If you are eligible for Quebec’s Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ), the clock is ticking. The first application intake period reopened on July 2, 2026, but it will close on October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Montreal time.
That deadline matters because applicants who miss this intake window will not be able to submit a PEQ application until Quebec announces another intake period.
For eligible graduates and temporary foreign workers, this is not the time to leave an application until the last minute. Understanding the eligibility rules, French-language requirements, Arrima process, and document requirements can help avoid an unnecessary delay or refusal.
What Is the Quebec PEQ?
The Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) is Quebec’s immigration pathway for certain international graduates and temporary foreign workers who want to obtain a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
The CSQ is an important step toward Canadian permanent residence in Quebec. Once selected by Quebec, applicants can continue with the federal permanent residence process through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The PEQ was abolished on November 19, 2025, as part of Quebec’s immigration planning changes. However, Quebec temporarily revived the program on July 2, 2026, for a two-year period ending July 2, 2028.
The catch? Applications are being accepted through separate intake periods rather than continuously.
And the first PEQ intake deadline is October 31, 2026.
Who Can Apply During the October 31 PEQ Intake?
This first intake period is specifically aimed at people who already met the applicable PEQ eligibility requirements when the program was abolished on November 19, 2025.
That means simply becoming eligible in 2026 does not automatically make someone eligible for this particular intake.
There are two main PEQ streams:
- Quebec graduates
- Temporary foreign workers
Applicants must establish that they met the relevant requirements as of November 19, 2025.
Quebec Graduate Stream Requirements
The Quebec graduates stream covers applicants who had obtained an eligible Quebec qualification by November 19, 2025.
Accepted qualifications include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree
- Doctoral degree
- Technical college diploma (DEC technique)
- Vocational studies diploma (DEP) of at least 1,800 hours
- A qualifying DEP combined with an attestation of vocational specialization
Not every Quebec diploma qualifies, so applicants should carefully verify the credential they held on the relevant date.
Temporary Foreign Worker Stream
The temporary foreign worker stream is aimed at individuals who had accumulated at least two years of Quebec work experience by November 19, 2025.
The qualifying experience must have been in an occupation classified under FEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).
This makes the occupation classification and work history particularly important when preparing a PEQ application.
Is There a Cap on PEQ Applications?
One of the more important points for applicants is that there is no application cap for this intake period.
Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) has confirmed that there is no maximum number of applications it will receive during this period.
So applicants do not need to compete for a limited number of application spots.
However, that does not mean applicants should wait.
The application must still meet the intake requirements, be submitted through Arrima, and contain the required information and supporting documents.
MIFI will first assess whether an application is admissible before moving to the selection stage.
French Language Requirements Still Matter
Here is where many applicants need to pay close attention.
French remains a major part of the Quebec immigration process, and PEQ applicants must declare their French proficiency when submitting their permanent selection application.
MIFI can also verify an applicant’s French proficiency, including through an interview.
Accepted evidence can include results from recognized French-language tests and diplomas, including:
- TCF Québec
- TCF Canada
- TCF
- TEFAQ
- TEF Canada
- TEF
- DELF
- DALF
Language test results generally must be no more than two years old when the application is submitted.
For an accompanying spouse or de facto partner, the required oral French level is level 4 or higher on Quebec’s French proficiency scale.
So if your application depends on French-language evidence, checking the validity of your test result should be part of your pre-submission review.
What Happens After You Submit a PEQ Application?
Submitting the application does not mean the CSQ is automatically approved.
MIFI will first review the application for admissibility. Eligible files can then proceed to the selection stage under the relevant PEQ stream.
Applicants should also prepare for potentially longer processing times.
MIFI has warned that it is not renewing the previous six-month processing commitment because the number of applications received during the intake period could be substantial.
In practical terms, applicants should not build their immigration plans around an assumption that their PEQ application will be finalized within six months.
During processing, applicants must also maintain valid temporary resident status where applicable and renew their work permit if necessary.
Can You Apply Through PEQ and PSTQ?
Yes, there are circumstances where an applicant can have both a PEQ application and a Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) application in progress.
The two applications can be processed in parallel.
However, there is no automatic accelerated processing simply because an applicant has applications in both programs.
Applicants who submit both applications must also pay the applicable processing fees for each application.
This is one area where getting professional immigration advice can help applicants understand which pathway makes the most sense for their individual circumstances.
How to Submit Your PEQ Application
PEQ applications must be submitted through Quebec’s Arrima portal.
Applicants should be particularly careful about using the correct forms. MIFI states that the forms made available from June 17, 2026, are the forms accepted for this intake.
Using outdated forms can create an avoidable problem before the application even reaches the substantive assessment stage.
Before submitting, applicants should review:
- PEQ eligibility
- Eligibility date of November 19, 2025
- Quebec education or work experience
- FEER/NOC classification where applicable
- French-language evidence
- Supporting documents
- Current immigration status
- Work permit validity
- Arrima forms
- Application fees
A rushed application can create problems that are much harder to fix after submission.
What Happens to Quebec’s PSTQ After October 31?
The PEQ intake is also affecting Quebec’s broader skilled worker immigration strategy.
Until October 31, 2026, Quebec is reducing PSTQ invitations and focusing mainly on certain candidates, including people working in FEER 4 and 5 occupations and individuals who have not yet accumulated two years of work experience.
From November 2026, Quebec plans to adjust PSTQ invitation volumes based partly on the number of applications received during this first PEQ intake.
The objective is to keep Quebec’s permanent resident admissions aligned with its 2026–2029 immigration targets.
For applicants who are not eligible for this PEQ intake, the PSTQ and future PEQ intake periods may therefore become increasingly important.
What Should Eligible Applicants Do Before October 31?
If you already met the PEQ requirements on November 19, 2025, don’t treat October 31 as a distant deadline.
Treat it as a submission deadline.
Start by confirming your eligibility date, then check your education or Quebec work experience, French-language evidence, immigration status and supporting documentation.
Most importantly, leave enough time to identify missing documents or inconsistencies before submitting through Arrima.
The deadline is October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Montreal time.
If you miss this intake, you will have to wait for another intake period announced by Quebec.
Need Help With Your Quebec PEQ Application?
Quebec immigration rules can change quickly, and the difference between being eligible for the current intake and waiting for a future intake can come down to a specific date, credential, work experience or document.
Visa Nexa can help applicants understand their Quebec immigration options, review their eligibility and prepare for the next stage of the Canadian permanent residence process.
If you believe you qualified for the PEQ as of November 19, 2025, the October 31 deadline is the date you need to keep firmly on your radar.
Don’t wait until the final hours to discover that something is missing from your application.
