The Quebec Experience Program is officially back, but not in the form thousands of international graduates and workers remember. After sitting closed for over seven months, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) reopens on July 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., running through a strict application window that closes October 31, 2026. This is not a full, permanent restart. Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) has confirmed the program will operate for a temporary two year period only, from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028, after which it closes for good and hands the province’s main economic immigration role permanently to the newer Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ).
For anyone who built career or study plans around the PEQ pathway to a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), this reopening matters, but the fine print matters even more. Eligibility for this first intake is locked to a hard cutoff date of November 19, 2025, the day the program was originally shut down, so this round is not open to just anyone currently living or studying in Quebec. We will be updating this article monthly as MIFI releases new intake periods, processing data and Arrima portal updates, so check back for the latest confirmed numbers rather than relying on older reopening rumours still circulating online.
Quebec Experience Program 2026 (PEQ) Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program name | Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ) |
| Reopening date | July 2, 2026, 8:30 a.m. |
| Program duration | Two years: July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028 (closes permanently after) |
| First intake window | July 2, 2026 to October 31, 2026 |
| Eligibility cutoff | Must have met PEQ conditions (diploma or work experience) by November 19, 2025 |
| Application cap | No cap announced for the first intake period |
| Streams available | Quebec Graduates stream and Temporary Foreign Worker stream |
| Minimum spoken French | NCLC 7 (advanced intermediate) |
| Minimum written French | NCLC 5 (intermediate) |
| Spouse French requirement | NCLC 4 spoken, if accompanying the principal applicant |
| Application platform | Arrima portal (MIFI) |
| Average processing time | Approximately 6 to 7 months for CSQ issuance |
| Next step after CSQ | Federal permanent residence application through IRCC |
Why the Quebec Experience Program Closed in the First Place
To understand why this reopening comes with so many conditions, it helps to know why the PEQ shut down at all. On November 19, 2025, MIFI abruptly closed the program without transitional measures, replacing it with the Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés (PRTQ) as Quebec’s primary skilled worker pathway going forward. The sudden closure left thousands of temporary foreign workers and recent Quebec graduates in limbo, many of whom had structured years of study, work and language preparation specifically around PEQ eligibility. Premier Christine Fréchette’s government faced sustained public pressure over the closure during the Coalition Avenir Québec leadership race, which is what led to the commitment to reopen the program temporarily rather than leave it permanently retired.
PEQ Reopening 2026: Intake Dates and How the Rollout Works
The first application intake period opens July 2, 2026 and runs until October 31, 2026, and MIFI has confirmed no cap has been set on the number of applications accepted during this window. This first round is deliberately narrow in scope. It exists specifically to honour the immigration plans of people who had already met the program’s old eligibility conditions before it closed, rather than opening the door to anyone who has since arrived in Quebec or completed a diploma after the cutoff.
Once the October 31, 2026 window closes, MIFI has said it will assess the total volume of applications received and adjust future intake periods, along with the number of invitations issued under the PRTQ, to keep overall admissions within Quebec’s 2026 to 2029 immigration plan. In practical terms, this means the government is treating PSTQ or PRTQ invitations and PEQ applications as two sides of the same admissions target, deliberately scaling back PRTQ invitations during the initial PEQ window so both pathways combined stay within Quebec’s planned numbers.
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Who Qualifies for the November 19, 2025 Eligibility Cutoff
This is the single most important detail for anyone reading about the PEQ reopening, and it trips up a lot of applicants. Meeting today’s eligibility rules is not enough. You must be able to show that you already met the program’s conditions as they stood on November 19, 2025, the date the program was abolished.
Quebec Graduates Stream Eligibility
Under the graduates stream, applicants must have obtained one of the following from a recognized Quebec institution on or before November 19, 2025: a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a doctoral degree, a diplôme d’études collégiales techniques (a three year advanced vocational college diploma), or a diplôme d’études professionnelles of at least 1,800 hours. Applicants must also have completed at least half of their study program while physically residing in Quebec.
Temporary Foreign Worker Stream Eligibility
Under the worker stream, applicants must have accumulated at least two years of eligible Quebec work experience within the three years leading up to November 19, 2025. That experience must fall within TEER categories 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification, meaning management, professional, technical or skilled trades roles generally qualify, while lower-skill TEER 4 and 5 positions do not meet the threshold for this stream.
The New French Language Requirement Nobody Can Skip
The most significant structural change to the Quebec Experience Program is the French language requirement introduced through reforms announced in November 2024 and carried into the 2026 relaunch. In the past, some applicants could qualify for the PEQ with only intermediate French or, in limited cases, none at all. That exemption is gone.
Under the current rules, principal applicants must demonstrate spoken French proficiency of at least NCLC 7, considered advanced intermediate on the Quebec French proficiency scale, along with written French proficiency of at least NCLC 5. Acceptable proof includes a valid French test result, a final transcript showing at least three years of full time French language study at the secondary or post secondary level, or an active licence to practice from a recognized Quebec professional order. If a spouse or common law partner is accompanying the principal applicant, that partner must also demonstrate spoken French of at least NCLC 4. MIFI immigration officers retain the right to call any PEQ candidate in for an in person interview specifically to verify oral French ability, so applicants relying on older test results or self assessment are advised to retest well before applying.
