Quebec re-opens flagship permanent residence pathway
Quebec’s new Premier Christine Fréchette has announced that the province will reopen the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) for a two-year period.
Fréchette made the announcement on May 5 during her inaugural address to the National Assembly of Quebec, wherein she commented on the future of immigration to the province in broad strokes.
"I am... announcing that the Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration will reopen the Quebec Experience Program for two years," the Premier said.
Learn more about your options for immigrating to Quebec
Few additional details were provided. The Premier did not specify when the program will reopen, what eligibility criteria will apply, which candidates will be prioritized, or whether any aspects of the program will differ from its previous form.
The PEQ — Programme de l'expérience québécoise — formally closed on November 19, 2025. Prior to its closure, it was one of the most-used pathways to permanent residence (PR) for international graduates of Quebec institutions and temporary foreign workers already living in the province.
More predictability for French speakers and those in Quebec
The Premier framed the reopening as a measure aimed at people who already speak French and are integrated into Quebec society.
"While respecting our immigration thresholds, we must allow those who already speak French and who are already integrated to have as much predictability as possible," Fréchette said.
The statement directly preceded her PEQ announcement.
Fréchette, who served as Quebec's Minister of Immigration, Francization, and Integration between 2022 and 2024, voiced support for reopening the PEQ during her CAQ leadership campaign earlier this year.
Quebec maintains stance on limited reception capacity
Fréchette also reiterated her government's position that Quebec's overall capacity to welcome newcomers remains limited.
"In Quebec, we have a limited reception capacity because of our language, our culture, and also because our financial capacity is limited," she said.
The Premier specifically raised the issue of asylum seekers, calling for greater federal involvement.
"The federal government must do its part to better distribute them across Canada and to reimburse the costs incurred by the Government of Quebec to welcome them," she said.
Why did Quebec choose to close the PEQ?
The PEQ was officially closed on November 19, 2025, under the previous government of Premier François Legault. Both of the program's streams — the Quebec Graduates stream and the Temporary Foreign Workers stream — had been suspended since October 31, 2024.
The change took place as Canada moved to revamp its immigration strategy in the face of swelling temporary residence numbers—and marked a turning point: the first time in decades that skilled workers with in-province experience and international graduates from Quebec institutions did not have a clear path to PR in the province.
The closure of the PEQ formed part of Quebec's 2026-2029 Immigration Plan, which saw a scaling back of immigration across the province’s programs and streams—setting an annual cap of 45,000 permanent residents.
Quebec is unique among Canadian provinces in the amount of power it can exert over its own immigration intake, stemming from previous agreements signed with the federal government.
Following the closure, the Skilled Worker Selection Program — or Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) — became the sole pathway for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Quebec.
The PSTQ uses a points-based assessment system that prioritizes French language proficiency, Quebec-based work and study experience, education, and other factors.
- Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
- Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
