The Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Foreign Workers is a pathway for international workers with work experience in the province. If eligible, you can get a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and then apply for Canada PR through the Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP) within 2 years. If you are a Quebec Graduate, you can immigrate to the province through the PEQ for Quebec Graduate pathway.
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The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ): Overview
- Eligibility Requirements
- Applying for Quebec Permanent Selection
- Applying for Canada PR
- List of Documents
- Processing Time and Fees
- Ineligible Jobs and Work Experience for Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
If you want to settle in Quebec without any prior work experience in the province, apply to the Regular Skilled Worker Program.
Eligibility Requirements
The most important eligibility criterion for the Quebec Experience Program is to have valid work experience in the province. You should be living and working in Quebec at the time of application.
| Eligibility Factors | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Work Experience in Québec | You must have a valid work experience of at least 2 years in the last 3 years, in jobs that are: – In Quebec – Belong to the NOC TEER category 0,1, 2, or 3 – Full-time (30 hrs/week) – Paid Note: You can include non-continuous work only if it is full-time. Part-time work is not eligible for the Quebec Experience Program |
| Current job in Quebec | You must be currently working in Quebec in a job that is: – In NOC TEER levels 0,1,2 or 3 – Full-time – Paid – Does not belong to the list of ineligible sectors – Must have been working for the past 2 years within 3 years |
| Status in Canada | You must be legally working in Canada. This means that you should either be – a temporary foreign worker with a work permit – Be in a youth exchange program – Have a Working holiday permit – Young Professional permit or International Co-op Internship permit |
| Language Proficiency | To qualify for the Quebec Experience Program, you must score at least NCLC 7 in French proficiency tests. If your spouse or common-law partner accompanies you to the province, they must score at least level 4 in French language tests. Quebec accepts a. TEFAQ b. TCF-Quebec c. TCF-Canada d. TEF-Canada e. DELF – Diploma in French language studies f. DALF – Advanced French language diploma |
| Age | You should be at least 18 years old |
| Aim to settle | Have intention and plans to settle and Quebec permanently |
| Funds | You must have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members while living in Quebec |
Minimum Funds required
To be eligible for the Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Foreign Workers, you must ensure financial stability and security. Depending upon the number of members in your family, the minimum annual income is given below.
| Number of family members | Annual Income in Canadian Dollars |
|---|---|
| 01 | $28,242 |
| 02 | $38,124 |
| 03 | $47,068 |
| 04 | $54,135 |
| 05 | $60,250 |
How to apply for Quebec Permanent Selection?
Make sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements for the Quebec Experience Program as a skilled worker. If you meet all the mandatory requirements follow the steps below.
- Create an account in Arrima and initiate an application for the Quebec Experience Program – Temporary Foreign Worker category.
- Upload all the mandatory documents
- Pay the application fee of $895 (Canadian Dollars)
- Submit the application for Quebec Permanent Selection for temporary foreign workers.
- The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI) will send you a request to get the attestation of learning about democratic values and the Quebec values.
- Obtain this attestation within 60 days
- While processing your application, the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIDI) might ask you for an interview.
- If the MIDI accepts and approves your application, they will send you a Quebec Selection Certificate or CSQ. They will also email you about the further process for Canada PR.
Applying for a Canada PR visa after getting the CSQ
Getting a Certificat de sélection du Québec (Quebec Selection Certificate) implies that the province of Quebec has selected you to work and settle in the province. However, you still need to apply to IRCC for a Canada PR visa to settle in the country as a permanent resident. To apply for a Canada PR visa follow the steps below:
- Ensure that you have a valid work permit
- Create an IRCC account and initiate a PR application
- Select the Quebec Skilled Worker Program
- Upload all the documents and fill in the forms listed in the application
- Pay the PR visa fee of $1525 (CAD)
- IRCC will process your visa application
- Upon approval, you will get a COPR and a request to submit your original passport to the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC). Submit 2 photographs along with the passport.
- At the VAC, your passport will be stamped with the Canada PR visa. This may take around 14 days.
Documents for the Quebec Experience Program for Temporary Foreign Workers
There are two phases for immigrating to Quebec through the PEQ pathway. The first stage is to apply to MIDI for the Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). The second stage is to apply to IRCC for a Canada PR visa after getting the CSQ from Quebec.
The documents required for both stages are given below.
Document list for Quebec Experience Program
While uploading the documents in ARRIMA, make sure to scan the original in color and save them in PDF format. Additionally, sign and date all the uploaded documents. You will need to submit:
- The Personal Details page from your passport
- All resident permits such as work permits, study permits, and visitor visas (including requests for their extension)
- Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQ) within the last three years
- Marriage or divorce certificate (whichever is applicable)
- French Language test results or official transcripts to show completion of a three-year, full-time post-secondary course in French
- Certificate of Work in Quebec that includes:
- Job Title
- Employment duration
- Number of working hours per week
- Designation
- Tasks and responsibilities
- Contact details of the employer
- Signatures of the immediate supervisor
- Salary statements for each year of work experience
- RL-1 and T4 slips for each tax year
Documents list for Canada PR visa after getting CSQ
Once you get the CSQ, apply for the Canada PR visa within 2 years. Before submitting the visa application, you will need to submit the following documents.
- Passport
- Photos
- Birth certificate
- CSQ (Certificat de Selection du Quebec) or Quebec Selection Certificate
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
- Fee payment receipt
- Digital forms – IMM 0008, IMM 5406, IMM 5669, IMM 5562, IMM 0008 SCH5
Note: Documents must either be in French or English.
Processing Time and Fees for Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) – Temporary Foreign Workers
The processing time to get a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the provincial government is around 6 months. Once you get the permanent selection, the processing time for visa application is 9 months.
The application fees for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) for Temporary Foreign Workers are given below:
| Application Fees for the Quebec Experience Program | |
| Expenses | Fees in Canadian Dollars (CAD) |
| Main Applicant | $895 |
| Accompanying spouse | $192 |
| Dependent child | $192 |
| Canada PR visa fees | |
| PR visa application fee (main applicant) | $1525 |
| Accompanying spouse or partner | $950 (excluding the right of permanent resident fee) |
| Biometrics | $85.00 |
Ineligible Jobs and Work Experience for Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
Work experience and a job in any one of the following sectors are invalid for the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ):
- Cheque cashing, pawnbroking, payday loans
- Production and sale of sexually explicit products
- Services related to the sex industry such as erotic services and massages
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