The PEQ has reopened: applications accepted until October 31, 2026.

The PEQ offers a route to Québec selection for eligible graduates of Québec institutions and temporary foreign workers with qualifying Québec experience. For the temporary 2026 intake, Québec accepts applications in Arrima from July 2 to October 31 inclusive. There's no cap on the number of applications, but the eligibility criteria are precise.

Visa Canada Rouge, an immigration consulting firm in Montréal, can review your background, check the requirements of your stream and help you prepare the application. The Government of Québec's PEQ page (in French) remains the reference for the rules in force.

Key dates

• Application intake period: from July 2 to October 31, 2026, in Arrima
• Program reopening: from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028; the intake for this period nonetheless ends on October 31, 2026
• Reference date: the required diploma or work experience must have been obtained as of November 19, 2025
• Number of applications: no cap for this period

You can apply to the PEQ even if you have already received an invitation or submitted an application under the Québec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). Both applications are then processed in parallel, neither speeds up the other, and fees apply to each.

Québec Graduates stream

• An eligible diploma obtained as of November 19, 2025: a bachelor's, master's or doctorate; a technical DEC (college diploma); or a DEP (vocational diploma) of at least 1,800 hours, alone or followed by an ASP (attestation of vocational specialization)
• The diploma was obtained within the 36 months before you apply
• You stayed in Québec mainly to study for at least half of the program
• You are legally in Québec when you apply
• French: level 7 or higher oral and level 5 or higher written (Québec French-language proficiency scale)
• You haven't received a scholarship that requires you to return to your home country

The date criteria apply together: a program completed after November 19, 2025 doesn't qualify for this intake. If your status after graduation raises questions, see our post-graduation work permit page and our guide graduated in Québec: next steps.

Temporary Foreign Workers stream

• At least 2 years of work experience in Québec in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs, obtained as of November 19, 2025
• This experience must amount to at least 24 months within the 36 months before you apply, and be full-time (30 hours or more per week), paid and legal
• You hold a job that meets these same criteria when you apply
• You are legally in Québec as a temporary foreign worker or as a participant in a youth exchange program (working holiday, young professionals, internship)
• French: level 7 or higher oral

A job title alone doesn't establish that experience qualifies: the duties performed, the TEER classification, the dates, the hours and the legal work authorization all matter.

Common requirements

• Intend to settle in Québec to work in an eligible sector, in a business you don't control
• Sign a financial self-sufficiency contract: support yourself and your family for at least 3 months
• Obtain the attestation of learning about democratic values and Québec values, within 60 days of the Ministry's request
• Accompanying spouse or partner: French at level 4 or higher oral

Proving your French

Test results must be 2 years old or less at the time of the application. Accepted tests include the TCF-Québec, TCF-Canada, TEFAQ, TEF, DELF and DALF. Depending on the case, transcripts showing at least 3 years of full-time studies in French, or a diploma or permit from a Québec professional order, may also serve as proof.

Preparing the Arrima application

A good application starts with checking the criteria, not with the form. Depending on your situation, gather:

• passport and documents showing your current legal status in Québec;
• for graduates: the diploma, transcripts and program dates;
• for workers: employer letters showing duties, dates, hours, pay and work authorization;
• French test results or other accepted evidence;
• documents for a spouse or partner and dependent children, where applicable.

Keep names, dates and work or study histories consistent across forms and records. Our guide to PEQ eligibility and the 2026 intake goes through each check.

Fees

• Principal applicant: $940
• Spouse or common-law partner: $201
• Dependent child: $201

Fees can change: check the amount published by Québec when you apply.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a diploma or experience obtained after the reference date. November 19, 2025 applies to both streams.
• Counting experience that doesn't qualify. Check the TEER category, duties, full-time hours, pay, legality and period.
• Assuming a credential automatically qualifies. Check the diploma type, length, dates and the Québec residence condition.
• Submitting French evidence that doesn't meet the rules.
• Waiting until the last minute. A French test or an employer letter can take weeks.

After selection: the CSQ, then the federal application

If your application is accepted, Québec issues a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The CSQ isn't permanent residence: you then apply separately to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which assesses admissibility under its own requirements. See IRCC's page on Québec-selected skilled workers and our guide CSQ received: next steps.

PEQ or PSTQ?

The PSTQ is the other permanent selection pathway in Québec. Unlike the PEQ's direct application, it goes through an Arrima expression of interest and a Québec invitation. You can pursue both if you meet the PEQ's conditions; compare the criteria, the evidence available and the fees for each. Our guide PSTQ or PEQ compares them.

What we do for you

• Check, requirement by requirement, that you are eligible as of November 19, 2025 and at the time of the application
• Validate your work experience (TEER category, hours, legality) or your diploma
• Review your French evidence and the documents to submit
• Prepare a complete application in Arrima before October 31, 2026
• Choose between the PEQ and the PSTQ, or pursue both in parallel when it's strategic

To discuss your situation, book a one-hour online consultation or describe your situation.

Frequently asked questions

I graduated in December 2025. Am I eligible?

For this intake period, the diploma must have been obtained as of November 19, 2025. A diploma obtained after that date doesn't allow you to apply under the Graduates stream during the 2026 period. The PSTQ may then be another pathway to assess.

I already have a PSTQ application. Should I also apply to the PEQ?

It's allowed. The two applications are then processed in parallel, and neither speeds up the other. Since fees apply to each program, the decision is made case by case, depending on how strong your file is in each.

Does the intake run until July 2, 2028?

No. The program reopening runs from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028, but the 2026 intake runs from July 2 to October 31. Watch Québec's notices for any new period.

Does a CSQ make me a permanent resident?

No. The CSQ confirms Québec's selection. You must then apply separately to IRCC for permanent residence.

How recent must my French test be?

Two years old or less when you apply, with the oral and written levels required for your stream.

What if my experience is part-time or outside TEER 0 to 3?

The worker stream requires full-time paid work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. Part-time work or work in another TEER category doesn't meet the criteria; the PSTQ may then be worth assessing.

Official sources: Government of Québec, "Programme de l'expérience québécoise", "Présenter une demande de sélection permanente dans le cadre du PEQ", "Conditions de sélection — Diplômés du Québec", "Conditions de sélection — Travailleurs temporaires", "Connaissance du français dans le cadre du PEQ" (quebec.ca, updated June 17, 2026) and "Réouverture temporaire du PEQ" (June 17, 2026); IRCC, "Québec-selected skilled workers". Accessed September 14 and October 11, 2026.