Quebec updates eligibility criteria for PEQ Graduates program. Graduates from Quebec post-secondary institutions who wish to settle in the province will soon face stricter French-language requirements in their education. As of November 23, only those programs where 75% of courses or credits were completed in French will qualify for the PEQ Graduates stream.

These changes apply differently to college and university students:

  • Vocational and College Training Programs: 75% of courses must be completed in French.
  • University Undergraduate Programs: 75% of program credits must be completed in French.
  • University Master’s or PhD Programs: 75% of program credits must be completed in French.

Exceptions: Theses, master’s dissertations, internships, and research labs may be completed in languages other than French, but all other program courses or credits must meet the French-language requirement.

Furthermore, graduates from Quebec post-secondary institutions whose program met PEQ eligibility but didn’t fulfill the French-language criteria may still qualify for this immigration stream if they have completed at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary studies in French, whether in Quebec or abroad.

Temporary suspension of PEQ Graduate applications

The Graduate component of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) has undergone a temporary suspension, halting applications until June 30, 2025. This pause was announced by Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration (MIFI), which manages the province’s immigration policies and programs.

Due to this halt, MIFI forecasts that only between 4,500 and 5,700 Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) will be issued to PEQ Graduate applicants in 2025. This is a significant reduction from the approximately 14,500 CSQs expected for this category in 2024, as detailed in Quebec’s new Immigration Levels Plan. The limited 2025 issuance is designated for candidates who applied to the PEQ Graduate program before the freeze on selections took effect.

Additionally, MIFI has paused invitations to applicants under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) — which will soon be renamed the Skilled Worker Selection Program — also until June 30, 2025. This pause affects all applicants seeking permanent residence through this program.

Alternative immigration pathways for PEQ candidates outside of Quebec

Although the temporary pause in selections for the PEQ Graduate component may pose challenges for candidates within this program, alternative immigration pathways remain available outside Quebec.

A notable option is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), part of Canada’s Express Entry system, which serves as a federal equivalent to the PEQ. The CEC requires candidates to have completed at least one year of work experience within Canada and to demonstrate language proficiency—either in English or French—at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 or 7, depending on the occupation.

Another viable route for PEQ candidates is the Express Entry category-based selection for French-speaking applicants. In this category, eligible candidates with a valid Express Entry profile may receive invitations at lower ranking scores. To qualify under the French-speaking category, applicants must achieve a CLB level 7 across all language skills, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking.