Two months after the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) reopened, applications had already exceeded the government’s forecast for the entire four-month intake period.

On October 16, 2026, the government released information showing that Quebec received 12,364 applications during July and August.

At a press conference on June 10, Quebec’s Immigration Minister François Bonnardel had estimated that between 8,000 and 12,000 people would apply through the PEQ by October 31. This is the deadline for temporary foreign workers and Quebec graduates to submit applications during the first intake period.

No additional intake periods have been announced. The provincial government plans to end the PEQ by July 2028.

The Parti Québécois, which has promised to reduce annual permanent resident admissions from 45,000 to 35,000, is expected to form a minority government and appoint its cabinet on October 21, following Quebec’s October fifth election.

Quebec’s Main Pathway For Workers And Graduates

The PEQ is Quebec’s only immigration pathway that gives eligible foreign workers and international graduates a direct opportunity to apply for permanent selection.

On June 10, 2026, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) announced that the program would reopen from July second to October thirty-first. The intake is available to foreign nationals who met the eligibility requirements as of November 19, 2025, when the program’s previous permanent closure took effect.

The ministry also announced plans to issue a comparable number of Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) and the PEQ during its 2026 to 2029 immigration planning period, which ends on December 31, 2029.

In June, MIFI said it would adjust the number of invitations issued through the PSTQ from November onward, after the first PEQ intake closes. These adjustments would depend on the number of PEQ applications received.

By the end of August, the number of PSTQ applications had reached 12,152

Quebec Graduates Account For Most Applications

Most PEQ applications arrived in July, with the Quebec Graduates stream accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total applications received during the two-month period.

PEQ stream July August
Quebec Graduates 6,861 1,077
Temporary Foreign Workers 3,626 800

The figures show that applications declined in August for both streams after a strong start in July.

What Happens After The PEQ Ends?

Once the PEQ ends, foreign nationals seeking economic immigration to Quebec will no longer have a pathway that guarantees an opportunity to apply for permanent selection.

Instead, applicants will need to use the PSTQ. They must create an expression of interest profile through Quebec’s Arrima online system and compete with other candidates under the province’s ranking system. Only candidates who receive invitations can proceed with an application for permanent selection.

Work Permit Options For Eligible Applicants

The federal government has introduced measures to help certain PSTQ applicants continue working in Quebec while their permanent selection applications are assessed.

Since March 13, 2026, foreign workers invited through the PSTQ who have submitted a Demande de sélection permanente (DSP) may apply for an employer-specific work permit exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The permit can be valid for up to 12 months.

Moreover, applicants must hold, or have recently held, an employer-specific work permit for employment in Quebec and intend to continue working for the same employer.

Workers with valid permits must have permits expiring on or before December 31, 2026. Those whose permits have expired must have applied for renewal before expiry or, if their permits expired on or after March 13, 2026, apply to restore their status.

Moreover, on June 5, 2026, federal immigration authorities expanded the policy to include open work permits for spouses and common-law partners listed as accompanying family members on the worker’s DSP.

The federal government will end this temporary policy on December 31, 2026.

CWRVisa, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at CWRVisa.ca.