Everything about the PEQ - Quebec Experience Program

The Government of Quebec encourages overseas workers employed in Quebec and overseas students who complete a Post-secondary program to take up Canadian Permanent Residence in the Quebec province. PEQ - Quebec Experience Program is a fast-track and simplified process that offers Canada PR to two types of applicants. It permits a candidate to apply for a PR Visa from within Quebec if they are an overseas student or Temporary Foreign Worker. They have to either complete approved studies or a period of qualified work for this. 

 Programme de l’Expérience Québécoise or the Quebec Experience Program - PEQ is amongst the various immigration programs of Quebec province. PEQ is suitable for candidates who have proficiency in the French language and work experience in Quebec. It is one of the priority immigration programs of Quebec. This means that Canadian permanent residence applications under PEQ are processed highly quicker than other programs like the QSW - Quebec Skilled Worker.

The process of immigrating to Quebec through the PEQ consists of 2 stages. First, you must be qualified to file an application for a CSQ - Quebec Selection Certificate. It is a document that confirms that you have been approved by the Quebec Government for Canadian Permanent Residence. Then, you have to apply for the Canada PR Visa with the Federal Government. This stage is merely for verifying the security and medical issues. 

You must keep in mind one major feature of the Quebec Experience Program. The applicants have to demonstrate advanced-intermediate or higher French comprehension and oral expression skills in order to qualify. 

If you are applying with a common-law partner or spouse, then both the primary applicant and the partner have to prove proficiency in the French language. The primary applicant has to demonstrate proficiency on par or higher than the advanced-intermediate level. The partner or spouse’s spoken French skills must correspond to at least level 4 on the Quebec French Proficiency Scale for adult migrants.

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Requirements of the Quebec Experience Program

Similar to the other immigration programs of Quebec, PEQ applicants have to apply for a CSQ - Quebec Selection Certificate. Once you receive the CSQ, you become qualified for filing an application for the Canadian Permanent Residence. You have to fulfill the following common requirements of the PEQ for submitting an application: 

• Intend to settle in Quebec for working in the province
• Have resided provisionally in Quebec primarily for studying or working and have fulfilled the conditions for the stay 
• Prove advanced intermediate proficiency in spoken French; accompanying partner/spouse also has to prove proficiency in the French language 
• Agree to take care of the needs of the common-law partner or spouse and dependent children who have been included in the application for CSQ for at least a period of three months
• Have a valid Passport and be aged at least 18 years

The following are the accepted ways to demonstrate advanced intermediate proficiency in the French language: 

1. TEFAQ
2. TCF-Québec
3. TEF
4. TEF Canada
5. TCF
6. DELF
• The concluding transcript that attests successfully completing the minimum of 3 years of Post-secondary or Secondary full-time studies carried out entirely in French. 
• The concluding transcript attests successfully completing the French course at the advanced intermediate level; the majority of the candidates selecting this option have to appear for an interview in-person for confirming proficiency in French. 
• A standard license for practicing from a professional authority in Quebec. 
• Apart from the general requirements, you also have to fulfill extra requirements. These depend on whether you are applying as a Temporary Foreign Worker or an overseas student.

Note: 

You must bear in mind that the Immigration Officers at MIFI always have the right to seek an in-person interview with PEQ candidates for assessing proficiency in French. 

Quebec Experience Program requirements for Overseas Students

If you are applying for the PEQ as an overseas student, you have to fulfill the following extra requirements: 

• Have stayed provisionally in Quebec primarily for studies and honored the conditions of the stay 
• Have resided in Quebec for a minimum of 50% of the study program’s duration 
• Possess a qualified Quebec Diploma 
• Be lawfully residing in Quebec while submitting the application if you are filing the application from within Quebec 
• If you have been awarded a Diploma from a College for Technical Studies, Doctoral, Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree – Full-time work experience of 1 year in the last 3 years in a NOC skill level B, A, or O occupation and you must work in the province currently while submitting the application 
• If you have been awarded a DEP - Diploma of Vocational Studies of 1800 hours duration or more – 1.5 years of work experience in the last 3 years in a NOC skill level B, A, or O occupation and you must work in the province currently while submitting the application. If you are working in an occupation that falls under the C NOC skill level, it must be connected to your area of study. 

All study programs in Quebec do not qualify for PEQ. If you are filing the application as an overseas student, you must confirm that your study program fulfills the requirements for PEQ. The following categories of programs qualify for PEQ application: 

• Doctorate Degree
• Master’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• DEC - Diploma of College Studies, Technical Training : Diplôme d’études collégiales techniques
• DEP - Diploma of Vocational Studies: Diplôme d’études professionnelles, that attests to 1800 study hours or more 
• DEP - Diploma of Vocational Studies: Diplôme d’études professionnelles, followed by an ASP - Attestation of Vocational Specialization (attestation de spécialisation professionnelle) that attests to at least 1800 hours of continued education and leads to as specific trade

If you fulfill all the above-specified criteria as an overseas student, you can file a CSQ application through PEQ at any time. Applications for the PEQ are accepted at all times and there is no quota. All the applications for PEQ are paper-based. It implies that they have to file for processing as a hard copy with MIFI.

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Quebec Experience Program requirements for Overseas Workers

If you are applying for the PEQ as a Temporary Foreign Worker, you have to fulfill the following extra requirements: 

• Reside lawfully in Quebec as a skillful Temporary Foreign Worker or through a program for youth exchange. For example, Working Holiday Visa, International Co-op Internship, or Young Professionals Permit. 
• Having worked in a full-time job at the Technical, Professional, or Management level for a minimum of 2 years in the past 3 years before the submission of application, part-time work does not qualify for this stream 
• Have a full-time job at the Technical, Professional, or Management level in a NOC skill level B, A, or O occupation while submitting the application 

If you fulfill all the above-specified criteria as a Temporary Foreign Worker, you can file a CSQ application through PEQ at any time. Applications for the PEQ are accepted at all times and there is no quota. All the applications for PEQ are paper-based. It implies that they have to file for processing as a hard copy with MIFI.

Intermediary Measures for New policies

Immigration Quebec launched fresh PEQ rules on 22nd July 2020 that modified the criteria for selection. Previous policies did not mandate work experience for students in order to qualify for submitting an application. Temporary overseas workers required 3 m years of work experience under NOC skill level D, C, B, A, or O. 

Intermediary Measures

All overseas students who received a Diploma qualified under PEQ or who will receive it by 31st December 2020 can file an application for Canadian Permanent Residence based on the criteria effective prior to 22nd July 2020. 

Provisional Overseas Workers who hold a valid work authorization or Work Permit as per Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations - SOR/2002/227 and were residing in Quebec as of 21st July 2020 can file an application for Canadian Permanent Residence based on the criteria effective prior to 22nd July 2020. 

The MiFi will continue accepting attestation of successful completion of advanced intermediate French course as proof that can be offered about French proficiency if the applicant: 

• Has passed the course already
• Is participating in the course, or 
• Was enrolled for the course on 21st July 2020 

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