Quebec is temporarily reopening one of its most popular immigration programs for foreign workers and graduates. Find out who will be able to apply for permanent residence through the PEQ, what the conditions will be in place in 2026, and how the changes will affect candidates for Canada

The government of the Canadian province of Quebec has announced the temporary resumption of the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l'expérience québécoise, PEQ), one of the most popular paths to permanent residence for foreign workers and graduates of local educational institutions.

After the program closed in November 2025, many candidates were left in an uncertain situation. Now, the provincial authorities have decided to give them an additional opportunity to complete their immigration path. The PEQ will be reinstated from July 2, 2026, to July 2, 2028, but applications will only be accepted during specific intake periods.

Planning to move to Canada or another country in the world? Immigration rules are constantly changing, and the requirements for obtaining a residence permit or citizenship can vary significantly depending on the country. To avoid mistakes and save time, it is important to familiarize yourself with the current procedures and the list of required documents in advance.

Get all the details in Visit World's Immigration Guide and prepare for your move today.

Why is Quebec bringing back the PEQ program?

For many years, the PEQ program has remained one of the key tools for attracting and retaining foreign professionals already studying or working in Quebec.

After the program was suspended and subsequently closed in 2025, the Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) remained the only major mechanism for selecting skilled workers. However, the decision to close the PEQ has caused concern among employers, educational institutions and candidates themselves who already met the program's requirements and were hoping to obtain permanent resident status.

According to the provincial government, the temporary reinstatement of the PEQ is designed to support Francophone candidates who have already integrated into Quebec society and the economy, as well as to help businesses retain needed workers.

---

Visit World services for tourists, migrants, and expats: Insurance | Guides | Legal advice

---

When will applications open?

The first application period will start on July 2, 2026 and will last until October 31, 2026.

It is important to understand that the PEQ will not operate in a continuous reception mode. Provincial authorities will open separate windows for submitting applications depending on immigration quotas, the load on the system and the number of applications received.

The government also does not rule out launching additional reception periods before the end of the program in 2028.

The spring of 2026 brought nine significant updates to the Canadian immigration system, each of which was discussed in this article.

Who will be able to apply during the first phase?

The first phase of the program’s restoration is aimed primarily at individuals who were affected by the sudden closure of the PEQ in November 2025.

Candidates who already met the program requirements as of November 19, 2025 will be able to apply.

For temporary foreign workers

The candidate must have had at least two years of work experience in Quebec by the time the program closes in an occupation that falls under TEER categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification of Canada.

This category includes a significant portion of professionals in the following fields:

- Information technology;

- Engineering;

- Finance;

- Health care;

- Management;

- Technical occupations.

For graduates of Quebec educational institutions

Applicants must have obtained a diploma that meets the PEQ requirements no later than November 19, 2025.

The mandatory requirement for sufficient French language proficiency also remains for both streams.

Quebec has adopted a new temporary policy aimed at supporting foreign workers who are in the process of obtaining permanent residence in the province. We will tell you about the conditions, deadlines, and procedure for applying for a temporary work permit in Quebec in 2026 at the link.

How many applications will Quebec accept?

Unlike many other immigration programs, the government has not set a limit on the number of candidates for the first application period.

All applications submitted on time and meeting the program requirements will be accepted for consideration.

According to preliminary estimates by the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration of Quebec, the average processing time for documents will be approximately six to seven months.

Canada has closed the Start-Up Visa program: what immigration paths for entrepreneurs remain in 2026, find here.

How will the changes affect PSTQ candidates?

The resumption of the PEQ will have certain consequences for the province's other immigration streams.

In order not to exceed the established immigration goals, Quebec authorities will temporarily reduce the number of invitations under the PSTQ program. The greatest attention is planned to be focused on candidates with occupations in the lower TEER 4 and 5 categories, as well as on applicants from the exceptional talent category.

At the same time, the government reserves the right to revise the selection volume as early as the end of 2026, depending on the number of applications received under the PEQ.

What does this mean for future immigrants?

The temporary return of the PEQ demonstrates Quebec’s desire to find a balance between controlling immigration flows and the needs of the local labor market.

For foreign citizens who are already working or studying in the province, this opens up an additional opportunity to obtain permanent residence without having to go through more complex selection procedures.

At the same time, the authorities emphasize that the resumption of the program is of an exclusively temporary nature. After the two-year period, the PSTQ system should once again become the main tool for selecting skilled workers.

Experts predict that the decision on the future fate of PEQ will largely depend on the economic situation in the province, the needs of employers and the general immigration policy of Canada in the coming years.

Obtaining a residence permit, permanent residency or citizenship is a complex process that requires careful preparation. Each country sets its own requirements for candidates, deadlines for document review and selection criteria. That is why it is important to use up-to-date sources of information, especially if you are planning to immigrate to Canada, European countries, Australia or other popular destinations.

The "Immigration Guide" from Visit World contains up-to-date information on the procedures for obtaining a residence permit, permanent resident permit and citizenship in different countries of the world. After placing an order, you will receive a PDF document by e-mail in just a few minutes and will be able to start preparing for moving without unnecessary risks.

Order the "Immigration Guide" from Visit World and get a step-by-step plan for legalizing your stay abroad.

Recall! The Canadian government is launching a new immigration pathway that will allow 33,000 temporary foreign workers to obtain permanent residency over the next few years. We have already told you who the new program will apply to, which industries will receive priority, and how the country's immigration policy is changing.

Photo - generated by Gemini

---

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents for Canada;

Legal consultation on immigration to Canada;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Canada;

Medical insurance worldwide.

---

We strive to ensure that our information is accurate and up-to-date. Therefore, if you notice any errors or discrepancies, please contact our hotline.