Quebec declares proposed immigration plan for 2026-2029. The Quebec government has taken the following actions, effective immediately:
- Suspending the acceptance of applications under the PEQ – Workers pathway to permanent residence until November 30, 2025
- Extending the suspension of the PEQ – Diplomes pathway to permanent residence until November 30, 2025
- Declaring the re-opening of the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) in July 2025
- Extending the suspension of intake for the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship) until December 31, 2027
The Quebec government has proposed taking the following actions:
- Establishing targets for temporary resident levels, including a planned reduction in the number of temporary residents
- Prioritizing existing temporary residents in Quebec for permanent residency
- Requiring temporary foreign workers to reach a minimum level of French language proficiency in order to renew their work permits
- Opening a new program for the selection of permanent residents in the fall of 2025
Quebec’s Immigration Minister, Jean-François Roberge, declared these changes in a press conference on June 5, 2025.
Holding up a chart showing temporary resident levels over time, Roberge criticized Ottawa for the growth in temporary residents in Quebec under the International Mobility Program (IMP). He also called for the federal government to reduce levels of temporary foreign workers from 400,000 to 200,000.
Roberge stated that Quebec would not increase its permanent residence admissions targets until the federal government achieved this reduction in the levels of temporary workers under the IMP.
He also emphasized that economic immigration in Quebec would focus on existing temporary residents with French language skills and employment who had already integrated successfully into Quebec society, as well as those with studies in Quebec and those whose professions contribute to labor shortages.
Roberge stated that becoming a Quebecer is a privilege, not a right. Through this statement, he emphasized the significance of protecting the French language and Quebec culture.
Invitations to apply for selection for permanent immigration will also focus on areas outside the regions of Montreal and Laval.
The published document includes three potential scenarios for annual permanent residence admission targets: 25,000, 35,000, and 45,000.
The proposed actions have been released for consultations with the public. The Quebec government plans to obtain input from the public until August 15, 2025.
In the press conference, Roberge emphasized that the government had not yet made a decision on overall admission targets, as it was awaiting input from the public for the upcoming levels plan, to be published in October 2025.
In-Progress Applications
As Quebec declares proposed immigration plan for 2026-2029, the Quebec government will continue to process existing applications, including applications submitted under both PEQ streams prior to their suspensions, as well as applications to the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ) – the precursor to the PSTQ – which were submitted before PRTQ’s closure on November 29, 2024.
Existing PEQ applicants are still able to add family members, such as spouses and dependent children, to their in-progress applications.
Applicants who submitted Arrima profiles before November 29, 2024, must update their profiles in order to be considered for selection under the PSTQ.
Recent Developments In Quebec Immigration
Immigration to Quebec has undergone significant changes in recent months, reflecting broader shifts in Canadian immigration.
This year, the province aims to welcome between 48,500 and 51,500 new immigrants, which is in line with previous projections. However, these admissions targets will be accomplished in the face of multiple consequential changes to the province’s immigration system.
Most notable among these changes might be the pause in application intake for the Quebec Experience Program – Quebec Graduates stream and the pause in invitations issued under the SWSP. These streams were two of the most popular immigration pathways for foreign nationals to Quebec. They have seen their admissions drop significantly as Quebec looks to reign in its immigration levels.
Before the declaration, Quebec did not include admissions through the PEQ – Diplômes stream in its annual Immigration Levels Plan.
In addition, Quebec’s immigration minister implemented several changes to the criteria for individuals admitted for permanent residence, including:
- Instituting a country cap on applicants admitted under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) to no more than 25% of foreign nationals from a given country
- Doubling down on French proficiency requirements, such that 79 – 80% of all admitted immigrants must know French at the time of admission
Temporary Residents In Quebec
Quebec declares proposed immigration plan for 2026-2029. Before the recent announcement, Quebec’s provincial government had not joined the federal government in instituting limits on its temporary resident population. However, the province joined the rest of Canada in implementing a freeze of LMIAs in August 2024.
The government originally intended this policy to remain in place for only six months.
In October 2024, Canada’s federal government imposed temporary resident levels for the first time ever, seeking to curb the admission of work and study permit holders in response to housing supply and affordability pressures.
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