Two important avenues for permanent residents have been halted in Quebec.
The Quebec Experience Program-Quebec Graduates (PEQ-Dplômés) is no longer accepting applications, and the province will no longer be inviting applicants for the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ).
These initiatives serve as stepping stones to Canadian permanent residence.
The period of these suspensions will end on June 30, 2025.
Decrease in PR admissions targets and PEQ-DPL CSQ results
The Quebec government anticipates that the halt will significantly lower the number of Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) awarded to PEQ Graduates from the anticipated 14,500 in 2024 to a target of 4500 to 5700 for 2025, as stated in the province’s Immigration Levels Plan, which was made public today.
According to the Ministry, the suspension will help achieve a lower goal of 13,500 to 15,000 admissions to permanent residence through this program in 2025. Between 15,000 and 19,000 admissions were anticipated in 2025 in the absence of this ban.
Those chosen through the PEQ graduate program will now be included in the province’s 50,000 top level permanent residence admissions target for 2025. Last year, Quebec’s yearly Immigration Levels Plan took into account the number of graduates accepted through the PEQ Diplômés separately.
The actions are intended to reduce the number of immigrants entering the province in the upcoming years, according to Jean-François Roberge, Minister of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration.
The PEQ has only suspended its graduate stream. The PEQ worker stream is still available.
The Skilled Worker Selection Program and the Regular Skilled Worker Program are on hold.
The PRTQ and the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP), which will take its place on November 29, 2024, will no longer be used to invite applicants for permanent selection, according to confirmation from the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration.
The largest number of admissions in Quebec immigration is attributable to the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ). The province will have time to restructure the program and launch the Qualified Skilled Worker Selection Program on November 29 as a result of the program halt.
According to Quebec’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025, the government anticipates admitting up to 32,900 economic immigrants in 2025.
Eligibility for PEQ worker stream
To be eligible for the worker stream of the PEQ, applicants must
- show an intention to settle in Quebec to hold a job. Employment cannot be in a ineligible sector;
- have stayed temporarily in Quebec for the purposes of work;
- have had full-time work experience in Quebec for at least 24 months of the 36 months preceding the submission of an application in a 0, A or B level job;
- have legal status in Quebec as a temporary worker or as part of a youth exchange program, such as International Experience Canada (IEC) (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op Internship); and
- be legally in Quebec at the time of the application.
Additional recent advancements
Quebec’s immigration system has undergone several adjustments recently. For instance, the province placed a cap on the total number of foreign citizens from a single nation who might be admitted under the Regular Skilled Worker Program earlier this month. According to Quebec, only 25% of admissions under the PRTQ could be made by foreign nationals from a single nation.
Additionally, the province said that it would no longer accept applications from Montreal-based firms looking to hire temporary foreign workers for positions paying less than the median hourly rate in the province.