For technical diploma holders in fields facing labour shortages, some sources indicate a post graduation work experience period of six months to a year may be required before a diplôme d’études collégiales techniques becomes eligible for CSQ purposes, so applicants in this category should confirm their specific program’s status directly with MIFI before assuming automatic eligibility.
How to Apply: The Arrima Portal Process
All PEQ applications are submitted through Arrima, Quebec’s dedicated online immigration portal, rather than through the federal Express Entry system that governs immigration to the rest of Canada. Quebec is the only province that independently selects the vast majority of its own economic immigrants, which is why federal points based systems do not apply here. The typical process runs through the following steps. First, applicants confirm they meet the November 19, 2025 eligibility cutoff for either the graduates or the temporary foreign worker stream. Second, applicants gather supporting documents, including proof of the qualifying diploma or work experience, and current valid French test results. Third, applicants submit a declaration of interest and full application through Arrima once the July 2, 2026 intake opens. Fourth, MIFI reviews the file and, once approved, issues a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). Finally, with the CSQ in hand, applicants move to the federal stage and apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence, a step that mainly involves medical, security and admissibility checks rather than a fresh eligibility assessment.
Average total processing time for a CSQ under the PEQ has historically run around six to seven months, though officials have not yet confirmed whether the reopened program will match that pace given the expected volume of applications from people who have been waiting since November 2025.
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What Happens After October 31, 2026
MIFI has stated that additional intake periods may follow after the first window closes, though the exact timing and eligibility criteria for later rounds have not yet been announced. What is confirmed is the broader trajectory: the PSTQ or PRTQ, not the PEQ, is intended to remain Quebec’s primary long term economic immigration pathway once this temporary two year PEQ window ends permanently in July 2028. Applicants who do not meet the November 2025 cutoff, or who arrive in Quebec after that date, will generally need to plan around the PRTQ rather than waiting for a future PEQ round tailored to their situation.
Status Check and Application Support: Official Resources
| Resource | Purpose | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) | Official PEQ program information and updates | quebec.ca/immigration |
| Arrima Portal | Submit and manage PEQ applications | mifi.gouv.qc.ca/arrima |
| IRCC Quebec Immigration | Federal permanent residence application after CSQ approval | canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship |
| Quebec French Proficiency Test Information | Approved French test providers (TEF Canada, TCF Canada) | quebec.ca/en/immigration/permanent/quebec-selection-certificate |
| MIFI Client Services | Application status and processing inquiries | quebec.ca/en/contact/mifi |
FAQs
When exactly does the Quebec Experience Program reopen in 2026?
The PEQ reopens on July 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., with the first application intake period running until October 31, 2026.
Can I apply for the PEQ if I graduated or gained my work experience after November 19, 2025?
Generally no. The first intake period is limited to applicants who already met PEQ eligibility conditions, either the qualifying diploma or two years of eligible work experience, on or before November 19, 2025, the date the program was originally closed
What French level do I need for the Quebec Experience Program in 2026?
Principal applicants need spoken French of at least NCLC 7 and written French of at least NCLC 5. Accompanying spouses or common law partners need spoken French of at least NCLC 4.
Is there a limit on how many people can apply during the first PEQ intake?
No cap has been announced for the July 2 to October 31, 2026 intake period, though MIFI will review total application volume afterward to decide how future intake periods and PRTQ invitation levels are managed.
How long does it take to get a Quebec Selection Certificate through the PEQ?
Average processing time has historically been around six to seven months, though this reopening’s actual pace will depend on how many applications MIFI receives during the first intake window.
Will the Quebec Experience Program stay open permanently this time?
No. This reopening is confirmed as temporary, running for two years from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028, after which the program will close permanently and the PRTQ will remain Quebec’s main economic immigration pathway.
People Also Ask
What is the difference between the PEQ and the PRTQ? The PEQ is a faster, experience-based pathway for Quebec graduates and temporary foreign workers who already meet specific diploma or work-history conditions, while the PRTQ is a broader points-based skilled worker program intended as Quebec’s long-term main immigration stream.
Do I need a job offer to qualify for the PEQ worker stream? The worker stream requires at least two years of eligible Quebec work experience in TEER 0 to 3 occupations rather than a specific job offer at the time of application, though maintaining valid work status throughout the process is required.
Can international students still apply for the PEQ after finishing their studies in 2026? Only if their diploma was completed on or before November 19, 2025. Students who complete eligible programs after that date do not qualify for this first reopened intake and will likely need to apply through the PRTQ instead.
What happens if my PEQ application is refused? Applicants whose CSQ application is refused can generally request a review or reapply through the PRTQ if they meet its separate points-based criteria, though specific next steps depend on the reason for refusal.
Conclusion
The Quebec Experience Program’s return on July 2, 2026 is genuinely good news for the specific group of graduates and workers who already met its conditions before the November 19, 2025 closure, but it is not a fresh start for everyone hoping to settle in Quebec through this route. The strict eligibility cutoff, the tougher French language requirements introduced in the 2024 to 2026 reforms, and the confirmed two year expiry all point to a program designed to clear an existing backlog rather than reopen permanently. Anyone within the eligible group should prioritise confirming their diploma or work experience dates, retesting French proficiency if results are outdated, and preparing Arrima documentation well before the July 2, 2026 opening. For everyone else, the PRTQ is now the pathway to plan around. We will keep updating this article every month as MIFI confirms new intake periods and processing data.
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