The Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program) is for you if you are a foreign student who is a Québec graduate or a temporary foreign worker.
It allows you to obtain a Québec selection certificate to settle in Québec permanently.
You may submit an application if you meet all of the program’s conditions. This program is a pathway for you to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (certificat de sélection du Québec), which makes you eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
There are 2 streams in this program:
- Temporary Foreign Workers
- Quebec Graduates.
Common criteria for this program
No matter what streams you are applying for in this program, you must meet the following common requirements:
- you have respected the conditions of your stay;
- you intend to settle in Québec to hold a job.
- you are 18 years of age or older.
- you have knowledge of oral French equivalent to Level .
- you are legally in Québec at the time of application.
- you are financially self-sufficient. This depends on the number and kind of dependent people accompanying you
Number of accompany children under 18 | One adult | Two Adults |
0 | $3,284 | $4,816 |
1 | $4,413 | $5,395 |
2 | $4,981 | $5,822 |
3 | $5,549 | $6,251 |
Add $1,531 per dependent child that is 18 or older. |
Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
You must be legally in Québec as a temporary foreign worker or under a youth exchange program, including:
- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-op Internship.
To be eligible for the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program), the jobs which you have held must:
- correspond to a profession at level 0, A or B of the National Occupational Classification ;
- have been performed legally;
- have been full time (minimum of 30 hours of paid work a week). No part-time work can be considered for this program;
- have been paid.
You must also have a job that meets these criteria at the time you apply and for at least 24 of the 36 months before you submit your application.
Quebec Graduates Stream
To be selected for the Québec Graduate stream of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program), you must:
- Have obtained an eligible diploma
- Have obtained eligible work experience in Québec following your study program
- Have stayed in Québec for at least half the duration of your study program
Eligible diplomas
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
You must have obtained your diploma:
- In the 36 months preceding the submission of your application
- In a full-time study program
- In an education institution in Québec
Work Experience
The required work experience varies depending on the type of diploma you obtained.
If you have obtained a DVS of 1,800 hours or more of training, alone or with an AVS, you must have obtained work experience:
- Of at least 18 months after the end of your study program
- Full-time in a job at level 0, A, B or C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
To be eligible, you must also hold a full-time job at one of the following NOC levels when you submit your application:
- If your job is at level 0, A or B, it does not have to be related to your study program
- If your job is level C, it must be related to the DVS you obtained in Québec.
For all other PEQ-eligible diplomas, you must have gained paid work experience after completing your study program:
- Of at least 12 months
- Full-time
- In a job at level 0, A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
To be eligible, you must also hold a full-time job at the same NOC level 0, A or B when you submit your application. This job does not have to be related to your study program.
Work experience you acquired during a mandatory internship for your study program may be recognized. To do so, you must have received a work permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Application Process to gain Canadian permanent residency status through this program
To be admitted to Québec, you and your family must:
- Be one of the individuals selected by the Government of Québec (have a CSQ).
- Apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- Pass the medical examination and the required security and criminal checks.
Although each stream in this program has different application process, generally, it is a two- step process: be selected by the Quebec, and apply for permanent residency with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Kunal Thakur
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant R#519955
Kunal Thakur is a passionate Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), holding close to two decades of immigration experience, during which he has successfully guided thousands of immigrants in their immigration journey. He is quick in responding to client queries and would always give his clients the right advice. Kunal also brings immense value in all his talks and discourses on immigration and when not in front of his laptop reading and analysing client cases he could be seen exploring new places and trying new things. Kunal is currently based in Adelaide, Australia. You can book a time with him here.
RCIC: R519955