat de sélection du Québec, for a minimum period of 3 months;
- Be at least 18 years old and hold a valid passport.
The following are acceptable methods of demonstrating advanced intermediate knowledge of French-language proficiency:
- 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 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 attesting to the successful completion of at least three years of secondary or post-secondary full-time study pursued entirely in French
- A final transcript attesting to the successful completion of an advanced intermediate level French course; most candidates choosing this option will be selected for an in-person interview to confirm French proficiency
- A regular licence to practice from a professional order in Quebec
In addition to these general requirements, candidates must meet additional requirements depending on whether they are applying as an international student or a temporary foreign worker.
PEQ Program Requirements For Temporary Foreign Workers
Candidate must meet all the conditions of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise when you submit your application for permanent selection:
- Intend to settle in Québec to take up employment;
- Have stayed temporarily in Québec for the main purpose of working there and have respected the conditions of your stay;
- Be legally in Québec as a temporary foreign worker or as part of a youth exchange program (for example, through a Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op Internship permit);
- Hold a full-time job at level 0, A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) when submitting your application and have held a full-time job at level 0, A or B of the NOC for at least 24 of the 36 months preceding the submission of your application;
- Demonstrate knowledge of spoken French (oral comprehension and oral production) at a level equal to or higher than level 7 on the l’Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes (in French only – PDF, 1923 kB) or its equivalent;
- Commit to providing for your essential needs and, if applicable, those of your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children included in your application for permanent selection application, for at least three months;
- Be at least 18 years old and hold a valid passport.
- Obtain, by the prescribed deadline, an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Québec values. The members of your family who are included in your application (your spouse of 16 years of age or older and your dependent children of 18 years of age or older) must also obtain the attestation.
PEQ Program Requirements For Quebec Graduate
Candidate must meet all the conditions of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec Experience Program) when you submit your application for permanent selection. Candidate must:
- Intend to settle in Québec to hold a job
- Have stayed temporarily in Québec for the primary purpose of studying and have respected the conditions of your stay
- Have stayed in Québec for at least half the duration of your study program
- Hold an eligible Québec diploma
- If you hold a diploma for technical college studies, a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree:
- Have obtained full-time work experience of at least 12 months after the end of the study program in a job at level 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Hold a full-time job at level 0, A or B under the NOC when you submitted your application (work experience and the job do not have to be related to your study program)
- Work experience acquired during an internship in Québec that is required by the study program, part time or full time, for which a work permit was issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, may be recognized up to a maximum of three months. In the case of a part-time internship, the period calculated corresponds to its full-time equivalent
- For individuals who hold a Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP – Diploma of vocational Studies) which, on its own or with an Attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP – Attestation of vocational specialization) obtained consecutively, attesting to 1,800 hours or more of continuing education and leading to a particular trade:
- Have obtained at least 18 months of full-time work experience after the end of the study program in a job at level 0, A, B or C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Hold a full-time job at level 0, A, B or C under the NOC at the time of submission of the application
- If your work experience was acquired in a job at level 0, A or B, it does not have to related to your study program
- If your work experience was acquired in a level-C job, it must be related to the DEP you obtained in Québec. For more information about level-C jobs related to your study program, visit Inforoute, select the title of your study program from this directory and look for the Targeted professions section
- Work experience acquired during an internship in Québec that is required by the study program, part time or full time, for which a work permit was issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, may be recognized up to a maximum of three months. In the case of a part-time internship, the period calculated corresponds to its full-time equivalent
- Demonstrate knowledge of spoken French (oral comprehension and oral production) at a level equal to or higher than 7 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes(PDF, 1923 kB) (in French only) or its equivalent;
- Undertake to provide for your basic needs and, where applicable, those of your spouse or de facto spouse and dependent children included in your application for permanent selection, for a minimum period of three months
- Be at least 18 years old, hold a valid passport and, if you are applying from Québec, be legally in Québec at the time of application
- Obtain, by the prescribed deadline, an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Québec values. The members of your family who are included in your application (your spouse of 16 years of age or older and your dependent children of 18 years of age or older) must also obtain the attestation.
You are not eligible for the PEQ if:
- You hold a bursary with a clause requiring a return to your country (unless you have already fulfilled this condition)
- You have started a new study program in Québec
Transitional Measure for New Regulations
With the introduction of new conditions for the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program), the following transitional measures will apply:
- All foreign students who obtained a diploma eligible under the PEQ or will obtain one by December 31, 2020, can submit an application for permanent selection based on the selection conditions in place before July 22, 2020.
- Temporary foreign workers who hold a valid work permit or another authorization to work under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002/227) and who were living in Québec on July 21, 2020 will be able to submit an application for permanent selection based on the conditions in effect before July 22, 2020.
- The Ministère will continue to accept the attestation of successful completion of an advanced intermediate French course as a document that can be submitted regarding knowledge of French if the applicant has already passed this course, was attending the course or had already registered for it on July 21, 2020.
- The requirement of level-4 spoken French for the spouse or de facto spouse will come into effect after the implementation of this regulation, i.e. on July 22, 2021. A spouse or de facto spouse who is included in the application for permanent selection of a temporary foreign worker who held a valid work permit on July 21, 2020, does not have to demonstrate knowledge of spoken French, regardless of the date of submission of the application.
- All applications submitted before the date on which the new regulation comes into effect will be processed according to the conditions in effect before July 22, 2020.
Application Processing
Any application received under the Programme de l’expérience québécoise will be processed within 6 months for complete applications not requiring an interview or additional verification.
During the processing of your permanent selection application, the Minister will communicate with you through the Arrima message centre to request from you and, as applicable, from your family members included in your application to obtain an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Québec values if you had not already obtained it at the time you submitted the application for permanent selection. Following the Minister’s request, you will have a maximum of 60 days to obtain the attestation of learning about those values. If you do not respect this deadline, your application will be rejected.
In addition, if, during the processing of your application, any information, signature or supporting documents are missing, you will receive a notification in your Arrima message centre indicating which documents or information are missing or incomplete and in what format they must be provided. You will have a maximum of 60 days to send them to us. If you do not respect this deadline, your application will be rejected.
Unlike the Regular Skilled Worker Program, the Programme de l’expérience québécoise does not use a system that attributes points based on different assessment factors and criteria.
You must meet all the conditions of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise to obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec. If one or more requirements are not met, the certificate cannot be issued.
Your file must absolutely be complete in order for your application to be processed. If you fail to meet all of the program selection conditions your application will be refused.