Quebec’s new Premier, Christine Fréchette, has announced that the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) will return for a two-year period after being suspended and later closed over the past two years.
The PEQ was previously one of the most popular immigration pathways for international graduates and foreign workers with study or work experience in Quebec. After its closure, many applicants were left with only the PSTQ system, which uses a points-based selection process similar to Express Entry.
The Premier said the goal is to give more predictability to people who already speak French and are integrated into Quebec society. However, no reopening date or new eligibility details have been announced yet.
Quebec also repeated that it wants to limit overall immigration levels due to financial, cultural, and language-related pressures, while asking Ottawa to take more responsibility for asylum seekers arriving in the province.
The PEQ closure in 2025 marked the first time in decades that many temporary residents and Quebec graduates no longer had a direct and clear pathway to permanent residence in the province.
