Quebec to reopen PEQ pathway on July 2, 2026
Quebec’s immigration ministry has confirmed that the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) will resume accepting applications beginning July 2, 2026. The reopening establishes a two-year window for the program, set to remain in place until July 2, 2028.
The announcement provides new timelines for a key provincial pathway to permanent residence, following its earlier suspension in November 2025. The update outlines a phased intake process and maintains previously established eligibility conditions.
The program primarily affects temporary foreign workers and international graduates in Quebec who were previously eligible under PEQ streams prior to its closure.
- PEQ will reopen on July 2, 2026, and run until July 2, 2028
- First intake phase scheduled from July 2 to October 31, 2026
- No application cap during the initial phase
- Both graduate and worker streams will be included
- Eligibility criteria remain unchanged from 2025 rules
- Quebec intends to transition permanently to a different selection system
Program reactivation and timeline details
The PEQ will resume operations in two distinct phases, beginning with a limited intake window in 2026. Authorities have stated that the first phase will open at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 2 and continue through October 31, 2026.
This initial stage is specifically designed for individuals who met eligibility requirements before the program was suspended. It applies to both major PEQ streams that were active prior to November 2025.
The government has indicated that an equivalent number of Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) will be issued across the two streams during this phase. No upper limit has been set on the number of applications accepted within this intake period.
Streams included in the reopening
The reopening covers two established PEQ categories: the international graduate stream and the foreign worker stream. Both streams had been central to Quebec’s selection model for candidates with prior education or work experience in the province.
Applicants who qualified under either stream before the closure date will be eligible to submit applications during the first phase. The inclusion of both streams reflects the program’s original structure prior to its suspension.
Officials have not announced changes to how candidates are distributed between the two streams, but have stated that issuance of CSQs will remain balanced.
Eligibility rules remain unchanged
The immigration ministry has confirmed that eligibility conditions will stay consistent with those in effect at the time the PEQ was suspended. This includes criteria related to work experience, education credentials, and language requirements.
No new selection thresholds or additional requirements have been introduced for the reopening phase. This approach maintains continuity for applicants who were previously preparing to submit under the program.
The decision to retain prior criteria distinguishes the reopening from broader reforms being implemented in Quebec’s immigration system.
Context: suspension and transition plans
The PEQ was suspended in stages in late 2025, with the graduate stream paused and the worker stream fully closed by November 19, 2025. The suspension formed part of a broader shift in how Quebec manages permanent immigration selection.
Authorities have stated that the PEQ reopening is temporary. The province plans to eventually discontinue the program and consolidate selection under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).
The PSTQ is expected to serve as Quebec’s primary system for selecting economic immigrants in the future, replacing earlier pathways such as the PEQ.
During the interim period leading up to October 31, 2026, Quebec will adjust its invitation strategy within the PSTQ framework.
Changes to PSTQ invitations
Between July and October 2026, the province intends to reduce the number of invitations issued through the PSTQ. Invitations during this period will focus primarily on specific groups within the labour market.
Priority will be given to candidates working in occupations classified under Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) levels 4 and 5. These categories generally correspond to roles requiring lower levels of formal education or training.
Additionally, candidates who have not yet accumulated two years of work experience may also be targeted during these PSTQ invitation rounds.
This temporary shift aligns with the reopening of the PEQ and the need to manage application volumes across multiple selection pathways.
Comparison with other provincial programs
Quebec operates its own immigration selection system, separate from federal programs such as Express Entry. Unlike other provinces, it issues CSQs to selected candidates before federal permanent residence processing.
Across Canada, provincial nominee programs (PNPs) continue to function as key immigration pathways. Provinces such as Manitoba use selection-based systems under frameworks like the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), which ranks candidates based on factors including work experience and connections to the province.
These systems differ structurally from Quebec’s PEQ, which focuses more narrowly on candidates with direct in-province experience through study or work.
The reopening of the PEQ adds another layer to Canada’s broader immigration landscape, where multiple provinces operate parallel selection mechanisms tailored to regional needs.
Background on PEQ’s role in Quebec immigration
The Quebec Experience Program has historically served as a streamlined pathway for individuals already integrated into the province’s labour market or education system. It was introduced to retain talent trained or employed within Quebec.
The program gained prominence due to its relatively direct route to obtaining a CSQ compared with other immigration streams. Its criteria emphasized Quebec-based experience rather than broader points-based competition.
Over time, adjustments were made to eligibility rules and intake volumes as Quebec refined its immigration priorities. The 2025 suspension marked a significant pause in the program’s operation.
The 2026 reopening represents a transitional measure rather than a permanent reinstatement, according to official statements from the immigration ministry.
Announcement timeline and official confirmation
Initial confirmation that the PEQ would return was issued in May 2026, although specific dates were not provided at that time. The latest announcement clarifies both the reopening date and operational structure.
The full timeline and implementation details were released on June 10, 2026, through an official government communication. This update establishes the framework for application intake and program duration through 2028.
Further updates may follow as the reopening moves closer and as Quebec continues to adjust its immigration programs.
Ongoing developments
The PEQ reopening is part of a broader period of transition within Quebec’s immigration system, with future selection expected to centre on the PSTQ.
Details regarding the second phase of the PEQ intake and longer-term changes to selection processes have not yet been fully outlined.
The confirmed reopening date of July 2, 2026, and the defined first application window through October 31, 2026, remain the most immediate milestones for the program.
Additional updates related to Quebec immigration programs and provincial selection systems continue to be monitored as new information is released.