Maple News reports that, effective July 22, 2021, spouses included in Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) applications must now demonstrate proficiency in spoken French. This new requirement aligns with Quebec’s ongoing efforts to promote French language integration among immigrants.
According to Quebec’s immigration ministry, spouses must now meet a minimum oral French proficiency of Level 4 on the “Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes”—Quebec’s official French proficiency scale for adult immigrants. This language requirement specifically targets oral competency and applies only to spouses accompanying the main applicants in their PEQ submission.
To validate their language skills, spouses must complete a French knowledge declaration and submit one of the following supporting documents:
– A final transcript confirming at least three years of full-time French-language studies at the secondary or postsecondary level;
– A professional order certificate, such as a license to practice, transcript, or proof of passing the French language exam from Quebec’s professional order authority;
– Results from recognized French proficiency tests such as the TEF, TCF, or TEFAQ;
– Proof of successful completion of a French course in an accredited Quebec educational institution.
For principal applicants, demonstrating a higher level of French is required: at least Level 7 in verbal comprehension and expression on the same Quebec scale. This has long been a cornerstone of the PEQ, which is known for its streamlined pathway to permanent residency.
The PEQ is split into two main streams: one for international graduates and another for temporary foreign workers. Notably, spouses of applicants under the temporary foreign worker stream who held valid work permits as of July 21, 2020, are exempt from the new French requirement, regardless of when they apply.
The Quebec government revamped the PEQ in 2020, introducing stricter criteria while maintaining its reputation as one of the fastest immigration pathways for those already established in the province. Although several changes took effect immediately, the French language requirement for spouses was deferred until July 2021 to allow time for transition.
The PEQ remains a popular immigration avenue, offering a fast track to acquiring a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), the crucial first step toward becoming a Canadian permanent resident. The program is designed to retain skilled individuals already living in Quebec who have demonstrated cultural and linguistic integration.
According to Maple News, the new language requirement underscores Quebec’s commitment to preserving the dominance of French in its social and economic fabric, ensuring that all members of an immigrant household are well-positioned to integrate into Quebec society.