With international travel low and immigration targets high, Canada has been opening pathways for domestic immigration candidates to apply for permanent residence.
The Canadian government is depending on foreign nationals who are likely already living in Canada to meet its immigration targets for the year. Canada has set out to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2021. Normally, it is possible to apply for Canadian immigration from overseas, but border restrictions make it difficult for approved permanent residents abroad to travel to Canada.
Consequently, Canada must rise to the challenge of meeting its targets without relying on overseas candidates. The pandemic has thrust Canada’s economy into precarious territory, but experts say high levels of immigration will be an important tenant to long-term recovery.
Applications for the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ or Quebec Experience Program) can be submitted online as of January 12 through the Arrima platform.
PEQ Applicants can therefore submit their application, pay the required fees and download the required documents through the platform.
Quebec has previously informed applicants that paper-based submissions may be used until January 25, 2021. After that date, it will be mandatory to submit all PEQ applications through an online process and the Quebec Ministry of Immigration will no longer accept any paper applications.
This is not the only program that will undergo this change.
While applicants to the Quebec Foreign Student Program have now been able to submit their applications through the platform since the spring of 2020, they will also be subject to the same mandatory online submission process as of January 26, 2021.