Canada: Quebec’s 2026–2029 Immigration Plan Announced, with Key Program Measures and Updates

Reducing permanent resident admissions. The government will take the following measures to reduce permanent residents:

·       Lower annual targets. Beginning in 2026, Quebec will limit permanent resident admissions to 45,000 per year, representing a notable reduction from the 61,000 permanent immigrants expected in 2025.

·       Emphasis on French language integration. The government has set an ambitious language objective, seeking to ensure that nearly 80% of new immigrants possess at least intermediate French proficiency by 2029, compared with 50% in 2019.

Program streamlining and policy changes. To achieve reductions, the government will take the following measures as part of the plan:

·       End of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). Quebec will permanently end the two streams of the PEQ on November 19, 2025. Both streams are currently suspended and will not reopen.

·       Closure of pilot programs. Three permanent immigration pilot programs – for food processing workers, orderlies, and workers in artificial intelligence, information technologies, and visual effects – will end as planned on January 1, 2026.

·       Suspension of Program for Refugees Abroad. The suspension on intake of applications under the Program for Refugees Abroad (Collective Sponsorship) has been extended until December 31, 2029, two additional years.

Applications already submitted under the above programs will continue to be processed.

·       Focus on skilled worker selection. Permanent immigration will now be streamlined under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ), which will become the sole pathway for skilled workers. The PSTQ prioritizes candidates who demonstrate strong French-language ability, Quebec-based education or work experience, and alignment with regional labor market needs.

According to the government, these changes reflect Quebec’s effort to align immigration with its capacity for integration and regional priorities. As a result, employers and foreign nationals may face stricter language requirements and fewer immigration pathways following the consolidation or closure of programs, making it more difficult to fill open positions with foreign nationals.

Reducing temporary immigration volumes. For the first time, Quebec’s plan includes formal targets for temporary immigration, and plans to admit 84,900 to 124,200 temporary residents in 2026. This marks the start of a multi-year strategy to reduce overall temporary admissions, including temporary workers and international students, by 13% by 2029, compared with 2024 levels. The reductions will focus on Montréal and Laval to prioritize regional balance. To support this objective, the plan introduces the following measures under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP):

·       Extended LMIA suspension. The suspension of LMIA applications for certain (low-wage) jobs in Montréal and Laval has been extended to December 31, 2026.

·       New French language requirement. A spoken French proficiency requirement at level 4 will apply to Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) renewal applicants who have lived in Quebec for three years or more, effective December 17, 2028, following a three-year transitional period. Certain exceptions will apply.

The planned 13% reduction in temporary foreign workers and international students, focused on Montréal and Laval, aims to redistribute labor and educational participation to regional areas. While this approach may ease integration pressures, it could also lead to talent shortages for employers and institutions in these areas. According to the government, the measure aligns with the government’s broader goal of reducing the number of temporary residents amid an economic slowdown and encouraging the hiring of workers already in Quebec.