Quebec Experience Program: PEQ Students and Graduates
PEQ Students and Graduates
The Quebec Government encourages international students completing a program of post-secondary studies in Quebec, to permanently remain in the province. Foreign students who have studied in Quebec may be eligible to apply for a CSQ under the PEQ – Students program. The program allows international students to apply for permanent residence from within Quebec, after completing a period of approved studies.
PEQ – Students program offers international students the opportunity to begin their formal immigration process before completion of their studies, a privilege generally not granted in other provinces or at the federal level.
What Are The Conditions of The Students and Graduates Stream?
General conditions:
To be eligible, you need to:
- Have the intention to reside in Québec for employment at a company where you don’t have direct or indirect control. This job should not belong to ineligible sectors.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Possess spoken French skills equivalent to level 7 and written French skills equivalent to level 5 on the Québec scale of French proficiency.
- Be legally present in Québec at the time of application submission.
- Show that you can support yourself financially.
Specific conditions
To be selected for the Québec PEQ – Students program, you must have:
- Obtained an eligible diploma, in the 36 months preceding the submission of your application.
- Attending a full-time study program, in a recognized education institution in Québec.
- Got an eligible work experience in Québec following your study program.
- Stayed in Québec for at least half the duration of your study program.
What Are The Eligible Diplomas for PEQ Students Program?
- DVS – Diploma Of Vocational Studies attesting to 1,800 Hours (Usually Only Takes 1.5 Years).
- DEP – Diploma Of Vocational Studies followed by an ASP – attestation of vocational specialization attesting to a minimum of 1,800 hours.
- DCS – Diploma of college studies, technical training.
- Bachelor’s Degree.
- Master’s Degree.
- Doctorate.
And according to Quebec Immigration rules, there’s no other type of diploma is eligible for the PEQ.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
Work Experience (National Occupational Classification)
Work Experience Types Required For PEQ Students and Graduates Program
The required work experience varies depending on the type of diploma you obtained.
1) you have obtained a DVS of 1,800 hours or more of training, alone or with an AVS, and you must have obtained work experience:
- Of at least 18 months after the end of your study program.
- Full-time in a job at level 0, A, B, or C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
To be eligible, you must also hold a full-time job at one of the following NOC levels when you submit your application:
- If your job is at level 0, A, or B, it does not have to be related to your study program.
- If your job is level C, it must be related to the DVS you obtained in Québec. Select the title of your study program from its directory and look for the Targeted professions section.
2) For all other PEQ eligible diplomas, you must have gained paid work experience after completing your study program of:
- At least 12 months.
- Full-time.
- In a job at level 0, A, or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
To be eligible, you must also hold a full-time job at the same NOC level 0, A, or B, when you submit your application. This job does not have to be related to your study program.
Work experience you acquired during a mandatory internship for your study program may be recognized. To do so, you must have received a work permit issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
- For a full-time internship, your experience may be recognized for a maximum of three months.
- For a part-time internship, the recognized period corresponds to its full-time equivalent.
Work experience that is not continuous can be considered in your application if it was full-time.
When You CAN’T Be Eligible for The PEQ Students Program?
You are not eligible for the PEQ – Students if you:
- Have a bursary with a return to your country clause, unless you have already fulfilled this condition.
- Started a new study program in Québec.
- Stayed in Québec for less than half the duration of your study program.
However, you can apply for the PEQ – Workers Program.
Is The French Required?
Yes, in addition, the international student must possess an intermediate-advanced knowledge of oral French. The student can prove his knowledge of French by one of the following:
- Completed one of the above programs in French.
- Studied French on a full-time basis for at least three years in a secondary or post-secondary educational institution.
- Completed an intermediate-advanced approved French course given in Quebec.
- Passed a recognized French test, such as the Test D’évaluation De Français and others.
- Satisfied the language requirements of a professional order in Quebec.
Processing Time of The PEQ Students Program
All complete applications received under the PEQ Quebec Experience Program will be processed on a priority basis. The Minister undertakes to render a decision within 50 working days, excluding postal delays, if they do not require an audit interview. In accordance with the Déclaration de services à la clientèle.
After completing one of the programs listed above, you may be eligible for a three-year post-graduation work permit.