PEQ:
the Quebec Experience Program is open again
Reopened on July 2, 2026 for two years. Phase 1 runs until October 31, 2026, with no cap for acquired-rights candidates. No draw, no points: the fastest road to the CSQ for people already in Quebec.
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The PEQ (Programme de l'expérience québécoise, or Quebec Experience Program) is the fast track to the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) for graduates and skilled workers already established in Quebec. Suspended in November 2025, it officially reopened on July 2, 2026. Because there is no draw and no points grid, a complete file submitted early in the window is the whole game.
The 2026 reopening: dates and rules
On June 10, 2026, the Quebec government confirmed the reactivation of the PEQ for two years: filing in Arrima opened on July 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. and the program stays open until July 2, 2028.
The first window, phase 1, runs until October 31, 2026. It has no cap, but it is reserved for acquired rights: candidates who already met all PEQ requirements on November 19, 2025, the day the program was suspended. MIFI expects 8,000 to 12,000 applications in this phase, so early, complete files move first.
Arrima filing reopens at 8:30 a.m. for PEQ applications.
End of phase 1: no cap, reserved for acquired-rights candidates (criteria met on November 19, 2025).
End of the two-year reopening window. Later phases may introduce caps or new conditions.
The 2 PEQ streams
Both streams demand French oral level 7 and residence in Quebec. What changes is how you prove your Quebec experience.
Quebec graduates
Holders of an eligible diploma from a Quebec institution
- Eligible Quebec diploma: DEC, bachelor’s degree or higher, or an eligible DEP
- French: oral level 7 (intermediate-advanced)
- Residing in Quebec with legal status at the time of application
Temporary foreign workers
Skilled workers already employed in Quebec
- 24 months of full-time skilled work experience in Quebec within the last 36 months
- Employed in Quebec at the time of application
- French: oral level 7 (intermediate-advanced)
Common conditions: reside in Quebec with legal status, intend to settle there, and sign the financial self-sufficiency contract (3 months). Source: quebec.ca.
No draw, no points: the fastest road to a CSQ
Unlike the PSTQ and Express Entry, the PEQ has no draw and no points grid. You do not wait for an invitation or compete on a score: if you meet the conditions, you file your application directly in Arrima and MIFI processes it. Within the current window, being ready early is the only race.
That design makes the PEQ the quickest path to the Quebec Selection Certificate for anyone who already studied or worked in the province. The trade-off: it is closed to candidates abroad, since residence in Quebec is required.
Not eligible for the PEQ?
If you lack the Quebec diploma, the 24 months of experience or the French level, the PSTQ scores your profile out of 1,400 points and invites candidates through targeted draws, including from abroad.
Read the PSTQ guideDocuments to prepare
An incomplete file is the number one cause of delays and refusals. Here is the core checklist:
- Valid passport and current immigration status documents (work or study permit)
- Quebec diploma and transcripts (graduate stream)
- Proof of work experience: employment letter, pay stubs, T4 and RL-1 slips (worker stream)
- Proof of French: recognized test (TEFAQ, TCF Quebec) less than 2 years old, or qualifying studies in French
- Proof of residence in Quebec (lease, utility bills, driver’s licence)
- Signed financial self-sufficiency contract (covers your first 3 months)
Do you qualify under acquired rights?
Free eligibility check · answer within 24 hours.
From file preparation to permanent residence
- 1Prepare your file now · Gather documents and confirm your French proof. A complete PEQ file typically takes 2 to 4 weeks to prepare.
- 2Submit in Arrima · The filing window opened on July 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Phase 1 runs until October 31, 2026, with no cap for acquired-rights candidates.
- 3Receive your CSQ · MIFI reviews your application and issues the Quebec Selection Certificate, your provincial green light. No draw, no points cut-off.
- 4File for federal permanent residence · With the CSQ, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence: medical exams, biometrics and background checks.
PEQ, PSTQ or Express Entry?
PEQ: already in Quebec with a diploma or 24 months of experience, French oral 7. Fastest CSQ, no draw. PSTQ: points and targeted draws, open to candidates abroad. Express Entry: federal system for every province except Quebec.
Our Montreal team works with all three daily and can tell you in one conversation which door your profile actually opens.
PSTQ guide Express Entry guidePEQ: frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for phase 1 of the reopened PEQ?+
What is the deadline to apply?+
What French level does the PEQ require?+
Can I apply for the PEQ from outside Canada?+
PEQ or PSTQ: which one should I choose?+
Reading better in French? See the full French guide: PEQ Québec (guide FR)
1,000+ families supported
The window is open. Is your file ready?
Phase 1 closes on October 31, 2026. Our Montreal team audits your eligibility for free, then prepares your complete PEQ file for submission in Arrima.