Foreign nationals who had previously sought permanent residence through the now-defunct Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) may have their best shot at permanent residence by settling outside Quebec.
The Quebec government closed the PEQ to new applications on November 19, 2025, while Canada’s federal government continues to signal its intention to ramp up francophone immigration outside Quebec.
These immigration trends mean that foreign nationals who had been eligible for the PEQ may have a better shot at permanent residence through settling outside Quebec.
We will look at two (fictional) examples:
- Amos, who was a candidate for the PEQ – Workers stream; and
- Clara, who was a candidate for the PEQ – Graduate stream.
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Amos gets PR through Express Entry
Amos is a 33-year-old foreign worker currently residing in Quebec. He works on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permit as a computer programmer and has built up eligibility for the PEQ – Workers stream by gaining two years of work experience in the province. He also has one year of foreign work experience as a computer programmer.
He currently speaks French at an NCLC level 7. He speaks English at a similar level, but hasn’t taken an English language test.
Amos’s work experience and language skills make him an excellent candidate for permanent residence outside Quebec under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Submitting a profile for the CEC
Amos creates a profile in the Express Entry system, with the hopes of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR).
He notes that as an Express Entry candidate, he must have an intent to reside outside Quebec, and that he will have to demonstrate that intent at the time of his application.
As someone who was eligible under the PEQ – Workers stream, Amos already has many of the documents and information that he needs to submit a candidate profile under the CEC, including:
- Knowledge of what National Occupation Classification (NOC) code and Training Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level his work experience falls under; and
- His basic identity documents, such as a passport and Quebec identification.
However, he will still need
- An English language test, to be able to count points for English proficiency; and
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), since he wants to claim points for his education, which was completed outside Canada.
Amos takes an approved language test for English. Because his primary occupation (computer programmer) is at a TEER 1 level occupation, he must meet a level 7 proficiency in all four language abilities in either English or French.
He scores a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 6 across all language skills in English.
Because Amos scored an NCLC level 7 across all French language skills, he not only qualifies for the CEC but also for Express Entry’s French-language category.
Amos gets his overseas education assessed and earns the equivalent points for a Canadian bachelor’s degree as a result.
Based on his overall factors, Amos’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score (by which all Express Entry candidates are assessed) breaks down as follows:
Core / Human capital
- Age 33: 88
- Education (Bachelor’s): 120
- First official language (French NCLC 7 × 4): 68
- Second official language (English CLB 6 × 4): 4
- Canadian work experience (2 years): 53
Core subtotal: 88 + 120 + 68 + 4 + 53 = 333
- Education + language (post-secondary credential + CLB/NCLC 7+ with at least one ability under CLB 9): 13
- Education + Canadian work (post-secondary credential + 2+ years Canadian work): 25
- Education transferability subtotal = 13 + 25 = 38
- Foreign work (1 year) + language (1–2 years foreign work + CLB/NCLC 7+ with at least one ability under CLB 9): 13
- Foreign work (1 year) + Canadian work (2 years) (1–2 years foreign work + 2+ years Canadian work): 25
Additional points (French + English CLB 5+): 50
Overall CRS score: 459.
While Amos’s score of 459 is significantly lower than the CRS cut-offs for most CEC draws, because he has an NCLC level 7 in French, he is also considered in French category-based draws, which generally have much lower CRS cut-offs.
Based on his current score of 459, Amos would have qualified under the past six French-language draws, allowing him to receive an ITA for PR.
Applying for permanent residence
After receiving his ITA, Amos is able to apply for PR, and must do so within 60 days of receiving his invitation.
Amos must also prove his intention to reside outside of Quebec, something that will be given greater scrutiny since his work experience and current residence is in the province. In support of this, he can attach:
- A written declaration stating his intent;
- Active job search records, showing that he is looking for employment outside of the province; and/or
- Supporting evidence of any family/social ties that he may have outside of Quebec.
Amos applies for PR with all his needed documentation and receives confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) within six months. Soon after, he relocates to British Columbia to start his journey as a Canadian permanent resident.
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Clara gets PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Clara is a 24-year-old living in Québec on a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after finishing her bachelor’s degree last year.
She’s built one year of Canadian work experience in Québec as a Human Resources Manager (a skilled role), and—if PEQ were still available—she would be ready under the PEQ graduate stream.
In the two years left on her PGWP, Clara hopes to be able to submit an application for permanent residence.
Clara’s sister lives in Nova Scotia, so Clara decides to settle there. Having family ties is one of many ways to demonstrate intent to reside in a given province.
Starting the search
Clara considers using the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) to immigrate to Nova Scotia, and does her research on what requirements she may need.
Because Clara didn’t graduate from a school in Atlantic Canada, she focuses on the AIP Skilled Worker route. AIP generally expects:
- an eligible job offer from a designated Atlantic employer;
- work experience (unless you qualify under the Atlantic graduate stream); and
- language and education requirements.
Taking action towards AIP eligibility
Clara learns that the greatest hurdle towards AIP eligibility for her is a job offer from a designated employer, since she already meets language, education, and settlement fund requirements.
So she applies only to Nova Scotia employers designated under AIP, and she’s upfront that she wants to be supported through AIP.
After interviews, Clara receives an eligible job offer from a designated Nova Scotia employer. This offer is the anchor of her whole AIP plan—without it, there’s no AIP pathway.
Clara begins to gather other needed documents for her AIP application, including:
- A language test with an approved testing organization;
- Proof of settlement funds; and
- Proof of her Canadian education.
Settlement plan
AIP has a built-in settlement step. Clara is connected with settlement services and works with them to create a personalized settlement plan (housing, schooling, community support, job market info, etc.).
She then gives the settlement plan to her employer (this is part of the endorsement package, needed for the next step).
Her employer applies to Nova Scotia for endorsement
With Clara’s job offer and her settlement plan (in addition to all other required documents) her employer submits an endorsement application to Nova Scotia’s immigration authority.
Only the employer can apply directly for a Certificate of Endorsement, which must be included in Clara’s permanent residence application.
Clara receives Nova Scotia’s endorsement certificate
Nova Scotia approves the request and issues Clara an endorsement certificate. This endorsement is required before Clara can submit her PR application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under AIP.
Clara submits her PR application to IRCC under AIP
Once endorsed, Clara submits her permanent residence application to IRCC, including the endorsement certificate and the full set of supporting documents. IRCC is the final decision-maker and will assess eligibility and admissibility.
A key part of her application is showing her intent to move to Nova Scotia, which she is able to demonstrate through her job offer and the presence of her sister in the province.
Because Clara still has two years on her PGWP, she is able to move to Nova Scotia prior to her application being finalized and start her work with her new employer. If her PGWP is set to expire while her application for PR is being processed, she will be able to apply for an AIP applicant work permit, which can be issued for up to two years.
Clara settles in Nova Scotia and becomes a permanent resident
Clara’s application under the AIP is approved, and she becomes a permanent resident of Canada.
Though she is already in Nova Scotia, once IRCC approves the application, she completes the final PR landing steps and formally becomes a permanent resident—now building her life outside Québec near her sister.
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams