Quebec Experience Program: Process & Eligibility

If you’re applying for permanent residency (PR) in Canada’s Quebec, you should know what the Quebec Experience Program is. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) is a process for foreign workers working in Quebec and international students studying in the province to apply for permanent residency. It is a fast-track process that helps French-speaking temporary foreign workers and international students gain permanent residency in Quebec, after completing a required period of work and study experience.

Immigration is a two-step process in Quebec. The first step involves the applicant to meet the eligibility criteria under Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), or Quebec Selection Certificate. As part of the second step, the applicant with CSQ can apply for a permanent residency in Quebec. This intermediate step is to check for potential security and medical threats.  To be eligible, applicants also have to submit the result of an approved language test to prove their written and oral proficiency in French. Additional documents that will be required are as follows:

1. A license to practice full-time profession.
2. An attestation to demonstrate fulfillment of language requirement in the region.
3. Documents to prove successful completion of higher or post-secondary education in the French language.

If married, both the applicants are required to prove their French proficiency above or at the advanced-intermediate level. If any worker or student is not eligible under the Quebec Experience Program, they may apply for CSQ under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

What is the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) for students?

The Quebec Experience Program for students and graduates gives them an opportunity to start their immigration to Quebec before completing their studies.

To apply for CSQ under PEQ, the students must meet the following requirements:

•         Pursued a degree or diploma program from the list of PEQ Eligible Areas of Training.
•         The degree or diploma must be from the past three years and from a college/university recognized by the Quebec government.
•         Gain required work experience.
•         Prove required French proficiency.

 PEQ Eligible Areas of Training include the following:

•       Master’s degree
•       Bachelor’s degree
•       Doctorate
•       Certificate of Vocational Studies (Diplôme d’études professionnelles) (mandatory 1800 hours of study or more)
•       Diploma in technical training and college studies
•       DVS with attestation of Vocational Specialization (mandatory 1800 hours of study)

The candidate must have lived in Quebec for at least half the duration of his/her study program.

Please note that it is mandatory for all applicants to be aged at least 18 and reside in Quebec at the time of application. They should intend to settle in the province permanently after acquiring a permit.

What is the Quebec experience program for workers?

Foreign workers who are applying for permanent residency in Quebec must meet these below-mentioned criteria to be eligible for CSQ, if needed:

•       Be a full-time worker at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B, at the time of application. 
•       Should have at least 24 months of full-time work experience of the 36 months before the application.
•       When submitting the application, the candidate must be employed full-time at NOC level 0, A or B.
•       Have a valid passport.
•       The applicant must have required proficiency in oral French.
•       Part-time workers, entrepreneurs, business partners and self-employed people are not eligible to apply for PEQ.
•       Applicants must commit to fulfilling the basic needs of the dependents, as mentioned in the application, for at least three months.
•       He/she, along with all the dependents who are 18 years of age or above, must pass the Quebec values test.

If candidates adhere to all these rules and qualify at all levels, they will be awarded permanent residency in Quebec.  

Who is eligible for this program?

Students and temporary workers are eligible for PEQ. If any student has obtained their diploma or college degree from any educational institution in Quebec, they can apply for permanent residency.

Workers who are employed or have worked full-time for at least 24 of the 36 months before the application are also eligible for PEQ.

What tests are accepted to prove French proficiency?

As mentioned above, to be eligible for PEQ, advanced French proficiency is mandatory. Here is a list of exams accepted for the same-:

1. DELF/DALF (Diplôme d`études en langue française)
2. TEF (Test d`Evaluation du Français)
3. TCF (Test de connaissance du français)
4. TEFaQ (Test d’Évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec)
5. TCFQ (Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec)

If you don’t have any proof to attach in your application for proficiency in French, you can provide any of these and meet the required criteria to be eligible for the Quebec Experience Program.