Can my spouse apply for PEQ?

The Programme de l'Experience Québécoise (PEQ) is still the fastest way for Quebec residents to obtain their Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) and Canadian Permanent residence.

The processing time from the moment you submit your application to the moment you receive your CSQ is currently around 15-20 business days.

More importantly, since August 2nd, 2018, the Ministry of Immigration of Quebec has broadened the eligibility rules of the PEQ.

One of the biggest challenges to the eligibility requirements of the PEQ is to meet a level of B2 (intermediate-advanced) in knowledge of french oral.

Candidates have to prove with TEFAQ, TEF , DALF or any other recognized language test that they can reach the B2 level for speaking and listening. Many applicants are struggling with this and do not realize that their spouse could actually be the main applicants in their PEQ applications.

Since August, 2nd, 2018, spouses are now eligible to become the main applicants in PEQ applications. This means that if you came to Quebec on a study permit and your spouse obtained an open work permit, he/she will be able to qualify for the PEQ under the skilled worker category.

The spouses who can reach the french language requirements can apply under the PEQ skilled workers category if they have obtained 1 year of work experience in the last 2 years. This work experience can be a combination of multiple full-time jobs and can be categorized at any NOC level (0, A, B, C, D).

This has been legally approved under section 35 of the "Règlement sur l'Immigration du Québec", the Quebec Immigration Regulations, for spouses as main applicants.

If you have any additional questions about your eligiblity for the PEQ program, check out our free PEQ guide!