Quebec’s immigration ministry has announced that the Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ) will re-open on July 2, 2026, and the permanent residence pathway will remain open for a two-year period, bringing relief and hope to thousands of Indians planning to settle in Canada. The pathway will open in two phases, with the first phase from July 2 to October 31, 2026, focused on foreign nationals who were eligible for the PEQ at the time of its closure on November 19, 2025.
This first phase will include foreign nationals who have qualified through both PEQ streams: the international graduate stream and the foreign worker stream. There will be no change in the eligibility criteria for both streams.
Besides, there will be no cap on applications for the first phase.
Till October 31, the Quebec government will scale back on invitations through the Skilled Worker Selection Programme (PSTQ) and will be targeting candidates working in TEER 4 or 5 occupations, along with candidates with less than two years of work experience.
The PEQ re-opening is a temporary measure, and Quebec’s immigration ministry intends to close the programme and handle all permanent residence selection only through PSTQ.
The reopening will provide significant relief to thousands of Indian students and skilled workers in the French-speaking province of Quebec. Indians constitute one of the largest groups of international students in Canada, and many of them choose Quebec for its affordable education and employment opportunities.
Trending Stories
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
DMK founder Karunanidhi’s granddaughter booked for slapping SBI branch manager | Video
)
NEET row: PM Modi appoints Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani as head of new exam reforms task force
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Hidden in British archives: Scientists decode 200-year-old Indian scroll that helped sailors cross one of the world's toughest seas
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
Iran tells Pakistan it has not withdrawn from negotiations but suspended them: Report
)
'House raided, father picked up': UP man Mohd Junaid alleges crackdown after CJP protest; Police deny claims
)
US intel assessment signals potential shift in Iran’s nuclear stance under Mojtaba Khamenei
)
Houthis strike Saudi oil facilities, shoot down drone in escalating tensions: VIDEO
)
Oil tanker explodes in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana trailer leaks online again; fans urge for official release
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Indian Idol 16 crowns Jyotirmayee Nayak; Tanishk Shukla finishes second
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs in a calendar year
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Lock Upp elimination takes dramatic turn as Shivangi Joshi's candid admission grabs attention
)
Brazil denies visas to US officials amid fears of meddling in upcoming presidential election
)
Google ends Play Services Support, likely to stop these Android phones from downloading apps & games
)
US says Turkey still barred from F-35 program until it gives up Russian S-400 system: Report
)
Bihar wants 'backless Saturday’ in govt schools as official notice misspells 'bagless'
)
Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect, to lead PM’s high-powered task force
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
David Jonsson is the new Black Panther: Before his Marvel debut, revisit his best movies and TV shows on OTT
)
Dhanush breaks silence on National Award backlash with Ajith Kumar's iconic dialogue, 'If you're bad, I'm your dad'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
Pakistan army chief used private oil venture to keep Iran attacks off Saudi Arabia: Report
)
Russia-Ukraine War | 12 Killed in Zaporizhzhia Strike | Zelenskyy Warns of New Russian Mobilization
)
Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband Ojani Noa claims he confronted Sean 'Diddy' Combs over alleged affair
)
‘Don't cry after elections': Owaisi extends alliance offer to Akhilesh for UP polls
)
Berlin Pride attack suspect shot dead by police; incident classified as ‘Islamist terror’ attack
)
India's foreign ministry debunks viral claim made during last week's protests
The reopening of PEQ will provide them a faster route to obtaining permanent residence.
Many Indians employed on a temporary basis in sectors facing labour shortages may also benefit from the pathway.
Immigration Minister François Bonnardel on Wednesday announced the reopening of the PEQ for two years and said between 8,000 and 12,000 people are expected to apply in the first phase.
“The PSTQ is not dead. It will not die. It is the PSTQ that will support newcomers in the years to come,” Bonnardel added.
Quebec lowered its targets for the coming years to 45,000 new permanent residents annually under its 2026–29 plan.
Prior to its termination, the PEQ was a popular fast-track pathway to permanent residency till the Quebec government under François Legault abolished the programme.
Hundreds of people participated in demonstrations earlier this year calling for the PEQ's reinstatement, a demand also voiced by city mayors, business groups and unions.
Former immigration minister, Jean-François Roberge, refused to reinstate the PEQ or provide exemptions to those already in the province and instead created the PSTQ.
He insisted the program better meets Quebec's needs as it allows the government to select candidates based on several criteria, including knowledge of French, while also prioritizing those located outside the greater Montreal area.
