Studying in Quebec: CAQ and study permit

CAQ and federal study-permit cost planning for Quebec students.

Last verified: Aug 11, 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do I file the CAQ or the federal study permit first?

File the CAQ first. The CAQ for studies is issued by Quebec's MIFI and confirms Quebec is willing to host you for your studies. The federal IRCC study permit comes second. It is the document that authorizes you to enter and remain in Canada. IRCC will not finalize a study permit for a Quebec DLI without a valid CAQ on file. Plan for at least a few weeks of MIFI processing before submitting the federal application.

What happened to the PEQ for graduates? Can I still use it?

The Programme de l'expérience québécoise (PEQ) was suspended on 2025-11-19 and reopened on 2026-07-02 for staged application windows through 2028-07-02, covering both the Diplômés du Québec and Travailleurs streams. The first window, 2026-07-02 to 2026-10-31 with no cap, is limited to graduates who had already obtained an eligible Quebec diploma by 2025-11-19, under the requirements in force before the suspension; MIFI publishes the criteria for later windows. Outside your window, the ongoing selection program for skilled workers in Quebec is the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ); see the PSTQ score page for its four-volet selection grid.

Does completing studies in Quebec qualify me for the federal PGWP?

Yes. The Post-Graduation Work Permit is a federal IRCC program and is granted on the basis of your study program at a designated learning institution, regardless of province. To qualify in 2026, your DLI must be on the federal PGWP-eligible list, your program must be at least eight months of full-time study, and you must apply within 180 days of the official program completion date. The PGWP itself does not require a CAQ. It is a federal work permit, not a Quebec work permit.

I am studying in Quebec for less than six months. Do I still need a CAQ?

No. Programs of six months or less that you can complete within that period are exempt from both the CAQ for studies and the federal study permit, provided you can complete the program within the authorized stay. Use the CAQ planner to confirm the exemption and the federal cost calculator to scope tuition and living costs for the short stay.

Can my spouse or children come with me while I study in Quebec?

Yes, with their own status documents. Your dependent children may apply for study permits at any level of education. The spousal open work permit is narrower since 2024, granted only to spouses of students in a master's, doctoral, or eligible professional program, and it is exempt from the CAQ for work where IRCC grants it. Each accompanying family member adds to the financial proof required for the federal study permit, so model the full settlement budget with the cost calculator's dependants input.