This update is part of the Provincial nominee draws hub, with the Permanent residence guide. The Parti Québécois has won Quebec's 2026 provincial election and will form a minority government. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is set to become Quebec's next premier. The party plans significant reductions to both temporary and permanent immigration levels, returning to power for the first time since 2014.

The PQ intends to cut temporary immigration by approximately half, representing a reduction of between 200,000 and 250,000 temporary residents. Permanent immigration targets will also be lowered to 35,000 new permanent resident admissions per year. This marks a reduction of 10,000, or 22 percent, from the previous target of 45,000.

The party also plans to temporarily stop selecting new economic immigrants directly from outside Quebec. All new permanent residents will instead be selected from temporary residents already in the province. Immigration was a major issue during the election campaign, with the PQ advocating for these significant cuts.

The current Quebec Experience Program, or PEQ, intake is open until October 31, 2026. It opened on July 2, and eligible applicants for this intake must have met the necessary work or education requirements by November 19, 2025. The PEQ was previously closed in November 2025, drawing criticism, before the outgoing CAQ government announced its temporary reopening for two years.

PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has indicated support for grandfathering approximately 40,000 temporary foreign workers who came through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. He stated these workers had a legitimate expectation to apply for permanent residence. However, St-Pierre Plamondon has been less supportive of extending the same commitment to temporary residents who arrived through programs administered exclusively by the federal government, estimating this could involve 150,000 to 200,000 people.

The proposed changes could significantly affect individuals hoping to become permanent residents in Quebec, including temporary workers and international students. The future of the Quebec Experience Program after October 31 is uncertain, particularly for international graduates and workers who entered through federal work permit programs. The PQ has indicated it would protect access for temporary workers in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, some regional industries, and public facing services like health care.

As a minority government, the Parti Québécois will require support from other parties to pass legislation and advance its agenda. Decisions regarding when another PEQ intake would take place and who would qualify will now fall to Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and his party. There is no guarantee a second intake will have the same eligibility requirements, and a PQ government could limit access to a smaller group of temporary residents, change conditions for future applications, or decide against another intake.