Quebec shutters PEQ pathway — what it means for temporary workers and international graduates
Quebec has announced a major shift in its immigration intake: the province will close the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise — PEQ), including both the Quebec Graduates and Temporary Foreign Workers streams. The closure takes effect November 19, 2025. In addition, three time-limited provincial pilot programs will end on January 1, 2026 as planned.
The move restructures Quebec’s permanent-selection landscape and pushes skilled-worker hopefuls toward the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) as the principal route for permanent residence in the province.
What is changing — the essentials
- PEQ (Québec Graduate & Temporary Foreign Worker streams): Closed effective November 19, 2025. Both streams had already been paused since October 31, 2024 and will now be terminated.
- Permanent immigration pilots: Three pilot programs (food processing workers, orderlies, and AI/IT/visual-effects workers) will end on January 1, 2026, except that a Francophone stream within the AI pilot remains open for limited intake until December 31, 2025.
- Remaining pathway: The PSTQ (Skilled Worker Selection Program) will become Quebec’s principal route for skilled-worker permanent selection.
- Existing applications: Applications already submitted under PEQ and the pilot programs will continue to be processed by Quebec’s immigration ministry (MIFI). Requests to add family members for already-selected applicants will also be processed.
Why Quebec made the change (context & aims)
Quebec’s decision follows a broader reorientation of provincial immigration priorities: the province aims to better align permanent admissions with labour-market needs, language and francization goals, and regional settlement strategies. By consolidating selection through the PSTQ and ending the PEQ, Quebec is signalling a desire for more targeted selection criteria (including an emphasis on French-language ability) and greater control over which candidates are invited for permanent selection.
The change also reflects how provinces are recalibrating intake following shifts at the federal level and evolving local labour demands.
Who will be affected
- International graduates and temporary foreign workers in Quebec who were relying on PEQ as a fast route to PR will be most directly impacted.
- Applicants with in-progress PEQ or pilot-file applications: their files remain active and will be processed normally — they are not automatically refused because of the closure.
- Prospective applicants who had planned to use PEQ going forward must now explore alternative options such as the PSTQ, federal streams, or employer-driven provincial pathways where available.
- Employers and educational institutions who relied on PEQ to retain graduates and workers will need to adapt recruitment and retention strategies.
The PSTQ: Quebec’s existing alternative (overview)
With PEQ closed, the PSTQ (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés) is the main route for permanent selection. Key points:
- How it works: Candidates submit a declaration of interest in the Arrima portal. Selected candidates receive an invitation to apply for a Quebec selection certificate.
- Four PSTQ streams:
- Highly qualified and specialized skills
- Intermediate and manual skills
- Regulated professions
- Exceptional talent
- Typical requirements: be 18+, intend to settle in Quebec, demonstrate ability to do the job, show short-term financial self-sufficiency, complete required civic learning attestation, and meet any stream-specific conditions.
- Selection factors: language ability (French/English), education, work experience, wage level, regional priorities and other criteria factored into ranking.
What applicants should do now — practical guidance
- If you already applied under PEQ or a pilot: do nothing immediately — MIFI will continue processing your application. Keep your contact details up to date and respond promptly to any MIFI requests.
- If you were planning to apply under PEQ: prepare to submit a PSTQ declaration of interest through Arrima (or pursue other provincial/federal routes). Start collecting documents (employment records, language test results, education credentials) now.
- Improve francophone prospects: Quebec has emphasized French language skills in recent selection priorities. If possible, take recognized French tests and gather proof of francophone integration (work, study, community ties).
- Talk to your employer: employer-backed streams or job offers that align with PSTQ priorities will strengthen applications — employers may be able to support permanent-selection applications.
- Keep copies of everything: maintain records of study, work history, paystubs, tax slips (T4s), contracts, and employer reference letters — these are commonly required for provincial selection.
- Seek expert help where needed: immigration rules are changing. If unsure about eligibility or next steps, consult a licensed immigration professional or legal advisor.
What this means for Quebec’s immigration strategy
- Narrower intake channels: By consolidating selection under PSTQ, Quebec raises the importance of targeted selection criteria rather than an open, experience-based PEQ funnel.
- Stronger francophone focus: The province’s public statements and selection patterns indicate an increasing premium on French proficiency for permanent selection.
- Employment alignment: PSTQ allows Quebec to prioritize specific skills and occupations that match labour-market shortages across regions and sectors.
- Transition period: Applicants already in the system will still move forward, but new hopefuls will operate under the PSTQ framework and its scoring/prioritization methods.
Quick checklist for those affected
- Confirm whether your PEQ or pilot application is already filed — if yes, monitor communications from MIFI.
- Register or update an Arrima profile and prepare a PSTQ declaration of interest.
- Collect and translate (if needed) all employment, education, and identity documents.
- Take a recognized French test (if possible) and retain results.
- Talk to your employer about job offers and support for provincial nomination.
- Consider federal options (Express Entry, PNPs in other provinces) if Quebec routes are not viable.
Bottom line
Quebec’s closure of the PEQ pathways represents a major policy shift that removes a once-popular route for graduates and temporary workers. While current applicants under PEQ and pilot schemes will continue to be processed, new applicants must pivot quickly to the PSTQ or alternative provincial/federal pathways. Language ability, employer support, and careful document preparation will be central to success under the reconfigured system.
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