Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

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).