International students in limbo as Quebec cancels immigration pathway

Thousands of international students have been left in limbo since the Quebec government  cancelled a program last November that would have provided them with a pathway to permanent residency.  

But with the governing Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) party now in the throes of a leadership race, some candidates are promising to extend the life of the Programme de l’expérience Québécoise (PEQ) — leaving international students uncertain as to what the future holds. 

The PEQ created an immigration pathway for international students who obtain a diploma from eligible Quebec institutions of higher learning, as well as for certain temporary foreign workers. The provincial government froze the program in October 2024, and axed it just over a year later. Until recently, CAQ’s position was clear: the government had no intention of reversing its decision.  

However, in early February, CAQ leadership candidate Christine Fréchette proposed reviving the program for two years and creating a grandfather clause for immigrants who were already in Quebec when the program was shut down. Fellow leadership candidate Bernard Drainville has also pledged to grandfather-in temporary workers in priority sectors such as healthcare and education, as long as they meet certain criteria. 

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge announced that his ministry would “evaluate different scenarios” to allow for a “transition period” between the now-cancelled PEQ and the new Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) — an immigration program that prioritizes workers in certain fields, especially those living outside of Montreal. 

“The sudden cancellation of the PEQ, in our view, amounts to an abandonment of students and immigrants,” said Flora Dommanget, president of the Union étudiante du Québec (UEQ). “The government’s contradictory decisions only add to the confusion. Students can’t wait until the [provincial] election in April — they need to decide now whether to continue their studies or to leave.” 

Students who are in Quebec on a foreign study permit are allowed to continue their education, but, with the cancellation of the PEQ, no longer have a clear path to residency after they complete their degree. 

Aram Musco moved to Quebec from France in September 2022. He finished his undergraduate degree at the Université de Montréal last June and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. He’s experiencing first-hand the impacts of cancelling the PEQ.  “When the PEQ was frozen in October 2024, I thought I still had time. Like many others, I never expected it to be cancelled outright a few months later,” he said. 

All at once, he had to contend with a sudden shift in international student quotas, conservatory entrance exams, and a maze of administrative paperwork. “Now, even if you meet all of the government’s requirements —a Quebec degree, fluency in French, and work experience — there’s still no guarantee you’ll be selected. It’s impossible to plan your life when the system is so unpredictable.” 

The PSTQ, Quebec’s new points-based system, is now the primary route to permanent residency.  

“The PSTQ doesn’t respond to the realities on the ground, and very few applications have been successful,” said Ms. Dommanget. “The PEQ worked well, and it was necessary, especially to encourage students to put down roots in Quebec.” 

Impossible-to-meet criteria 

“I have 704 points, but recent draws have been around 780 — and even applicants who should have enough points aren’t getting selected. The system feels arbitrary and unpredictable,” said Mr. Musco. 

“Some of my peers are thinking about going back to France or moving to another province to improve their odds, even though they’ve built a life in Quebec. They study here, work here, pay taxes, contribute to society. Seeing them forced to leave is ridiculous.” 

Mr. Musco also points out a structural catch-22 for international students. “To earn the maximum work experience points under the PSTQ, you need to work full-time, but international students are legally limited to 24 hours per week during the school year. Living in Montreal doesn’t earn any points, either. We’re missing out on opportunities because of how the rules are structured.” 

For Mr. Musco, the coming election offers only a faint hope. “If another party reinstates the PEQ or offers a grandfather clause, we’ll need to see the fine print. But it’s crucial that, for people who have already started down a certain path, that pathway should continue to be recognized.” 

Despite the obstacles, Mr. Musco hasn’t given up on Quebec. “After almost four years here, I feel more Québécois than French. But the uncertainty of the system is making Quebec universities less attractive internationally and pushing qualified students away.”