Quebec has introduced major changes in PEQ program for international students and those with work experience in Quebec which must meet in order to obtain permanent residence .
The changes affect the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, or PEQ). Some changes take effect on November 1, 2019, while others only start in the new year.
A key change is the introduction of an in-demand occupations list (available in French only) for worker applicants.
Those with work experience in the province who wish to apply to the PEQ must now have worked in an occupation on the list. The amount of work experience required depends on the job’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.
Those who work in occupations on the new in-demand list that are rated NOC 0, A, or B must have 12 months of Quebec work experience.
Those who work in NOC C or D occupations on the list need 18 months of work experience in the province.
International students applying to the PEQ will have to ensure their area of training is one of the Quebec degrees listed under sections A and B of Quebec’s Area of Training list.
Changes to the Québec Immigration Regulation
Changes to the Québec Immigration Regulation were published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on October 30, 2019. These changes are designed to better respond to job market needs and to facilitate the full participation of immigrants in Québec society, in French. Most of the changes enter into effect on November 1, 2019, with a few exceptions that will enter into effect on January 1, 2020. Moreover, effective November 1, 2019, the Ministère is implementing decisions regarding the rules for managing applications for certain immigration programs. The content of these decisions can be found on the page regarding Immigration rules and procedures.
Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program)
Effective November 1, 2019, Québec graduates can again submit applications for permanent selection under the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ – Québec experience program). Temporary foreign workers can continue to submit applications. Effective November 1, 2019, new selection conditions apply to all applications, whether they were submitted before or after this date.
Québec graduates
Effective November 1, 2019, Québec diplomas admissible under the PEQ are:
• Bachelor’s Degree (undergraduate university degree)
• Master’s Degree
• Doctorate (PhD)
• Diploma of College Studies - Technical
• Vocational Diploma, with or without attestation of vocational specialization, obtained consecutively, attesting to a minimum of 900 hours of study
• Attestation of Vocational Specialization attesting to a minimum of 900 hours of study
• Attestation of College Studies attesting to a minimum of 900 hours of study
To be eligible, these attestations or diplomas must be included on the List of Areas of Training under the PEQ – Graduates (in French only – 437 kB). This list contains the areas of training in Québec that best respond to job market needs.
Candidates must also have completed a minimum of 900 hours of full-time study in Québec or, if their attestation or diploma attests to more than 1,800 hours of study, they must have lived in Québec for at least half of the duration of their study program.
Lastly, for study programs of 900 hours to less than 1,800 hours, candidates must have 6 months of full-time work experience, in Québec, acquired after their study program and in their area of training.
Temporary foreign workers
Effective November 1, 2019, temporary foreign workers eligible for the PEQ must:
• hold a job on the List of Jobs in Demand eligible under the PEQ - workers component (in French only – 243 kB). This list is comprised of the trades and professions most in demand on the Québec job market
• for jobs in levels 0, A and B in the National Occupational Classification, have held a job on theList of Jobs in Demand eligible under the PEQ - workers component (in French only – 243 kB) for a minimum period of 12 months during the 24 months preceding submission of the application
• for jobs in levels C and D in the National Occupational Classification, have held a job on the List of Jobs in Demand eligible under the PEQ - workers component (in French only – 243 kB) for a minimum period of 18 months during the 24 months preceding submission of the application
• for regulated professions, have respected the employment requirements stipulated in the National Occupational Classification and the specific conditions in the job offer
Language requirements
As of January 1, 2020, changes to language requirements will affect both groups of PEQ applicants.
In order to demonstrate their French proficiency applicants will have three options:
• take a standardized test;
• meet the criteria set by a professional order; or
• complete at least three years of full-time studies in French at the secondary or postsecondary level.
New language requirements will also be imposed on spousal visa applicants.
Both the applicant and their spouse will have to demonstrate a high intermediate level of French, or a CLB 7 or 8.
In addition, the job held must not be:
• in an ineligible field, under Part 2 of Schedule E of the Québec Immigration Regulation, namely: loans on salaries, cheque cashing or pawn broking, or production, distribution, sale of pornography or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massages
• in the form of self-employment or for a company controlled by the candidate in any way
Effective January 1, 2020, only the following means are admissible for attesting to knowledge of French:
• result of a standardized test
• fulfillment of the language requirements of a professional order
• successful completion of at least three years of secondary or post-secondary study conducted entirely in French
Moreover, effective January 1, 2020, the spouse or de facto spouse included in the application for selection must demonstrate advanced intermediate knowledge of spoken French (level 7 or 8 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétences en français des personnes immigrantes adultes).
Attestation of the learning of democratic values and Québec values expressed in the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
Effective January 1, 2020, a new selection condition related to the learning of democratic values and Québec values expressed in the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms will come into effect in order to promote better integration of immigrants into Québec society. It will apply to all economic immigration programs, namely, the PEQ, PRTQ, Self-Employed Worker Program, Entrepreneur Program and Investor Program.
This new condition will apply to principal applicants, their spouses (aged 16 or over) and dependent children aged 18 or over. However, it will not apply to foreign nationals who have a medical condition that prevents them from obtaining the attestation.
