Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) has confirmed that the Quebec Experience Program (QEP / PEQ) will spring back to life on July 2, 2026, almost eight months after it was abruptly shuttered in November 2025. For the first staged intake period—running from July 2 to October 31—applications will be restricted to two cohorts that already have strong ties to the province: • international graduates who obtained an eligible Quebec diploma on or before November 19, 2025, when PEQ was suspended; and • temporary foreign workers who, by that same date, had accumulated at least two years of full-time work experience in Quebec in TEER categories 0–3.
For the first staged intake period—running from July 2 to October 31—applications will be restricted to two cohorts that already have strong ties to the province: • international graduates who obtained an eligible Quebec diploma on or before November 19, 2025, when PEQ was suspended; and • temporary foreign workers who, by that same date, had accumulated at least two years of full-time work experience in Quebec in TEER categories 0–3.
The eligibility tests themselves look familiar—minimum oral French at level 7 for workers, combined written/oral levels (5/7) for graduates, proof of self-sufficiency, intent to settle, and an attestation of Quebec values—but the processing architecture is brand-new.
Applicants who need help gathering documents, booking French exams, or mapping out next steps toward permanent residence can streamline the process by working with VisaHQ. The firm’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers live support, digital checklists and deadline reminders that keep both individuals and corporate HR teams on track—an especially useful resource as PEQ rules evolve and demand surges.
MIFI says it will run PEQ and the regular Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) in parallel, dialing PSTQ invitations down during the July–October window so that PEQ applicants can be prioritized without exceeding Quebec’s 2026 immigration ceiling. No application cap will apply during this first reopening phase, though MIFI warns that it will throttle PSTQ nominations if PEQ volumes surge.
![Quebec to Re-Open the Quebec Experience Program on July 2 After Seven-Month Hiatus]()
For employers the return of a predictable, fast PEQ track is significant. The program awards Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) in as little as six months, giving in-province graduates and workers a direct path to permanent residence while allowing companies to lock in talent that would otherwise be forced to leave when temporary status expires.
HR teams should prepare to update mobility calendars: graduates who finished programs up to three years ago—and who may now be on post-graduation work permits—suddenly regain a viable CSQ option, while seasoned workers can parlay two years of local experience into PR without navigating an often-opaque PSTQ.
The revival is time-bound. Starting in November 2026, MIFI will reassess volumes and may reinstate draw-based caps or return PEQ to dormancy, keeping PSTQ as Quebec’s default economic stream. Mobility managers with assignees in Montreal, Quebec City or the province’s manufacturing hubs should therefore move quickly: submitting a complete PEQ file before October 31 guarantees processing under the generous 2026 window, whereas waiting could mean falling back into a slower, points-based grid with no guarantee of selection.
Companies should also watch for collateral effects. Because French-language proficiency is mandatory, demand for approved French testing slots is expected to spike over the summer; booking exams early will be critical. Likewise, immigration counsel anticipate a brief lull in PSTQ invitations, meaning candidates outside the PEQ criteria may see longer waits—or be prompted to accept job offers in other provinces until PSTQ resumes full speed.
Overall, the short-term reopening restores a vital retention lever for Quebec-based employers and offers international students and workers one more chance at a fast provincial pathway before longer-term reforms take hold.
For the first staged intake period—running from July 2 to October 31—applications will be restricted to two cohorts that already have strong ties to the province: • international graduates who obtained an eligible Quebec diploma on or before November 19, 2025, when PEQ was suspended; and • temporary foreign workers who, by that same date, had accumulated at least two years of full-time work experience in Quebec in TEER categories 0–3.
The eligibility tests themselves look familiar—minimum oral French at level 7 for workers, combined written/oral levels (5/7) for graduates, proof of self-sufficiency, intent to settle, and an attestation of Quebec values—but the processing architecture is brand-new.
Applicants who need help gathering documents, booking French exams, or mapping out next steps toward permanent residence can streamline the process by working with VisaHQ. The firm’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers live support, digital checklists and deadline reminders that keep both individuals and corporate HR teams on track—an especially useful resource as PEQ rules evolve and demand surges.
MIFI says it will run PEQ and the regular Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) in parallel, dialing PSTQ invitations down during the July–October window so that PEQ applicants can be prioritized without exceeding Quebec’s 2026 immigration ceiling. No application cap will apply during this first reopening phase, though MIFI warns that it will throttle PSTQ nominations if PEQ volumes surge.
For employers the return of a predictable, fast PEQ track is significant. The program awards Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) in as little as six months, giving in-province graduates and workers a direct path to permanent residence while allowing companies to lock in talent that would otherwise be forced to leave when temporary status expires.
HR teams should prepare to update mobility calendars: graduates who finished programs up to three years ago—and who may now be on post-graduation work permits—suddenly regain a viable CSQ option, while seasoned workers can parlay two years of local experience into PR without navigating an often-opaque PSTQ.
The revival is time-bound. Starting in November 2026, MIFI will reassess volumes and may reinstate draw-based caps or return PEQ to dormancy, keeping PSTQ as Quebec’s default economic stream. Mobility managers with assignees in Montreal, Quebec City or the province’s manufacturing hubs should therefore move quickly: submitting a complete PEQ file before October 31 guarantees processing under the generous 2026 window, whereas waiting could mean falling back into a slower, points-based grid with no guarantee of selection.
Companies should also watch for collateral effects. Because French-language proficiency is mandatory, demand for approved French testing slots is expected to spike over the summer; booking exams early will be critical. Likewise, immigration counsel anticipate a brief lull in PSTQ invitations, meaning candidates outside the PEQ criteria may see longer waits—or be prompted to accept job offers in other provinces until PSTQ resumes full speed.
Overall, the short-term reopening restores a vital retention lever for Quebec-based employers and offers international students and workers one more chance at a fast provincial pathway before longer-term reforms take hold.
