Maple News reports that as of July 22, 2021, spouses included in Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) applications must demonstrate proficiency in spoken French. This marks a significant change in Quebec’s immigration requirements aimed at reinforcing linguistic integration into the Francophone province.
To satisfy this new condition, spouses must meet at least Level 4 on the Quebec Scale of French Proficiency for Adult Immigrants. Applicants are required to submit a declaration of French knowledge along with supporting documentation, which can include official transcripts of three years of full-time French-language study, certification from a professional order, recognized French language test results such as TEF, TCF, or TEFAQ, or proof of coursework completed at a recognized institution in Quebec.
Previously, only the principal applicant was required to meet French language standards under the PEQ. The new regulation now extends that requirement to spouses, with exceptions: spouses holding a valid work permit as of July 21, 2020, under the temporary foreign worker stream, are exempt regardless of application timing.
Principal applicants still need to demonstrate a minimum Level 7 proficiency in both speaking and listening. This requirement reflects Quebec’s ongoing efforts to select immigrants who are not only skilled but also linguistically and culturally prepared to integrate into Quebec society.
The PEQ remains a fast-track pathway to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and recent international graduates who have worked or studied in the province. It allows successful applicants to receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), a crucial step in the process of acquiring Canadian permanent residence.
The French language rule for spouses was delayed to offer applicants time to adjust, but now becomes an integral component of Quebec’s long-term strategy to uphold French as the common language of social and economic life. This aligns with the province’s broader immigration vision that places a premium on linguistic and cultural integration.
Maple News will continue to monitor PEQ developments and their impact on newcomers navigating Quebec’s evolving immigration landscape.