• If you hold a valid work permit before the regulatory amendments come into effect, the transitional measure applies to you and you can submit an application under the prior conditions of the PEQ – Worker. Therefore, you can submit your application if you fulfil all of the prior conditions, namely: you acquired 12 months of work experience during the 24 months preceding your application; you held a job at the time you submitted your application, whether the job held was at level 0, A, B, C or D; and you have level-7 French proficiency, advanced intermediate.
You are currently in Québec under a working holiday permit (WHP).
• If you hold a valid work permit before the regulatory amendments come into effect, the transitional measure applies to you and you can submit an application under the prior conditions of the PEQ – Worker. Therefore, you can submit your application if you fulfil all of the prior conditions, namely: you acquired 12 months of work experience during the 24 months preceding your application and you held a job at the time you submitted your application.
• If you have not acquired the 12 months of work experience before the end of your permit, you can still be hired by a Québec employer under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program. Businesses are very familiar with this process. This will allow you to obtain the required 12 months of work experience.
You are currently waiting for an extension of your permit and are under implied status.
• The proposed transitional measure ensures that if you hold a valid work permit before the regulatory amendments come into effect, you will be admissible under the prior conditions of the PEQ – Worker. In fact, implied status authorizes you to work under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. You can therefore take advantage of the transitional measure and submit your application if you fulfil all of the prior conditions.
You are still abroad, but are planning to come to Québec to work. You are waiting for your work permit.
• You can submit your application under the PEQ – Worker once you have accumulated 24 months of work experience over the 36 months preceding your application. The job held must be at level 0, A or B under the NOC in Québec. You must also be employed at the time you submit your application and have level-7 French proficiency.
You will be arriving in Québec soon, but have a work permit for a period of less than 24 months.
• You can, before your work permit expires, submit an application to renew your permit, if it is renewable, or apply for a new work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. We recommend that you begin the renewal process three months before your permit expires.
• If you accumulate 24 months of admissible work experience during the 36 months preceding your application, you can submit an application under the PEQ – Worker.
• You can also express your interest in immigrating to Québec on Arrima. If you obtain a job offer validated by your employer, you will have a greater chance of obtaining an invitation to submit an application for permanent selection under the Regular Skilled Worker Program.
You are wondering if your professional experience is admissible under the PEQ.
• You must hold an admissible full-time job at level 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification.
• To find out the competency level of the occupation practised in Québec:
o consult the NOC website by searching the title of the job practised.
o consult the National Occupational Classification matrix accessible on the NOC website under Hierarchy and structure
• Under the National Occupational Classification (NOC), occupations at level 0 correspond to management positions; jobs at level A are professional positions that generally require a university diploma; jobs at level B are technical or specialized jobs that generally require a college diploma or a diploma of vocational studies.
You submitted your application under the PEQ – Worker and are waiting for it to be processed.
• If your application was submitted before the regulation entered into effect, it will be reviewed based on the conditions that applied at the time your application was submitted. Even if the draft regulation enters into effect while your application is being processed, the new conditions will not apply to your application.
• Moreover, note that despite the context of the pandemic, the Ministère is continuing to process applications for Québec selection certificates under the PEQ – Worker as fast as possible.
