Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) Quebec Experience Program

The Quebec Experience Program (programme de l’expérience québécoise – PEQ) is one of several immigration programs operated by the province of Quebec.

PEQ is an ideal option for candidates with French-language proficiency who have legally acquired work experience in Quebec.

PEQ is one of Quebec’s priority immigration programs, meaning that applications are processed at a way faster rate than other programs, like Quebec Skilled worker (QSW).

Quebec Experience Program Requirements

As it is with all of Quebec’s immigration pathways, this program allows applicants to submit an application for a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate).

Upon receiving a CSQ, an applicant becomes eligible to submit a formal application for Canadian permanent residence.

All PEQ applicants must meet the subsequent general requirements for the program:

• Have the intention of settling in Québec to secure a job;
• Have lived temporarily in Québec with the basic 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 meet 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 three months;
• Be a minimum of 18 years old and hold a legal passport.

The following are acceptable methods of demonstrating advanced intermediate knowledge of French-language proficiency:

1. 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)

2. A final transcript attesting to the successful completion of a minimum of three years of secondary or post-secondary full-time study pursued entirely in French
3. A final transcript attesting to the successful completion of an advanced intermediate level French course; most candidates choosing this feature are going to be selected for an in-person interview to verify French proficiency
4. A regular license to practice from a professional order in Quebec

In addition to those general requirements, candidates must meet additional requirements which depend on whether or not they are applying as a foreign student or a temporary worker of foreign nationality.

Quebec Experience Program for Foreign Students

Candidates applying to PEQ as foreign students must meet the subsequent additional requirements:

• Have lived temporarily in Québec with the principal goal of studying and have respected the conditions of their stay;
• Have lived in Québec for a minimum of half the duration of their study program;
• Hold an eligible Québec diploma
• If they’re submitting their application form within Québec, be legally residing in Québec at the time of submission of their application.
• For applicants that have received a diploma of technical college studies, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree: 12 months of full-time work experience, within the last 36 months, in an occupation that falls under NOC skill level O, A, or B and you have to be currently employed at the time of submission of the application.
• For applicants that have received a diploma of vocational studies (DEP) of 1,800 hours or more: 18 months of job experience, within the last 36 months, in NOC skill level O, A, B, or C and you have to be currently employed at the time of submission of the application. Please note that if you’re employed in an occupation that falls under NOC skill level C, it must be associated with your field of study.

Not all Quebec educational programs are eligible for PEQ. Candidates submitting applications as international students should verify that their program of study meets the PEQ requirements. the subsequent sorts of programs are eligible for PEQ applications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree
• Doctorate
• Diplôme d’études collégiales techniques (DEC – diploma of school studies, technical training);
• Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP – diploma of vocational studies) attesting to 1800 hours of study or more;
• Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP – diploma of vocational studies) followed by an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP – attestation of vocational specialization) attesting to a minimum of 1800 hours of continuous education and resulting in a specific trade.

If a foreign student meets all of the above criteria, they’ll submit an application for a CSQ through PEQ at any time. No quota is made available for this program and applications are readily accepted at all times.

All PEQ applications are paper-based, meaning they’re submitted in a hard-copy text to MIFI for processing.

Quebec Experience Program for Foreign Workers

Candidates applying to PEQ as temporary foreign workers must meet the subsequent additional requirements:

• Be legally in Québec as a skilled temporary foreign worker or under a youth exchange program (for example, through a Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op Internship permit);
• Have occupied a full-time job at the management, professional or technical level for a minimum of 24 of the 36 months preceding the submission of their application, part-time work isn’t accepted for this program;
• Occupy a full-time job at the management, professional or technical level (levels O, A, B under the National Occupational Classification) at the time of submission of their application.

If a foreign worker meets all of the above criteria, they’ll submit an application for a CSQ through PEQ at any time. there’s no quota for this program and applications are accepted in the least time.

All PEQ applications are paper-based, meaning they’re submitted in a hard-copy text to MIFI for processing.

Transitional Measures for New Regulations

On July 22, 2020, Immigration Quebec introduced new PEQ regulations that changed the selection criteria. Under the previous selection criteria, students didn’t require work experience to be eligible to submit.

Temporary workers required 36 months of working experience with which that experience could fall into NOC skill level O, A, B, C, or D.

Transitional Measures

• All foreign students who obtained a diploma eligible under the PEQ or will obtain one by the 31^st day of December 2020, can submit an application for permanent selection on the basis of the selection criteria in place before July 22, 2020.
• Temporary foreign workers who hold a legal working paper or another authorization to secure a job under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002/227) and who were living in Québec on July 21, 2020, are going to be granted permission to submit an application for permanent selection based on the conditions in effect before July 22, 2020.
• The Ministère will still accept the attestation of successful completion of an advanced intermediate French course as a document which will 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.