[Published
11 Jan, 2025 | 04:11 AM]
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Quebec's immigration system in 2024 has seen important changes that will influence immigration to the province in 2025.
These changes, especially in the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), family sponsorships, and Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), will impact both new immigration applicants and those already going through Quebec's immigration process.
The Quebec Immigration Levels Plan for 2025 aims to welcome 48,500 to 51,500 immigrants, similar to the 2024 target of 48,310 to 52,530 newcomers. Most admissions will come through the economic category, with 31,000 to 32,900 immigrants, making up 72% of the total. The remaining spots are reserved for family reunification and refugee programs.
The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) will continue to play a key role, even with the current pause on new applications. French proficiency will remain a top priority, with the province aiming for 95% francophone immigrants through economic streams and 79-80% overall.
This plan reflects Quebec’s focus on maintaining its French identity while meeting labor market needs. By balancing cultural preservation and economic growth, Quebec aims to address both its social and economic priorities through its 2025 immigration strategy.
Quebec has paused its PEQ Graduate stream (PEQ - Diplômés) until June 30, 2025, temporarily halting applications for permanent selection under this program. Unlike the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP), the PEQ - Diplômés does not require an invitation to apply. Applicants who meet the program’s eligibility criteria can typically submit their applications for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), but this pause aims to control immigration levels in the province.
The number of CSQs issued through the PEQ Graduate stream is expected to drop significantly, with 2025 targets set at 4,500 to 5,700 - much lower than the 14,500 issued in 2024. This reduction also lowers the overall admissions target for PEQ graduates, from 15,000-19,000 in 2024 to 13,500-15,000 in 2025.
This pause impacts many foreign graduates and workers in Quebec who relied on the PEQ as a pathway to apply for Canada PR. Graduates may need to explore other federal or provincial immigration programs as alternatives.
Stricter French-language requirements for the PEQ Graduate stream will take effect on November 23, 2024. Graduates from Quebec post-secondary institutions must now complete at least 75% of their program’s courses or credits in French to qualify for this pathway.
This new rule applies to both college and university-level programs, with slight variations depending on the level of study. These changes impact students differently depending on their level of study:
| Level and type of study | New French language criteria |
| Students in vocational and college training programs | 75% of courses must be completed in French. |
| Students in University undergraduate programs | 75% of program credits must be completed in French. |
| Students in University master’s or PhD programs | 75% of program credits must be completed in French. Theses, master's dissertations, internships, and research labs may be completed in a language other than French, but all other program courses or credits must meet the French-language requirement. |
Theses, master's dissertations, internships, and research labs may be completed in a language other than French, but all other program courses or credits must meet the French-language requirement.
Graduates from programs that don’t meet the new language rules can still qualify if they have completed at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary studies in French, either in Quebec or another country.
The Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) has been paused until June 30, 2025, with no new invitations being issued during this period. On November 29, 2024, the PRTQ was replaced by the Qualified Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), which aims to admit up to 32,350 economic immigrants in 2025.
Here’s how the PSTQ process works:
STEP 1: Submit an expression of interest through Arrima, Quebec’s online immigration platform.
STEP 2: If your score is high enough, you may receive an invitation to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
STEP 3: With a CSQ, you can apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
STEP 4: Upon approval, you must land in Canada to complete the process.
STEP 5: Applications submitted under the PRTQ before November 29 will still be processed using the old rules.
This transition will affect candidates preparing to apply under the PSTQ, particularly foreign skilled workers. However, some may explore other Canada immigration pathways as alternatives.
Quebec has introduced a new rule to limit the number of invitations given to candidates from any single country under the Regular Skilled Worker Program, now known as the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). Starting from October 9, 2024, until October 9, 2025, no more than 25% of invitations in any draw can be issued to candidates from the same country.
This change aims to bring more diversity to Quebec’s pool of economic immigrants, as the province noticed a decrease in diversity among applicants in 2024. Although this rule was first applied under the PRTQ, it will now also apply to the PSTQ.
Starting September 3, 2024, Quebec placed a six-month pause on Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for job offers paying less than $27.47 CAD per hour (the province’s median wage). This suspension applies only to job offers in the Montréal area and is aimed at controlling the number of temporary foreign workers in the province. The suspension also affects LMIA renewals, meaning no applications in the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will be processed during this time.
However, certain sectors such as agriculture, construction, food processing, education, and healthcare are not affected. Jobs paying more than the median wage and those who applied for an LMIA before September 3 are also exempt from this rule.
The federal government has also frozen low-wage LMIA applications in metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, starting September 26, 2024. This change may impact foreign workers in Quebec who hope to transition to permanent residency.
Quebec has introduced a limit on family sponsorship applications. From June 26, 2024, to June 25, 2026, only 13,000 family sponsorship applications will be accepted. This includes 10,400 for spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children, and 2,600 for other eligible relatives.
Once the cap is reached, any additional applications will be returned without being processed, and the application fee will be refunded. This limit is part of Quebec’s plan to control the number of family-sponsored immigrants, which some provincial officials believe is contributing to pressures on the housing market.
Quebec has a unique role in Canada's immigration system, as it controls its own immigration pathways, separate from federal programs. People who want to settle in Quebec cannot apply for Express Entry Program or other federal programs. Instead, they must first apply to Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration (MIFI) to receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Quebec also has its own versions of federal programs.
For example, while Canada uses the Express Entry system for economic immigration, Quebec uses Arrima. Additionally, Quebec has the Quebec Experience Class (PEQ) for people with work or study experience in the province.
Currently, 80% of applications under Quebec Immigration are being processed with 8 to 12 months.
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Read More: Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027
Source: quebec.ca
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