PEQ reopening confirmed: applications open July 2, 2026 for two years

After the program was abolished on November 19, 2025, tens of thousands of graduates and workers already living in Quebec lost their direct route to the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The reopening restores that route, built around an acquired-rights clause.

Key dates

• June 10, 2026: official announcement of the PEQ reactivation for two years.
• July 2, 2026, 8:30 a.m.: applications open in Arrima.
• October 31, 2026: end of the first application window.
• Subsequent phases will be announced by the ministry over the two-year reopening.

Who qualifies for the first window (acquired rights)

The first wave targets people who already met all PEQ requirements when the program was abolished on November 19, 2025. Two profiles are covered, matching the two reactivated streams:

• Quebec graduates stream: an eligible Quebec diploma obtained before November 19, 2025 (including McGill, Concordia, and all recognized institutions) and the French requirement (oral level 7 or equivalent).
• Temporary foreign workers stream: the required eligible work experience in Quebec within the reference period preceding November 19, 2025, with the required French level.
• In both cases: you must reside in Quebec when you apply.

No cap, but no room for mistakes

The first window is announced without any cap for acquired-rights holders. The ministry expects 8,000 to 12,000 applications, out of roughly 50,000 people potentially covered by the clause.

No cap does not mean no requirements. A PEQ application refused over a non-compliant French attestation, poorly documented work experience or a misclassified diploma is still a refusal, and reprocessing delays can make you miss the window. Quality at first submission is decisive.

What to prepare now

• Proof of French: an accepted test result (TEF, TCF, TEFAQ) at oral level 7 or higher, less than two years old, or a recognized diploma. This is the step that takes the longest if you have not tested yet.
• Graduates: official diploma and transcripts from your Quebec institution.
• Workers: detailed employment letters (dates, hours, duties), pay stubs and records of employment covering the reference period.
• Status in Quebec: valid work or study permit and proof of residence in Quebec.
• Arrima account: create or reactivate your account before July 2 so you can file without delay.

PEQ or PSTQ: which route now

The PEQ reopening does not replace the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), which remains Quebec's main permanent economic immigration pathway. But for acquired-rights holders, the PEQ becomes the fastest option again: priority CSQ processing, no points ranking, no invitation to wait for.

If you did not meet the criteria on November 19, 2025, the PSTQ is your route: an expression of interest in Arrima, a ranking under the 1,400-point grid and monthly invitations by stream. Start by calculating your score with our free PSTQ calculator based on the official grid.

Get your file assessed before the opening

SOS Hub Canada is an accredited firm whose consultants are CICC members. We prepare PEQ files (graduates and workers streams) for submission as of July 2, 2026: acquired-rights verification, compliance of French and experience evidence, and filing in Arrima. We serve clients in English and French.