Canada announced a new public policy to grant permanent residency to eligible workers and recent graduates from Hong Kong who are currently in Canada with valid status.

The public policy is part of the Hong Kong Immigration Pathway, released by the Canadian government in November last year, in response to the adoption of a controversial national security law in Hong Kong.

It takes effect on June 1, 2021, and will expire on August 31, 2026.

The initiative will support Hong Kongers who want to work and settle in Canada, facilitating and expediting the process to obtain work permit and permanent residency.

There are 2 streams available for permanent residency application:

Stream A: In-Canada graduates

Stream B: Canadian work experience

 

CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY

 

Eligibility requirements:

General criteria

Applicants must:

  • hold a valid passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China or by the United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas) from Hong Kong;

  • be physically present in Canada when you apply and when you get permanent residence

  • have valid temporary resident status in Canada

  • intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec

  • have a level 5 score in all 4 skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in either English or French in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)

Stream A - In-Canada graduates

Applicants must have completed one of the following educational credentials at a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the last 3 years, and they must have done at least 50% of their program of study (in person or online) while in Canada:

  • degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)

  • diploma from a program that is at least 2 years in length

  • graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least 1 year in length; in addition, the program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program

Stream B - Canadian work experience

Applicants must have at least 1 year of full-time work experience (or the part-time equivalent, that is, at least 1,560 hours in total) in Canada in the last 3 years; they must also have completed one of the following at a post-secondary learning institution in or outside Canada in the last 5 years:

  • degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)

  • diploma from a program that is at least 2 years in length

  • graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least 1 year in length; in addition, the program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program

Those who are not in Canada can still apply for an open work permit, which will be valid for up to 3 years.

Eligible requirements for work permit:

  • Be a Hong Kong resident;

  • Have graduated in the last 5 years before the application is submitted:

    • with a post-secondary diploma of at least 2 years at Canadian a Designated Learning Institution or an institution abroad;

    • with a degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate) at Canadian a Designated Learning Institution or an institution abroad; or

    • with graduate or post-graduate credential that is a minimum of 1 year and requires a post-secondary degree or diploma, which was completed no more than 5 years before the post-graduate program started, at a designated learning institution in Canada or an institution abroad

  • Hold a Hong Kong special administrative region (SAR) or British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport.

Once the application is approved, workers will be able to travel to Canada if they have a valid job offer.

Spouses or common-law partners and dependent children will be also eligible for a study or work permit.

Want to know if you qualify for this public policy or need assistance with your application? Fill out our online form here and we will contact you shortly.