Canada is opening the door to immigration even wider for Hong Kongers – many of whom are adversely affected by China’s anti-democracy crackdown – by opening two new pathways to permanent residency.
“With young Hong Kongers casting their eyes abroad, we want them to choose Canada,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino in a statement this week.
“Our Hong Kong immigration pathway is a historic initiative, intended to attract talented applicants who will drive our economy forward. Skilled Hong Kongers will have a unique opportunity to both develop their careers and help accelerate our recovery,” he said.
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Under the two new pathways, eligible Hong Kong residents in Canada who are workers or recent graduates can apply for permanent residence.
The applicants must have valid temporary resident status and be in Canada both when they submit their application and when their permanent residence is granted.
They must also meet the specified language, education, work and eligibility requirements, and are subject to Canada’s regular immigration application and screening processes and admissibility requirements.
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The first stream is for those who have completed at least one of the following educational credentials at a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the last three years and did at least 50 per cent 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 two years in length, or;
- graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least one year in length. The program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than five years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program
The second stream is for workers. These applicants must have at least one 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 three years.
They must also have completed one of the following at a post-secondary learning institution in or outside Canada in the last five years:
- degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate);
- diploma from a program that is at least two years in length, or;
- graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least one year in length. The program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than five years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program.
Applicants under these streams must intend to live in outside the province of Quebec. Hong Kong residents who are living in Quebec can consult the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to learn more about immigration pathways available to them in that province.
